Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-06
ONE LINE OF MANY.
Several Traction Roads to BE United
Under a Single Management.
THE BIRMIEGHAM'S SHREWD MOVE
Eight Branches That Are to Be Operated
as lis Feeders.
LIVELY REAL ESTATE BOON EXPECTED

way construction on the Southside. during
the coming spring and summer, followed, it
is confidently expected, by the opening up
for residence purposes of much of the most
desirable land that is at present almost cut
off from the lines of travel.
There are a number of street railway lines
over there that exist only on paper, others
that have been partly constructed. and others
again that are run comparatively short dis
tances.
The Southside Passenger Railway Com
pany has had practically all the travel
along the river, and considerable Of that
upon the hills. Under q scheme of consoli-
dation that is now on foot, that company
will greatly increase les capacity. and open
up lines the charters for which were granted
year or more ago, and some of which have
been lying in abeyance ever since.
Eight Lines to He Consolidated.
There are eight street car lines on the
Southside, about which but little has been
heard. They are the Rural street, Arling-
ton avenue ana Lower st. Clair railways, the
Mexican street, the Pittsburg. Homestead and
Munhll street. the Jane street, the Bingham
street and the Bedford and South Ninth street
roads. The idea is TO consolidate the first three
under one management and the remaining
eight under another set of officers. For this
purpose meeting OF the stockholders of each
road has been called for the Goth of this month.
1t is believed that the Southside Company
will have a controlling interest in both organi-
cations, at least, If not, the three companies
will work in harmony An officer of the
Southside Company, in speaking of the con-
soldation yesterday, said that the idea was to
build the lines for which char ters had been OBJ
tanned as soon as the ground was IN proper
condition, to finish the uncompleted roads, and
The eight roads, he said, we're excellenr feeders
for the bigger road, and it is with the object of
bringing out that advantage that the cOnsoli-
dation will be made.
All Are to Be Electric Roads.
In further conversation he said that in the
course of a few weeks the Soutbside, or Bir-
mingham. road would be ready to put on its
electric cars. The smaller roads would be
equipped in the same way and by early sum
mer it was hoped they would be In full run
ming order This official was enthusiastic over
what. he said. would be of great benefit to resi-
dents across the Monongahela. though he was
sorry the news of the consolation had got
abroad so soon.
With all these roads working together, the
Southsde Company, with the Suburban Trac-
tion Company. will control nearly all the street
car travel on that side OF the river. The COM
pany owns and operates the short line on
Twelfth street running from Carson street to
the Mount Oliver Incline. From the top of the
incline they control two roads, one running to
nue. line, is to run to Allentown. This road
has been in operation for several years. Its
direct connection with the incline has made it
an excellent feeder, but as yet it has been COM
pleted only as far as the tollgate.
Condition of the Roads.
been laid the distance its charter calls for with
the exception OF about one square. This will
be one of the lines first completed. The Pitts
burg, Homestead and Munhill line is laid as far
as the city line. The road starts from Thrteth
street and will eventually run to Homestead.
Not spade has been turned on the Mexican
street line. This street runs from First to
Fourth street, parallel with Carson. Nothing
has been done on the Bingham street road.
This street begins at Fourth street and runs
done upon the Bradford and South Ninth
street road, or upon the proposed line on Jane
street. Work will begin though as soon as the
weather permits The Rural road is practically
a continuation of the Southside road proper
and is in excellent condition.
A well-known Southside resident, in speaking
of the proposed consolidation and completion
of the lines mentioned above, remarked that
better street car facilities were needed, not
only in the lowland, but upon the hill. A great
many promises had been made by certain COM
panies as to what would happen when their
lines were completed, and the people had been
waiting patiently for the promised good time.
1t had not come yet. Still, he believed that the
coming summer would witness a boom in
SouthsiGe real estate. The street railways, in
conjunction with the suburban electric which
it was positively stated would open up early in
spring. would do much to attract real estate
men and people seeking homes to the South
side.
The speaker thought the Southside had not
been fairly treated in number of instances by
had rah af rail ohar
ters. They had done nothing themselves but
make promises only to break them, and thus
not only disappoint people who had bought
property thinking they would have some de-
cent transit, but kept people who were willing
to do something toward developing desirable
sections from entering the field.