Morning journal and courier., 1891-03-04
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.

Some of the Recent Developments
Which Have Taken Place-Features
ofProfessor Hadley's Remarks Last
Evening on That Subject.
Professor Arthur T. Hadley's lecture |
last evening in North Sheffield hall was the |
sixth in the course of mechanics lectures, |
before crowded house. The speaker was
heartily applauded. His subject was RE
cent Developments in Cheap Transporta-
ton" and was ably handled. He said that
it is only within ten years that it has been
clearly demonstrated that the steamboat is
cheaper transportation than the sailing
vessel or the railroads superior to the old
time canal. They do their work, not in
less expensive way, but with increased eff
fciency. Providing greater results and
thus the greater economy has been Sc
cured.
Down to about 1880 the development in
ocean transportation was slight. In 1879
the trans. Atlantic boats incidentally car
ried freight but were designed chiefly for
the passenger traffic. They were built to
be useful for every purpose but We're
thoroughly useful for none. About 1850
there arose one form of the tramp
nuisance which proved good, namely the
ocean tramp. This is d steamboat which
looks out for a job whenever it can, not
exactly like the land tramp. The cheap
ness which these boats could do their
work was something marvellous. The tri-
umph of the tramp of the old kind was
short lived, however
The transportation companies finally be-
coming jealous divided their crafts into
| passenger and freight boats exclusively.
| They have learned the economy in the di-
| vision Of labor.
About 1858 some of the lines in the
present New York central system con-
| solidated and the managers started carry
| ing freight. The people began to exclaim
against this and thought the Erie canal
plenty good enough. A resolution was
passed at Syracuse to the effect that the
canal had a good and natural right to all
| the bulky freight. 1t really was not until
| Commodore Vanderbilt assumed the rule
chat it became impossible for the canal to
carry freight.
He was thorough business man and
knew that the larger the business the bet
ter it would pay. He made his cars and
locomotives just little larger and carried
much larger loads in proportion to the
outlay. This process has gone on all over
the country Twenty years ago the charge
for ton per mile was about three cents.
Now it is under one cent a mile and the
cost to the companies now is only about
one third of what 1t was then and they do
eight ten times the business. Railroad
traffic is not only cheaper, but quicker.
Now, the question arises if there have
been such delopment in the freight
traffic, in the way of economy, why does
not like change occur in the passenger
I rto%io Tn, tIio ar,I HIM
there have been some very successful at
tempts in passenger reduction. They
have reduced the cost by about two-thirds
to one cent mile and carry twice as many
passengers. But they have an inferior
train service, allowing no baggage, poo1
cars, and not going faster than ffteer
miles per hour rate. They do not rur
more than three or four trains per day
and these are always uncomfortable
crowded.
The difference in the fares paid is really
the difference of the wages earned. 1t is
no mere accident that the country which
has the cheapest as well as poorest passen
ger transportation facilities pays the poor
est wages.
We run more trains day, have better
service, and pay more for that service thar
they do abroad.
We also have railroads in districts who's
population would not warrant it in Eu
rope. The fact that the rate is highe
here is really due to the fact that thu
American man is better off than thu
European. 1t is of more importance tt
have greater number of trains da,
than lesser rates.
THE OFFICERS E4EHNsTATED.
The Police Commission Vote t.
Rcinstntc Officers Pabor and VIII
Jams to Their Former Grades-Nt
Appointments Hgade-Other Bust
ness.
The regular monthly meeting of tn
police commissioners was held last even
ing. The meeting was called to order b,
Mayor Sargent about s o'clock, commits
being the only members of the boart
present. After the minutes Of the pre-
vious meetings had been read and approved
on motion of Commissioner Andrews
: was voted that hereafter the four station
should be designated rs Nos. !, 2, 3, 4
No being headquarters Oh Court street
f No. 2 the station on Grand avenue
( No. 3 the station on Howar
: avenue, and No. 4, the static
: on Dixwell avenue. Driver Doran of tn
l | patrol wagon was present and related t
: the commissioners the story of the acci
t | dent by which he was injured, and on me
ton of Commissioner Andrews it was vol
ed to allow him full pay for the ten day
he was necessarily absent from duty /
consequence of his injuries and that tn
bill of DR.. Lindsey for services be paid b
o the city The monthly pay roll of the d.
. partment, amounting to 81 ,S09.39, was az
proved, as were also other bills connecte
: with the establishing of the two new stt
:, tons. Superintendent Bollmann reporte
8 in answer to an inquiry that the new ST.
ton on Dixwell avenue was ready for tt
use of the department.
/ The surprise of the session was whe
e Commissioner Clancy moved that Officer
e Pabor and Williams be reinstated to tt
/ grades held by each officer at the time
, | their suspension. The motion was seconde
+ by Commissioner Dillon and carried by
:. vote of the board This action restore
;. Officer Pabor to grade A and Officer Wi
O liams to grade D, and is understood to be
q rebuke to the method made use of in Il
, detection of these officers.
n Supernumary Bernard J. Riley was pr
:. NOTED to grade D, promotion to date fro
March 8, and the applications of Richa1
E. Werner and Joseph H. Brown tor al
pointment on the force were accepted an
i ordered on file. On motion of Commi
!. sioner Platt committee of two was al
70 pointed to confer with the committee
l. ladies who desire the appointment of
:. matron at headquarters. Commissions
IL Platt and Dillon were appointed each
= committee, and the meeting adjourned III
Is til 7:30 this evening.