Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-02
ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY.

ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY.
Harper's Weekly contains an inter-
esting article giving 4 history of cleo
trio street railways during the past
five Years. 1t finds that the develop
ment OF the new transportation sys-
TEN has been very remarkable. At the
close Of last year there were in this
country 10,599 miles of street railway,
with 55,SS7 cars. OF these 4,O61 miles
were electric. The total of horse, cable,
and electric mileage had increased dur
ing the year 1891, 1,49O miles, but cleo
trlcity standing by itself had increased
1,53S miles. The total of horse, cable
and electric cars had increased during
the year 1896 cars. OF this number
$500 were propelled by electricity.
There were at the end of the year seven
times as many miles of electric road as
of cable, and almost twice as many
electric cars as there were
cable cars There Were at
the end Of the year something over 400
electric roads in operation in America
Last March is is estimated that of the
sixteen cities in the United States hay
ing over 100000 inhabitants, fourteen,
or 81 per cent. were equipped with
electric roads. Of the ~ cities having
between $4,000 and 100000 Inhabitants
fl, or 81 II per cent, had electric roads
OF the remaining 391 cities with a pop
ulation of over 5000 it is said that there
are not a score that have not electric
roads or are not preparing to introduce
the system. Since March every one Of
the larger cities referred to as exceptions
in the above percentages have fallen in
this comparatively new method of
rapid transit, and the investment to date
is said to be over S1OO,OOO.OOO.
In spite of this very general adoption
of the electric system of transit through
out the country, the advocates Of the
trolley are obliged to confess that there
is only one road in operation--that in
Washington which is properly equip
ped. In large cities, they say, one con-
dition should be insisted upon when
franchises are granted by the authori-
ties, and that if this condition is COM
piled with, much Of the objection to an
overhead system would disappear. The
company holding the franchise should
be compelled to make the construction
Of the very best 1t is declared that
the only overhead wire necessary is the
contact wire. which need not be more
than third of an inch in diameter:
that the main conductors and feeders
should be put underground in proper
conduits. In broad streets where the
tracks occupy only small portion of
the street and are near together, q line
of poles ornamental in design, as is
the case in Washington and along Main
street in Madison. and not less than
$50 feet apart and with arms project
ing on either side, could follow the
center Of the track and could be util-
lied for electric lighting
But as the roads are usually construct
ed, the popular objection to the over
head system is, Harper's Weekly de-
clares. by no means without reason.
since it is dangerous to life and proper
ty. and an eye-sore which is only equal
ed by the elevated road structures in
New York city. Corporations are prov
erbially "soulless'' and when they see
an opportunity Of cutting down their
operating expenses from 80 to 80 per
cent. they are not likely to develop
sufficient conscience to resist the tempt
alton so long as they are granted the
privileges they ask or demand without
having the slightest restrictions placed
upon their actions.