The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-24
ELEcrRlc ROADS IN on1o.
xhey Nay Soon Form . Continaoue
Lilac Across the state.

They May Soon Form . Censinueus
Line Across the state.
New York SUN.
In no state of the Union has the system
OF suburban electric railroads been
adopted e extensively as in Ohio. Within
two years there have been 3 number of
lines constructed connecting many Of the
more important towns of the state, partic-
ulariy in the northern portion, and
within the next two years there will be .
perfect gridiron of rails following the
crooked country roads that have hitherto
been livened only by the numbering v heels
of the wagons of the farmers.
All the railroads thus built and pro-
lected are operated By the trolley system
of overhead wires. They are to accommo-
date both freight and passenger traffic. In
the former capacity it is anticipated they
will be Of invaluable aid to the truck
gardeners in enabling them TO get their
produce 80 the markets fresh.
The most important electric suburban
road In operation in the state 1t the
present time 10 the one between the
towns of Canton and MassilIon. 1t is
eight miles in length. and the places thus
connected are two of the most important
OF the interior towns. This road has the
contract for carrying the United States
mails. and its passenger traffic is uncom-
monty large. not only because of the inter-
course common to the two towns, since
one OF them is the county seat, but be-
cause, strange as it may appear, it serves
as an important railway connection.
In addition to this road there is one be-
tween Canal Dover and New Philadelphia,
the latter being the county seat of Tusca-
rawas county. There is another between
Welisville and East Liverpool bordering
the Ohio river, and both are successful.
The number of miles OF projected road Of
this description is not less than 200. Upon
portion of this mileage work has already
begun. The towns of Norwalk and San
dusky will be connected with road that
is expected to be in operation by the LIST of
August. This line will pass through q
number of smaller places that are tribu-
tary to the terminals. and it is expected
that 1t will be paying investment from
the start. 1t will traverse the fruit belt of
Northern Ohio, that has always lacked
suitable transportation facilities, and by
the conveyance of fruit alone may yield q
handsome dividend. A railroad is pro-
jected from Fostoria to Tiffin. 1t will be
thirteen miles in length and strong in
passenger traffic.
Two lines have been built from Cleve-
land to suburban points, and both have
proved profitable investments since their
completion. One of them is to be utilized
In the future for the transportation of
vegetables and fruit to the city market,
and it is declared that the gardeners can
make greater profit by using this line
than by retaining large stables of horses to
DO the work.
On the south shore of Lake Erie, near
the group Of islands that il famous BY rea-
son of the successful battle that Commo-
dore Perry won over the British vessels,
there are number of summer resorts
When the entire system of electric rail-
roads has been completed in the northern
part of the state it will be possible to
reach these resorts from Clevelrnd by
means of the electric railroads alone.
By reducing the fare on the electric
lines to figure lower than that charged
BY the steam railroads for local travel it
has been found an easy matter to COM
pete with the steam lines for local traffic,
and in the future the latter will find cleo
tricity their most active enemy in the
passenger field.
The construction of so many lines along
the highways of the state has opened .
new field for the lawmakers. There is con-
siderable danger of accident when cars are
bowling along at rate Of speed little
slower than the average freight train, and
several people have been injured by col
lision or by runaway accidents caused by
the fright of their horses at the cars. 1t is
proposed, also, to demand that the new
roads pay portion of their gross receipts
to the counties which they traverse for the
privilege of using the highways.
Within five years it is not improbable
that person DESTROYS of making the trip
will be able to cross from the eastern to
the western limit of the state by the cleo
trio lines.