Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-01
DOING RUSHING BUSINESS.

A Great Sunday for the Traction Cars-The
Pleasant Valleys New Branch Draws
Plenty of Custom-Duquesne and Filth
Avenue Test Speed.
Yesterday was great day for traction
companies all over Pittsburg. The bright
sunshine made many people want to get out
into the suburbs. Besides, there were two
new lines which a greater part of the pop
ulace had not yet tried, and everybody
was curious about them. The Du-
quesne line has been running over
a week, but 1t carried great many passen-
gers Yesterday afternoon who simply went
out of curiosity to see what the line was
like Cars were crowded during the pleas
ant portion of the day, and scarcely any
thing but standing room was obtainable.
The crush kept up until about 10 o'clock at
night, when business began to dwlndle.
The most popular line of the day, however,
was the new Mount Troy branch OF the
Pleasa 1t Valley road. The branch was
equipped with few short cars, having just
been opened up and not much business be-
ing expected. But before the day was over
half dozen large cars were added, and even
then the passengers were not all accommo-
dated Everybody wanted to see where the
new line went to.
ARace Between Rival Cars.
Much has been said about the relative
speed of the Duquesne and Fifth avenue
lines Cable and motor have both claimed
the victory, but until yesterday there was
no real test. About 2 o'clock in the after
noon a gripman on cable car coming into
town slowed up at Craig street to let Du-
quesne car pass. Then there were several
passengers to get on, and by the time the
cable car was ready to start the electric car
was turning the corner and swinging around
to Forbes street. The cars were then about
opposite each other.
''Now Wen see who gets into town first,
said the gripman as he put all his weight on
the lever. Intervening houses shut out the
view until the vicinity of Bellefeld avenue
was reached, when the Duquesne car was
seen to be somewhat behind in the race. At
the top of Soho hill they were in the same
position, but the Duquesne motor man let
out his car going down the hill and spurted
ahead couple of squares. This settled the
matter, as the cable car could not go any
street got on the slow cable. As
result, the Duquesne car rounded
the corner at Diamond and Grant,
crossed the Fifth avenue tracks and was
Just passing out of sight down Sixth avenue
when the cable car reached Grant street.
Each of the cars had made about four stops.
Three-Cent Car Rides Begin To-Day.
The Scent fares on the Pittsburg Traction
line 90 into effect to-day, and anybody in
the city can ride nearly five miles for a trio
of coppers. Notices were posted in promi-
nent places in all the cars yesterday stating
that the reduction of fare would begin to-day.
The Duquesne officials have frequently
stated that they would never come down to
this figure, but could get plenty of custom
at the old rate of cents. They claim they
have great deal of trade with which the
cable cars do not and cannot compete.
Everybody is wondering when the new
electric cars on the Birmingham line will
get into operation. The cars have been run
over the line at a late hour almost every
night, but the old horse cars still carry the
passengers. A week at the greatest will
probably see the new cars running regu-
larly.