Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-08

that will result to IT, but these considora-
lions will not apply to country roads con-
Meeting villages. The formation of the
New England strest railroad syndicate, re-
Gently discussed in the FREE PRESS has
given rise to now possibilities. Street rail-
ways in Massachusetts, are adding to their
plant freight aud baggage cars, and the In
dicatlons are that in few years trunk
lines will DO formed competing with steam
railroads, but, unlike the latter, using the
public highways instead OF a private right
of way. The evils that may follow can easily
be foreseon. The electric road, even when
operated az street car line, will interfere
TO some extent with the use by others of the
highway it occupies; but IL made part Of
trunk line it will gradually drive ali other
traffic from such roads and greatly multi
ply the dangers 0: grade crossings. The
threatened evils should bs faced before the
companies have acquired rights OF (which
they cannot be dispossssssd.
II electric street railways wish to build
connecting links and form trunk lines
through the country they should be made to
conform to the same regulations as do
s'eeh TAITchus' IL Juey ure 10 De street
railways md to occupy public highways
they should be limited 10 such use Of their
road is usually made by street railways.
If, on the other hand, they desire to be rail
roads and to enjoy the privileges of steam
roads with respect to speed Of trains and the
carrying OF freight, then they should be re-
quired to buy their right OF way, and make
provisions for the protection of the public
at such crossings.
We would not be understood, however, as
objocting to the electric lines entering in to
competition with the steam railroads; for
the electric lines will be of great benefit to
sections which could not be reached profita-
bly, hy steam cars. The suburban freight
problem is already beginning to attract at
tenton and the demand for this transpor.
taton will rapidly increase as the popua-
ton Increases. The advantages of modern
methods Of transportation are convincingly
shown by Hardware, a trade publication,
which says;
The item OF truckaga in metropolitan
cities, New York, Tor instance, Is more
on parcsl than 1t ia for the carrying of
the same thousands OF miles by ocean
and hundreds by railway. The stua-
| ton ut present is anamoous. A pas
seuger pays $50 to so to Chicago, while
! 100 pounds OF freight costs, say, fifty cents
When, however, the passenger reaches New
! York he paws five cents to trave ten miles,
and for his trunk fifty cents or more for the
same distance. His trunk goes behind the
horse, as it did q century ago, nut he goes
| by steam or electricity, a means of trans
portation in this hardly two decades
| old.
| In like manner, though in less degree
the electric railroad will reduce the cost of
rams )ortation and freight in country dis
tricts, and their building under proper re
strictons, is to be encouraged in every pos
sible way.
1t is barely possible that in the competi-
ton which is opening up between electric
lines and steam railroads we behold the true
character of the contest between steam and
electricity. Electricity may never supplani
steam ms a motive power upon railroads, a:
built at present, but the chances are that
electric roads Will largely supplant III,
steam railway, and this Is the direction in
which the problem is at present shaping it
self.