Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24
COMBINING TO SAVE CASH.
A Court Decision That Helps the
West End Electric Scheme.
WILLIAMSBURG is TO BE TAPPED.
Iotor Roads That Will Connect With Many
Thriving Suburbs
TROUBLE AT A NILLVILE MEETING

tinue?" asked a gentleman connected with
one of the largest lines in the city. He
said that in from five to seven years Nc
Keesport and Beaver will be connected with
electric lines via Pittsburg, and it will be
possible to make the trip more quickly and
cheaply than it can now be done on the rail-
roads.
There are numerous indications to support
the gentleman's prophecy. Already line
is in course of construction from Allegheny
to Bellevue in one direction, preparations
are under way to reach out to Braddock in
another and the court decision handed down
Yesterday in favor of the West End Passen-
ger Railway against the Point Bridge Com
pany shows the progress being made in
getting an electric line that will connect
with Mansfield, Grafton and other towns
down in that section.
Saving Money by Consolidation.
There are many rumors afoat just now
shout combinations of various kinds among
the street railways 1t is known that one
combination, presumably that in control of
the Pittsburg and Duquesne lines, is nego-
tiating for control of several other lines in
the two cities with a view to swelling the
receipts of all by interchanging power and
traffic.
1t is estimated that from $500, 900 to $780, :
600 a year could be saved in the
operation of the Pittsburg, Duquesne,
Manchester, Birmingham and Gen.
tral Traction lines if they were
all operated under one management, and if
h. Tal1 4
added the saving would probably reach
$4,000 more. The saving would largely be
made up in supplying power, which, under
the proposed arrangement, could be fur
nished TO large extent to all the lines
from central depot from which they all
would radiate.
Cutting Down Fancy Salaries
The cutting off of high-priced officials on
each line and the advantage gained by
bulky buying in materials and equipment
would also be factors in reducing the net
expense, while the experience of those in
charge would assist in making the lines
more popular and increasing traffic. These
are arguments that will be used in support
of the proposed combination for profit when
1t is completed.
The directory of the Pittsburg and
Duquesne lines viii each hold a meeting
during the present week and probably
Joint meeting Will be held afterward. What
is to be considered aside from, arranging
details Tor the extension of the lines is not
known TO outsiders The extensions pro-
jected are, however, of interest to many. 1t
is understood that proposition will be
made bY which the West End line will
oF. IL, IT,,
and a transfer system arranged where the
two lines come together at the foot of Fifth
avenue, thus giving straight route from
Williamsburg to Grafton, to which the West
End line will be extended when the electric
system is completed.
The Duquesne Going to Williamsburg.
Another point that will be taken under
consideration will be the extension of the
Duquesne line on Hamilton avenue, for
merly Grazier street, into Williamsburg.
This extension has already been arranged
for, the company has bought considerable
property along the route in order to secure
8 right OF way, and arrangements are now
being made between Chief Bigelow and the
company to lay its tracks on Hamilton
avenue while the street is being paved
during the early summer.
The opening of this line will be great
advantage TO the Duquesne company. 1t
not only gives an entrance to Williamsburg
without crossing the Pennsylvania Rail
road at grade, but taps the town in new
place and draws traffic from thickly
built-up section within the city limits that
has not been touched before. As Chief
Bigelow puts it, Hamilton avenue is lined
with nickels, y and that branch will be one
OF the best paying feeders the Duquesne
company Will have.
Competing Lines to the Borough.
The Citizens Traction Company also has
designs on Williamsburg. At the meeting
of the directors last week it was decided to
extend the line that far and to change it
from horse to an electric line. The presi-
dent of the company was autorized to ne
gotiate with the Duquesne management for
an arrangement bv which the Citizens cars
can return from Williamsburg part of the
way on the Duquesne tracks and allowing
the Duquesne cars TO use the Citizens
tracks in return. As the Duquesne is now
compelled to use the Frankstown avenue
branch Of the Citizens line for part of the
Duquesne's Larimer avenue branch, their
position is such that an agreement will
probably be reached if the Citizens COM
pany insists.
The purchase of property for increasing
the storage capacity of the Duquesne and
Fifth avenue lines is being considered.
When the Duquesne road was first conceived
c. /. Magee and Senator Finn purchased
the Baymer and Schmertz residence proper
ties, fronting Fifth avenue, from Craig to
Neville streets, and running back to the
Neville street engine house. They divided
the property into half, built the enormous
car barn on the rear and secured right of
way thereby from Craig street to the lower
end of Ellsworth avenue
Change of Original Plans
The handsome residences were kept in
tact, but the original intention was to tear
them down and build on the Fifth avenue
front a row of 80 handsome stone-front
dwellings Now the consolidated traction
companies are negotiating for the purchase
of the property with the intention of build
ing another car barn on the rear of it, where
the houses are, and long five-story tene-
ment fiat with storerooms on the ground
floor fronting Fifth avenue. The property
is thought to be deep enough to allow the
erection OF large building on the rear for
storing cars rot in use and for a repair
shop, which the company badly needs
The plans for the summer traffic on the
Fifth Avenue and Duquesne lines are being
rapidly formulated A general change in
will be adopted on May 1, particu-
larly on the Duquesne branches on High
land, Center and Negley avenuek The
question of summer cars will be settled at
the directors meetings this week.
A DoubIe-Decker Grip Car.
The double-decked grip car for the Fifth
Avenue line has not yet been tried, but
Colonel Elkins said last night that
it will be run to-day if the
weather is pleasant The difficulty
in getting this car out has been
that it would not pass under the