The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-18
A TROLLEY LINE TO TYBEE.
a Scheme to Rebuild and Equip the
Road With Electricity.


The Tybee railroad may be equipped
with electricity when it is rebuilt. It is
known that the Central railroad officials
considered the idea of equipping the road
with electricity once before, and made
investigations as to the cost of equipment
and operation. The cost of electric rail
way supplies was much greater then than
it is now, and the idea was abandoned.
1t is said that the Central officials are
now considering the idea of engaging with
one of the street railway companies of the
city to equip aad operate the TYbee line.
Doubtless they would prefer to make a
complete sale of the road, but this is not
likely.
The equipping of the line to
Tybee with electricity is not
such great job after all.
II is only IS miles. President Collins of
the Electric Railway Company, says that
it could be supplied with poles and first
class car equipment for $75, 600 This
would not include the power house, which
would cost as much more, but it would
not be necessary to build a power house
as either of the present street railway
lines could furnish the power to operate
the line. Operating long distance lines
by electricity is now very simple thing
In fact much longer lines than
the Tybee road are new being
successfully operated by electricity It
is only necessary TO run a large overhead
feed wire to supply additional current to
the trolley wire, and larger under
ground wire, for returning the current
There would be no engineering difficulties
in the way.
1t will cost from SIS, 900 to S3O, 900 to re-
pair the Tybee road, and put it in good
condition for operation. Add the cost of
putting it in repair to the cost of equip
ping it with electricity, and the total
would amount to 100000, that would be
required TO get the road ready for opera
tion by electricity.
There is no doubt that if the road were
operated by electricity with a irst-class
car equipment the travel would be great
ly increased. Trains of three or four
cars each could be run every half hour or
oftener when there was rush
and the people who missed
one train would not have TO wait two or
three hours for the next, as has often
happened when there was a rush. The
| easy facilities for reaching the island
would cause great many more people to
go there, especially during the week
| Heretofore, except on Sundays and eXcur-
sion days. the crowds that visited the
island during the week were small and it
was only on special days that there was a
rush. Inc electric cars cOulu easily make
30 minute schedule or even less, which
is less than the trains drawn by locomo-
! tives have been making.
Another feature about the electric rail-
! way to Tybee is that the track could be
run down the beach instead of back in
| the woods. This would afford great ac-
! commodation to the people going from one
/ end of the island to the other A
regular street car service could be
| given to the island independent of the
! through service to the city.
On days when there was a rush to the
! island, the cars traversing the beach
would not be able to carry the people
who wanted to ride. Electricity would
be a great thing for Tybee.
The electric street car lines have been
the making of Thunderbolt, and there is
reason to believe that they would do as
much for Tybee.