The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-11

The Roanoke Street Railway Com
pany arc still pushing the work of ex-
tension and improvements, and are now
moroly waiting for the weather to open
up whom they will extend their lines
on jefferson street.
The engines and boilers have just
been placed in position, and the latter
were tested yesterday and gave perfect
satisfaction. The engine is model OF
neatness and durability, as are the
dynamos which will furnish the current
to send tho new cars Swimming along
the tracks throughout tho city.
The dynamos, boilers and engines arc
located in the building of the Electric
Light Company, corner of Henry street
and Railroad avenue, which has boon
enlarged for that purpose. These
dynamos are of the latest design and
will furnish current sufficient to drive
fifteen or twenty cars, both on the street
lines and the Vinton extension.
The poles for the overhead wires arc
arriving, and tho work of placing them
in position will be begun in few days.
These poles are shipped from North
Carolina, and are Of tho best yellow
pine.
Tho wire and other fixtures have
been on hand for several weeks, and
arc stored away ready to be put up as
soon as the poles are placed.
The present condition of the streets
precludcs all possibility of laying any
track until the mud dries up enough "
b gin operations.
AS soon as tho overhead wires are
erected to Vinton. and tho cars arrive,
the dummy on that extension will be-
transferred to the Salem line, when two
trains will be run between Roanoke and
that city
In talk with General Manager
Christian yesterday, = TIMES reporter,
found that the idea of obtaining per-
mission to run their lines on Salon
avenue between Jefferson and Com
MERGE streets IS by no means abandoned.
On the contrary the management is
more hopeful than ever that all objec-
tionS to this route will soon be cast
aside by the property owners ON that
street, and that no trouble will be en-
countcrcd in obtaining the permission
desired.
Mr.. Christian said that the people
had not fully understood the object of
running the line on Salem avenue, and
wero totally unaware of the fact that it
would be an advantage to the city in
more ways than one
First" said Mr.. Christian, we can
give the public clear, clean belt line
without putting on sidc-tracks or block
ing the way of passing cars. The line
as proposed under this plan. will extend
down Campbell street to Nelson around
the Market house and direct up Salem
avenue. This will do away with the
present lines on jefferson and Com
MERGE streets.
The property owners on Salem
avenue have objected to the line being
run on that street because they say it
would render it impossible for vehicles,
but this is a mistake On the other
hand it will greatly increase business,
and at the same time render it unneces-
sary for so many vehicles TO be used
along that thoroughfare.
81 am satisfied that not one-half the
objection formerly raised to this plan
is now forthcoming and that by tho
time we get ready TO introduce the over
head system, we can get sufficient
number of tho property owners on that
street to sign 4 petition to the Council
asking that the right of way be granted.
Several gentlemen who were for
merly against the measure, came to us
voluntarily and said they were now
willing to sign such petition, that
after understanding the system they
failed to see where it would depreciatc
the value OF, or otherwise injurc, their
property"