Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-26
RAPID TRANSIT PROSPECTS.

Talk Of the Central Reaching Out to Will
kinsburg by New Routs-Center Av-
enue Branch Of tho Duquesne to Be
Used Again as . Main Line.
Now that the expected suit against the
Pittsburg Traction Company has been shut
off by the magnates purchasing the stock of
the prosecutor, T. I. Bigelow, those inter-
ested in street railway matters who have
been looking forward to trial in that
case have turned their attention to build
ing new lines. A rumor was ahoat last
evening that the Central Traction Company
was making preparations to continue its line
to Williamsburg, making use of the Center
avenue electric branch, which is to be put in
operation next week. According to the re-
Liberty, which it secured when the cable
road franchise was granted, and, instead of
running the electric branch to Heron Hill,
as at present constructed, the line is to be
extended over the entire franchise, and an
ordinance Is to be asked for to let it into
Williamsburg by a route north of that
of the Duquesne line.
Investigation Of this rumor last night
failed to substantiate it to any extent, al
though some other information of interest
was gained. City Clerk Booth said that to
the best of his knowledge the Central Trac-
tion Company had no rights of way beyond
those now carried by its tracks and if any
such extension of its line is in contempla-
tion it must be secured from Councils
Vice President J. A. Gillespie, the active
head of the Central, is sick in bed, and none
of the other officials of the company seen
would or could furnish any information on
the subject.
President Elkins, when spoken to about it,
said: 1.-THE Central people have no rights of
way out there, and there is probably moth
ing in the story. 1t is possible that the
rumor started from an announcement that the
Center avenue branch of the Duquesne line
is'to be made main line again instead of a
branch, and cars will be run around and
down to the city as they were last summer.
This is to be dofe within couple of weeks,
and we have been making preparations for
it tor several days."
Is it likely that the Duquesne line will
be extended to Williamsburg on a route
north of its present one?"
"Well, a new territory could be opened
up in that section lying north Of Penn ave-
nue., but am not prepared to say what we
propose to do until we have board meet
ing next month. Such matters must be
acted upon before they are made public"
'"Then there is some talk of move of
that kind?"
II can't tell you anything about it."
In further talk Colonel Elkins said
preparations were being made to improve
the service on the Pittsburg and Duquesne
lines tor the summer traffic. Double deck
cars are to be tried on the Fifth avenue
cable road, and, if successful, will be
adopted generally. Summer cars are to be
put on the electric line as fast as they can
he Pm IF ! he
cars for the cable road will be built on
plan entirely different from any ever
used, and the first one is to be tried in
Pittsburg. 1t has already been built, and
is expected here every day. Several of the
summer electric cars are also due within
the next week. In addition to making
the Center and Negley avenue line a
through line, as formerly, the Highland
avenue line is to be similarly managed as
soon as the travel to Highland Park will
justify.