Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-20
CAN'T QUITE UNITE.
C. L. Magee Says the Consolidation
Stories Are Ridiculous.
REDUCED SPEED ON FIFTH AVENUE.
The Effort at Faster Time Proves RuinOus
to the Cables.
NEW SCHEME OF BRUSHT0N PEOPLE

Rumors of the much-talked-of consolida-
ton of the Duquesne and Pittsburg Traction
lines are again coming to the front. They
are accompanied by some developments in
the traction war going to show that under
the present antagonistic state of affairs
neither line can make the success it could
if working in harmony with the
other. Traffic on the Fifth avenue
line, which took boom after the
Scent fares began, is not so
heavy now, and according to a reliable
statement the road has been forced to go
back to its former schedule of running The
fact that with its 5-cent fares the Duquesne
line can carry 40 per cent less passengers
and take in the same amount of money as
its opponent is also significant. Messrs.
Widener and Elkins, of the Philadelphia
rapid transit combination, were reported to
be on their way to Pittsburg to make tour
of inspection over the Duquesne lines, with
a view to making deal They did not
come yesterday.
Mr.. Magee's Flat Contradiction.
C. L. Magee denies all the stories afoat
about a consolidation of the Duquesne and
Pittsburg Traction companies interests.
When asked about it yesterday, he said:
"There is absolutely nothing in it. To
talk about it is simply a waste of time, as
the whole thing is simply ridiculous. That
is all have to say"
Reports at various times of such a con-
solidation have resulted in large amount
of talk on the subject, especially since the
Duquesne line has begun operations and the
Fifth avenue line cut its fares to compete
with its new rival The talk has brought
out some interesting facts about the big
rapid transit fight. 7. O'Leary, Jr., in re-
ply to a query, said yesterday afternoon:
'I have thought all along that the two
roads would come together, though l have
no positive information that they will. 1t is
evident that both the lines under one man
agement could make more money and fare
better in every way than to be operating In
direct opposition to each other as they are
now. The antagonism between them cannot
but result injuriously. Take the Fifth ave-
nue. line, for instance. When the Duquesne
line started it cut its fare down to cents
and increased the speed of its cables Both
these efforts have failed.
Why Consolidation is. Expected.
sIt is we'll known that the Fifth avenue
line is losing money, or at least not making
any, on its Scent fares. While some traffic
is attracted by the reduced price, great
manv people would see no inducement In a
saving of 2 cents on ride. If customer
could purchase tickets for year at cents,
two-ffths off would make a considerable
amount, and many might be led to patron
ize the road on that account; but this is not
the case. Tickets issued in June are not
good next month, which might lead some
people to expect either consolidation or a
return to the Scent fares.
Of ho
increase the speed of its cables and run
large number of extra cars has likewise
proved unsuccessful. The strain on the
cables was entirely too great for them and
they were being badly strained and torn.
Seeing that their cables would be quickly
ruined, they had to go back to their former
speed, and are making no better time now
than before. This all goes to show that the
battle cannot last forever, and leads me to
the belief that consolidation will come"
Mr. Widener Also Denies Rumors.
The following telegram was received last
night from Philadelphia: SIT was reported
a few DAYS ago in Pittsburg that the rival
traction companies in that city had formed
a combination and that after July the g.
cent fares would be abolished; that G. l..
Magee had several long conferences with
Messrs. Kemble, Elkins and Widener and
all had been settled amicably. William L.
Elkins said to-day in reference to this
statement: There is no truth whatever
about it; the statement is made out of whole
cloth. We have had several conferences
about the Pittsburg line, but not with Mr..
Magee, and we do not intend to make any
alteration in the fares or present manage
ment of the line"
The people of Brushton have got tired
waiting for the Duquesne line to reach their
borough. They have been expecting for
months to have some means of getting to
East Liberty other than the Pennsylvania
Railroad. They have seen the Duquesne
tracks along Penn avenue for so
long that it is an old story.
The long-expected cars have not appeared,
and the tracks therefore are only satire
upon the intentions of the company. Now
an enterprising citizen has arranged for a
line of buses to run between Brushton and
East Liberty, to connect with the cable cars
for the city. The convenience is so great
that everybody wonders why it was not
done before
JULES VERNE has excelIed himself in