Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-09
Rand Transit.

other cities are wrestling with what we are
glad 70 see they denominate the rapid
transit" problem. Two OF three years ago
the DISPATCH took the ground that speed
"rapid transit was one of the indis-
pensable factors in q successful street-rail-
road system. We did this at time when
many persons were talking about passing
ordinances restricting the street-railroads
10 what New Workers would call "a snaiPs
pace." To-day we find that the demand
Tor rapid transit has thrown into the back
ground the question whether the compa-
mics concerned shall or shall not run their
cars Of q speed exceeding six miles an
hour.
Let us remark just here, by the way.
that the circumstances which surrounded
the question of allowing the Richmond,
fredericksburg, and Potomac railroad to
run its trains along aud across the streets
of this city were very different five years
ago from the circumstances which now
surround that question. II might have
been very we'll TO keep that railroad of the
streets Of Richmond when nothing more
dangerous than horse-cars, moving along
at a speed OF four or FIVE miles an hour,
was to be feared by pedestrians. 1t isa
very different thing to prevent that rail-
road company from using our streets once
in every two or three hours, and running
across, not along, those streets, now that
there are thirty or forty electric cars,
much more dangerous to life and limb
fastening up and down our most crowded
thoroughfares at intervals of a few min
utes. IL is as if one should choose to face
PATRICK HESRY's double-bairelled shot
gun cooked and primed," rather than
popgun made of the elder bush. How little
the danger from the one locomotive is as
compared with the danger from scores OF
street-cars. How little the noise at inter
walls of hours compared with the horrible
street-car noises which every few mo-
ment disturb our thoughts by day and our
dreams by night. The times change and
we must change with them.
But far be it from US to say word
against the electric lines or against rapid
transit. As we have said, we came out years
ago in favor of allowing the street-railroad
companies to use a high rate Of speed.
1t would not be possible 10 operate rail-
road from the corner Of Twenty-ninth and
2 streets to the New reservoir il its speed
were limited TO four OF FIVE miles On hour.
Besides, slow motion is behind the times
and not TO be tolerated. All that New
York and other such cities can do is to ac-
commodate themselves to circumstances,
and herd their people together like sheep
in fold But the ideal city of the future
is 10 be one having residences miles and
miles removed from the crowded streets,
but within easy reach-say. ten or fifteen
minutes time 1t is tour miles Sixty
three suuares) from the corner of Main and
Beech 10 the corner of Twenty ninth and 2
streets; yet car ran the distance few
DAYS ago, 80 we have heard, in thirty min
utes, including (not, many stoppages.
The rate was only eight miles an hour. Is
that too fast? We think not.
But we don't want the street-railroad
companies TO fiatter themselves that they
have done their whole duty when they
have brought Church Hill and Shockoe
Hlll--Oakwood and ollywood-together
bound them together with hoops of steel.
There are many other things to be con-
sidered. One thing ought certainly to be
done, and this one thing is to accommo-
date men as well as women. At pres
ent the cars furnish seats for the latter and
force the men TO stand up. The gallantry
of the men of Richmond is thus i'm
posed upon. On a fine Sunday after
noon. or any other sunshiny, warm
afternoon. the spectacle we have
described NAV be seen--namely; every seat
occupied by lady or occasionally by de-
crepid man, and every man cllnging TO the
straps and treading on his neighbours toes.
No street-railroad company would dare
10 treat its lady patrons in that way. 1t
would be forced by public opinion to
furnish seats for them. Possibly this is
one of the reasons why in the northern
cities the men keep their seats in the
presence of ladies standing up. Perhaps
the men have learned by experience that
only with the assistance of the ladies can
they secure seats.
The patronage of the Richmond Union
Passenger railway would be largely in
creased IL ali the persons who would like
20 ride upon it had any assurance what
ever Of being accommodated when they
start out for pleasant ride. 1t is not men
only but many ladies that are deferred from
the attempt to ride for recreation by the
fact that they will probably be pulled and
hauled about the cars by the crowds
packed therein like sardines in box, too
often by insolent colored persons. We
venture 10 say that thirty cars would be
comfortably filed nearly all the afternoon
Of every fne Sunday if the people could
rely upon any reasonable measure of
accommodation In the matter of seats and
crowds. Regularity of movement is pretty
well secured already, and would Of course
be rendered still more secure and reliable
If over-crowding were prevented.
As TO allowing street-cars to make good
time. let as quote Baltimore banking
house. In their last circular Messrs. HAN.
BIxros a Go. say:
.The baltimore Traction Company cable-cars
bavo basn running only two weeks, and the peo-
pie are already wondering how they have 50 long
existed without the luxury Of rapid transit
Rapid transit does not mean only that the public
can be transported with comfort and expedition
from end Of the city 70 the other, but for Bal
simcre the awakening from viilago-llke exist
enee 20 the hustle and whlrl OF q great city
Every ono and everything win receive an impo
tas which will encourage activity aud alertncss
and ada 70 tho importance and prosperity Of oul
city.
Real estate, which has been In q depressed
condition, must fed the good effects Of rapit
transit, and capital viii seek investment In man
ufactorss and othof business enterprises IN Cit,
which shows life aud activity. Thecabie-cars are
revelation 70 our people, end alrosdy there Is a
marked change In the manner IN which vehicles
and pedestrians move about the streets"
The electsic-cars are perhaps as good O,
bstter than the cable-cars, though nc
doubt the former are better for some cities
and the latter for other cities. The New
York 7Ssbune speaks good word for the
former. II says
AL an early period the want OF suitable
motiye-power was sansoient 70 condsmn under.
ground tnosonghfarea bar electricity has nov
established its capacity as means of pro
pslia1on, and thus a single stroke rauoyed the