Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09
THE wAsHINGToNIAN IN BERLIN,

THE WESTINGHOUSE IN BERLIN,
l. noting municipal features that commend
themselves for adoption in his own city, Is
struck by the cleanness both of the broad
streets and of the obscure byways, testifying to
the excellence Of the STRENGTHENING and
garbage systems He is attracted by the alb
sence Of overhead wires and towering poles
and by the admirable railro ad terminal and
local rapid transit facilities Valuable sug-
gestions in all these matters may be derived by
developing Washington in its struggle for
healthful cleanliness, the burial of disisurins
wires and adequate railroad terminals. The
lesson taught on the last point found espe-
. cially novel and instructive.
Like London and Paris Berlin has ''ring''
railroad, circling the city and furnishing both
local rapid transit and city terminals and q
connecting link to the great trunk lines.
THE FINEST ELEVATED ROAD IN THE WORLD.
1t has also, which they have not a road
which follows, though with many deviations
from q straight line, the diameter of the sub
urban ring. This road traverses the very heart
Of the city. At intervals along it are mag
nifcent stations, constructed with all the mod
ern improved devices, including that of abso-
lutte separation of incoming and outgoing
traffic, from which issue trains for ST. Peters
burg or Paris. as well as the local rapid
transit trains. This city road or "Stadtbahn''
connects with the ring-road ('.Ring- bahn') at
Strslau-Rummelsburgh on the east and West
end on the west 1t is the most celebrated
elevated railway in Europe. 1t is So miles
long. and its four tracks. two for distant travel
and two for local business, are carried on an
arched viaduct of masonry, and on iron bridges
with massive masonry abutments in crossing
the streets 1t has in all sixty-six bridges over
streets and water courses.
Its general elevation is about twenty fee.
above that Of the street. 1t is about fifty feet
broad 1t is primarily intended to relieve the
street traffic, bat five stations structures of
impressive size and most admirable arrange
ment. also used for general traffic The
Friedrichstrasse station has an immense
vaulted hall 30 feet wide and 492 feet long.
The main line with its SO miles, has ten stations.
The North Ring is r. Sc miles long. with twelve
stations. The South Ring is $3.50 miles long.
with nine stations. The local rates Of fare are
very cheap. the purpose being to encourage
the building Of suburban residences. Local
trains now run about every three minutes. The
speed Of trains between stations must not ex-
coed twenty-eight miles an hour and the run
Is made at an average speed of about sixteen
miles an hour. including the frequent stops.
probably as fast" says Mr.. Osborne Howes of
the Boston rapid transit commission who has
recently made an admirable report on the sub
tect. las any similar service in the world" In
no part of the system, of course. is there a
street crossed at grade. nor is there any railway
track crossed except at a different elevation
SOME ATTRACTIVE FEATURES OF THE srADrBAHS
In examining the Stadtbahn in the vicinity
OF several Of the largest stations / was much
impressed with the manner in which the objec-