Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-13
Electricity and Rapid Transit.

From the Age of Steel
The application of electri city to rapid tran
sit has been a success. 1t has radiated from
the congested districts of our cities into subur-
ban areas, where, in response to electrical en-
terprise and sanitary claims, the verdant
fringes of the smoke-clouded town have become
the breezy and healthy homes of thousands.
In speed 1t can satisfy even globe trotter in
cleanliness and comfort it is all the most fastid-
lous can desire, and IN its freedom from the
roar and smoke of the steam tramway it is an
escape from the old conditions that were an
ohense to the ear and a scandal on a clean col
lar Its character as a pu bic carrier being es-
tabllshed the demand for its service will CORE
spond With Its merits. and it simply a ques-
ton OF time when our rural districts will be
more or less included in the areas of electrical
transit.
The state of our public roads has long been a
matter OF mud and remorse. The farmer has
been immersed in a clay pit. and the traveller 4
horse corralled in a quagmire. The corn
elevator and the country store have had to find
stlmulant and nutrition in the memory Of other
days. while large areas of country wanting but
pillow point and seed bag are left to scrub
OAKS and gophers because of their inaccessi.
bilIty to anything but pelican or a frog.
10 remedy this obstruction to internal de.
veiopment various means and methods are
suggested. Railroad and waterways are largely
dependent on the subsidiary turnpike. Block.
ade the rural road and you cork the com.
merclal bottle. The loss to business can only
be approximately calculated by contrasting the
mileage OF railways and wagon roads, There
| are about 5000 miles of one, while the totals
OF the other run up into millions.
In the matter Of improvement it is evident
that the putting of this enormous network o.
turnplkes into repair is gigantic undertaking
and, If done at all, must be accomplished witt
an eye to rermanency rather than to transitory
or lntermitting accommodation. This is the
| more obvious when viewed from the stand
point Of TIE possibilities and resources of mod
| ern motive power.
In the building of iron highways, with theil
locomotive as a fact. success assured. Il
was a matter of extension. and not Of expert
ment, and with multiplied power at a cheaper
cost, the rural deployment Of railways is no
only feasible but inevitable The question O.
cost is conditional and comparative. 1t has t.
be measured by resources and results. As they
maximize, cost declines. What would empty
teacup would be but q drop in tank. W,
have stampeded into millions. both of popula
| ton and cash, and we pay more today for O
state capitol than any one OF its counties
would sell for. In mIllionaires and money W,
may have limits, but they are circumscribeG
| by map and not state.
In the pioneer days of railroads it cost $40 00t
to construct an eighteen-foot railway with
labor wages at 80 cents q day. On this bash
Il
whereas the fact is that half that sum would
build double track railway for electric servic,
on mile OF any country road where the grad,
Is Of the average kind. Steam railways hav,
eaten up financial sandwiches at the rate o.
$4,000 mile. this expense including right o
way, rolling stock and the construction Of ,
road bed permitting the running Of heAv,
trains at high rates Of speed. 1t will be q mat
| ter of availability and management more thar
OF cost that will decide the extension Of electric
railways into our rural districts.
1t is simply. question of time-the remova
of prejudice and the urgencies of trade, ant
the electric car with a freightage Of men ans
corn will utilize the country road, to the savint
of mud, cash and rural profanity. 1t vii
probably be subsidiary rather than arterial
and in country covering not less than 8. 900, 90
square miles, with n population Of 70, 900 ,0OO
| will necessarily be more fractional than com
plete; but in these days Of resourceful energ
and enterprise the prediction Of such resui
may be but an incubating fact.