Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-16
CAUGHT THE BOROUGH.
Right Of Way Given on an Offer to
Buy the knoxville Incline.
BIRMINGHAM COMPANY Is AHEAD.
Another Inclined Plane Is to Be Built on
the Southside.
A NICE POINT OF LAW FOR THE COURTS

The Pittsburg and Birmingham Traction
Company will apply for charter for an
inclined plane from South Tenth and Brad
ford streets to the house of Louis Fritz, on
Brownsville avenue, on next Monday.
This is strange, from the fact that they
already control the Pittsburg and Knox
vile and Mt. Oliver Inclined planes, but
the explanation was given yesterday by one
of the attorneys, Mr.. HAYS. He said:
'The Birmingham Traction Company
some time ago made a proposition to the
Knoxville people whereby they would take
the inclined and build an electric line from
Knoxville to the city via the Tenth street
bridge and Second avenue. The PROPOSE
tion was accepted and the contract drawn
up and signed by the Knoxville people.
Captured the Right Of Way.
s'Then the traction company asked from
the borough of Knoxville the right of way
over certain streets of the borough, which
was granted. Just here is where the traction
people show their hand. They have Sc
cured these rights and privileges, but as yet
have not signed the contract, thus binding
the transfer of the Knoxville property to
them. The old Knoxville and St. Clair line
that is to be sold very soon owns the right
of way from the bead of the Pittsburg and
Knoxville Incline plane through that por-
tion of the city to the borough line. 1t also
has the franchise on Brownsville avenue
from the head of the Knoxville Incline to
the head of the proposed new incline. 1t is
but slight grade from there to the top of
the hill and, with an inclined plane from 600
to 800 feet shorter, it will necessarily cap
ture the bulk of the trade.
''Then there is another point. The trac-
tion company already has possession of the
Mt. Oliver Incline and with the new one on
the other side of the Knoxville. landing
people within 200 yards of it on much
shorter haul, why should they care to be
don't, and that is why the contract has not
been signed by the Pittsburg and Birming-
ham Traction Company.
Knoxville May Be Frozen Out.
The question naturally arises, will the
Knoxville people allow themselves to be
frozen out in this manner? Can they,
in lieu of the failure of the
traction company to purchase the
the right of way through the borough?
That is a very fine point to decide. The
work of laying the rails has been started
and, strange to say, it passes the Knoxville
Incline both at the top and bottom, thus
securing whatever patronage that cares to
ride.
:'Of course, there will always be the regu-
lar patronage-those who pick their incline
on personal grounds and other reasons, but
there is still another way out for people
who are little timid of inclines and Lifts.
The Suburban Rapid Transit Company
will soon be in shape to transport passen-
gers to Allentown, Mt. Oliver and Knox
vile via the Eighteenth street road, the
company having secured the right of way
and the turnpike company are paving the
road at the same time the electric company
is laying the rails. The company promises
to land passengers at the top of the hill in
from 10 to Is minutes without the delay of
transferring or waiting for car to land at
the top or bottom of an inclined plane. 1t
is also rumored that the traction company
has an option on this line Also"