Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-20

country where the single-fare system is in
| operation, time is the only consideration,
and as rapid transit increases, a city grows
and the condition of its people becomes
better. l think street railways will con-
| tinue to improve until people can own
houses of their own without spending for
tune to get the ground on which they are
built.
William Richardson, the veteran street
railway man of the association, came to the
city with his wife and daughter on the
| limited last night, He has attended all the
conventions and is known by nearly every
| delegate. His home is in Brooklyn where
he is as great power among street railway
men as Widener and Ellxins in Philadel-
phia.
THE VETERAN TRAMwAY MAN.
Mr.. Richardson first went into the bust
ness in November, 1864, as Superintendent
and President of the Drydock, East Broad
way and Battery Railway Company. In 1867
he became lessee and proprietor of the
Brooklyn and Jamaica Company, which in
1872 became the Atlantic Avenue Railroad
Company with himself as President,
n. H. Frost, Treasurer, and William
J.. Richardson, son Of William
Richardson, Secretary. The line
is still operated by horse power for which
1 $50 horses are used The pay roll of the
company is $4,000 week. Next May the
road will commence the use of electricity,
being the third road in Brooklyn that has
been granted that privilege When asked
what great changes there mad been in the
manner of operating street railways in the
last q years, Mr.. Richardson replied that
they were as many and noticeable as in a
man now q years old.
''The most remarkable thing he con-
tinued, sis electricity. The last year has
seen wonderful improvement in this power
and no man can foretell what the future
will develop. There is little change, how
ever, in horse cars Stoves have been in
troduced since first went into the business
and the cash register to keep a check on
ambitious conductors More rapid transit
will be the aim from now on, and no one
knows what speed will be possible in few
years"
TALK OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
The question of who will be chosen next
President of the association for the coming
speculation and interest. By virtue of a
long established precedent this Of
fcer is always selected from among
the prominent street railway men in the
city where the convention is held. A Pitts
burg man must, therefore, be chosen this
time. While there are no candidates openly
in the field at present, the name of G. L.
Magee President of the Duquesne road, has
been frequently mentioned, and the indica-
tions are that he will be elected without op-
position. General Manager E. V. Carell,
of the Street Railway Nears, Of New York, who
has been actively engaged in the conven-.
tions for years back, said last night:
''There is no question but that G. L.
ho he aFf fha A.
sociation. According to precedent the man
must be a Pittsburger, and Mr.. Magee is
the available one for several reasons. In
the first place, he is President of one of the
largest lines in the city, and is largely in
terested in several. He is well known and
influential, politically and otherwise, not
only in Pittsburg and Allegheny county,
but in the State. The association is weak
in Pennsylvania, and needs man at its
head whose name is known from Pittsburg
to Philadelphia. 1t will help to
strengthen the organization in the
State. This weakness in Pennsylvania is
one of the greatest reasons for holding the
convention in this city. None has been
phia in 1885, The present Secretary, Will
liam j. Richardson will probably be chosen
again.
THE NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.
The selection of the next place ofmeeting
is also causing some comment. There is a
strong under current of feeling in favor of
going across the continent and meeting in
Ban francisco the Eastern DELEGATES Start
ing in time to stop off day or two at each
important city and inspecting its railways
But this will hardly be done before two
years. Rochester, Kansas City and other
places have already put in bids for the next
convention. But as the question will prob
abIv he mt into the hands of the Executive
Committee II is impossible to predict which
Mace will be chosen.
Talk among the delegates last night de-
veIoned the fact that Insurance companies
are organized to take risks on everything
+ho.o de- nno of tho Io+oe+ of AZ oos