Connecticut western news., 1891-02-04
PROGRESS OF RAPID TRANSIT.
Otatistics Prove That the Horse Car h
 Fast Losing Its Usefulness.


 Fast Losing It's Usefulness.
 At the convention of the American Street Railway association at Buffalo, in many ways one of the most impor- tant gatherings of the kind ever seen in this country, President Lowry congrat- ulated the association on the progress which had been made in the work of the association since its organization in 1882. He alluded to the fact that the United States government had recog- nized the growing importance of city passenger traffic by incorporating in its census statistics for 1890 a report ou street railways in cities of over 50. coo inhabitants.
 In this report fifty-dx cities are in- eluded, and out of 8 total of 3, 150 miles of track possessed by them 2,351 miles ars operated by horses, 260 miles by electricity, 255 miles by cable and 221 miles by steam. In the smaller cities electricity is being generally adopted, and there are already in operation in cities and towns under 50, GOO inhabit- ants about 1,600 miles of electric street railway. Mir. Lowry added:
 I am so thoroughly convinced that electricity is the coming power for street railways (e1cept heavy grade. where the cable is best suited), and that it will prove effective as a means of rapid transit in cities, that believe this is the last convention that will ever seriously consider horses for the opera tion of street railways. When the peo- pie of city clearly understand the great benefits of rapid transit by cleo txicity or other improved motive power over horses, they will demand that their city authorities grant such rights as will enable street railway companies to operate by the most improved methods.
 Heretofore street railway securities have been looked upon with favor by the financial world. However, since they have been operated by electricity. the financial men of the country are looking to it's development and appi cation to street railways as an addition al reliable security for the investment of savings and trust funds. This should encourage street railway companies to give their various cities the most inn proved and best possible service They will not only please their patrons, but the investment will prove very profit able. If street railway companies do this no better security can be offered $<>p. Ina of phan than a good street railway bond in Q thriving city.
 People have not yet begun to realize what an immensely important factor the increase of speed in city travel may become. It has been found that in- creasing the speed of the cars a given percentage inevitably increases the par tronage in nearly the same ratio, while the operating expenses are increased by very small fraction of this percent age.
 An instance of this has occurred at Davenport, la, where it has been found, taking the record for one year, that the total expense of operating five horse cars was $10, $40, while five elec- tric cars cost $11.270 to operate during the same time, or it cost to operate the same number of cars 1-2 per cent. more by electricity than by horses The gross earnings for the twelve months of the same equipments were, horses e15, ,897, electricity $23, 67O.
 It will thus be seen that although the operating expenses were increased 3 1-2 per cent. where electricity was used, the earnings were increased very nearly 50 per cent, or in other words the substitution of electricity resulted in a net gain of more than 46 per cent, owing to the increased patronage in- duced by the improved service.- Pittsburg Dispatch.