Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-17
TO TRY ELECTRICITY
In Place of Steam Power on the Castle
Shannon Railroad.
THE METHOD THAT is PROPOSED
To Meet the Demand for Rapid Transit and
Increased Facilities.
ANNUAL ELECTION OF THE COMPANY

J
company on Carson street. The reports of
the different officers were presented and ap-
proved. The election for President and
Board of Directors was very quiet, although
there was an opposition ticket in the field.
Mr.. John jain, the former superintendent,
and James Brown were candidates, but did
not make any decided fight and as a result
the old board were reelected almost unani-
mously.
1t was learned that some of the stock
holders we're in favor of changing the mo-
tive power to electricity. DIR. G. G..
Rahauser is an ardent advocate of the plan,
and when seen yesterday said that he did
not see why the plan was not feasible.
''My idea," said the doctor, 'fs to wire
the road, put on five or six motors and have
switches laid at convenient places along the
line, and by this means we can have four
cars in operation, with a reserve car at
either end. By this method we can handle
the increased traffic without causing the
annoying delay of a half an hour or an hour
by waiting for train.
Might as Well Be the First.
Electricity is the coming motive power,
and we might as we'll be the first as the last
to adopt it. Besides the cost of the wiring,
motors and dynamos will not exceed the
cost of two locomotives which will have to
be purchased very soon to meet the in
creased traffic. My plan would be to change
the seats in our cars to the side seats, and
when necessary car could be added to the
30
more passengers.
'In this day of rapid transit the general
public get tired waiting and where they
have to wait any length of time tor trans
pOrtation to and from their homes 1t be-
comes monotonous and very soon they drift
away along the lines that give rapid transit
and increased accommodations. There is
no reason to my mind, said the doctor,
"why the plan should not be adopted. l
had intended to place the matter before the
stockholders at the meeting to-day, but un-
fortunately 1 was sick and unable to be
present, but that will not deter me from
agitating the question. L have had the
matter under consideration for the past
year, and the more I thought of it the more
certain I became that it is Just what is
needed to build up our road and the towns
along the line.
Would Develop the Territory.
sWith rapid transit people will soon see
the advantages of the country through
which our road runs, ana as a consequence
there will be decided increase in popula-
tion. Another thing is that the fare should
be but cents for the entire trip. That
will also be an attraction that will increase
the traffic of itself. What is wanted most
is rapid transit, cheap fares, good location
and pure air. All of these, if my plan is
adopted, we will have. With our short dis
tances to the city and without the heavy
taxes, there is an advantage that the other
rural districts cannot begin to touch"
The report of Secretary and Treasurer
Reamer shows decided increase in busi-
ness during the past yen The coal busi-
ness shows an increase of 538, 222 bushels. or
$34. $50 SO over the previous year. The
total number of passengers carried was 741,-
919, an increase of 147, ,459 and cash in
crease of 1861 92. The new plane has
been in successful operation since March Z,
and Plane No. 2 is rapidly nearing COM
pletion. All the machinery and iron work
has been finished and ready for erection.
By this connection the tunnel will be
avoided and more track room will be pro-
vided for the increasing coal business.
A Purchase of Coal Land.
During the past year 107 acres of coal
land were purchased and are now available.
The following are the receipts for the year:
From coal and coke, S73, ,S35 Is; passengers,
freight and mail, S43, 410 1S: interest and
rents, S62S d. sales of real estate and
scrap, $3,357 80; total, rS121, ,231 A. Ex-
penditures, salaries, s67, ,573 05; rental, feed,
light, fuel and coal taken out, S15,-
529 IA; taxes, insurance, legal services
and printing, sS,572 "a; wheels, repairs,
hardware, ropes, ETC., S12, 1881 80; oil and
water, s949 73; total, S1o5, ,OO6 So, leaving a
total earning of SIG, 224 Sc, with interest on
bonds, S12, 262 3S, leaving net earning of
So, ,962 48.
The following is the board of officers
elected: President, Walter Chess; directors,
Jacob Geib, L. S. McKallip, James M.
Bailey, w. H. Brunt, P. F. Schuchman,
James R. Redman, Fl. Dana Rolfe, Charles
Zugsmith, Jr., II. 7. Morris and j. M.
Conroy.
The report of Superintendent o. A.
Rogers was Also presented. Not an acci-
dent of any kind occurred. The station
houses have been repaired and the old pas
senger plane put in condition to handle
coal by gravity in place of steam. The
roadbed has been improved by the renewal
of about 9, 800 cross ties. The rolling stock
and equipment have been increased by the
addition of one new combined baggage and
smoking car and one new fiat car. New
coaches and some new coal cars
are needed to accommodate the increasing
traffic, says the superintendent in con-
clusion.