Evening journal., 1893-03-07
LINING TROLLEY WIRES.
The Electric Systems Great
Growth in Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA AWAY BEHIND.

ing Keystone State Hamlets Into Thriv-
ing Cities, While Philadelphia Council !
men Delay Ordinances for Street Ser
.-vice Reform-A Newspapers Vivid Com
parison.
The rapid introduction Of trolley rail !
roads into Pennsylvania towns is trans |
forming sleepy, residential communities |
into busy cities. The Philadelphia Re
cord compares the passage of numerous
ordinances favoring the trolley through |
out the state to the flibustering tactics
of Philadelphia Councils.
Already the old turnpikes connecting
numerous towns along their routes are
being transformed into continuous lines
of trolley roads, and before summer is
over it is expected that more than 500
miles of electric roads will be in opera
tion between the towns in the eastern
districts of the state, with 500 additional
miles projected and begun.
These systems will be from 10 10 100
miles in length, and two of those pro-
iected at least viii form trunk lines
running from Harrisburg to Philadel
phia, and from Allentown TO Philadel-
phia. That these lines are destined to
catch an immense amount of the short
riding suburban travel. now held by the
steam railroads, goes without say
ing, as they will carry cheaper, aud can
make more frequent stops This has
already been proven even in the country
surrounding Philadelphia and Bucks
Delaware and Chester counties will be-
fore long be gridironed with connecting
lines.
These are only few of the more i'm
important Of the many roads already
chartered They are a fair sample of
what is being done in the rest of the
state, especially those sections where
turnpikes are convenient on which to
run the lines That the trollies cost
money there is little doubt; but that
they are profitable is also a fact The
majority of the country lines are owned
principally by capitalists not living
along the lines. To properly construct
a road, outside of the cities, where paw
ing has to be done for the franchises.
costs over S35, 600 per mile, including
power house, and about 81 700 per mile
for the extensions One power house
can operate eight miles of trolley in any
direction, and for that reason the power
houses are built in a central towN and
the roads branch out from it to surround
ing towns.
To Garry Freight Also.
trunk lines, cOnfne their business to
carrying passengers, but light box-cars
carrying FIVE tons of freight will be
utilized to carry truck, express packages
and light freight to and from country
towns and villages along the route In
fact the freight business has already
been introduced on the trolley line run
ming from West Chester to Lenni where
the trolley connects with the Whining
ton and Northern Railway. Many of
these lines will be so constructed as ia
form connections with the Philadelphia
trolley lines, so that residents of the
surrounding country will be able to jump
right on a trolley car in front of theil
homes and travel by electricity into the
heart of Philadelphia
AS a general thing the country turn
pixies will be utilized for these. suburban
trolleys, and the Harrisburg trunk line
which will take in Lancaster, will b'
largely run on the old Lancaster Pike
and will probably connect with one o
the Traction trolleys i'm West Philadel
phia While the trunk lines are no
expected to do large business in through
travel, especially the Harrisburg AM
Allentown lines the trolley will cut int
the steam roads immensely in the loca
travel between the numerous town
which line these roads
Affecting Steam Road Traffic.
This fact has already been demon
strated in the coal regions where
number Of trunk lines are in operation
notably the Schuylkill Traction Roa
and the Wilkesbarre and Wyomin
Valley Traction Road. The Schuyllzi,
road has already % miles in operation
and another mile viii be complete
this week This road is run by on
power house, in Girardville, to whic
the road runs from Locust Dale, throug
Ashland. From Girardville the road el
tends in two branches, one running
Mahanoy City and the other to Shenar
doah. The road runs past 40 collieri'
and through a population Of about 20
O00
The Wilkesbarre and Wyoming Va
Icy Road Is a still more conspicuoI
illustration OF what the trolleys 81
bound to do. When completed it wi
form a trunk line of 81 miles, throug
the Wyoming and Lackawanna Va
leys One terminus will be Nanticol
and the other Carbondale, and alol
the line will be such towns and citi,
as Plymouth, Kingstown, South Wilke
barre, Wilkesbarre. Exeter Pittsto
West Pittston, Wyoming, Ashley, l.
zerne, Maltby aud Scranton Much
this road will run along the Providen
and Carbondsle turnpike, which is thi
with collieries and their suuoundi
villages.
The line will be mads.up Ct four co
Meeting trolley roads: The Wilhesbsr
and Wyoming Valley, running fro
Nanticoke to Pittston the Valley Ra
way Company, from Pittston to Serantc
the Scranton Traction Company (twer
miles), in Scranton. and the Scranton a
Carbondale Traction Company.
other New Lines.
Among the many other lines, VIII
will shortly be built are the Philadelph
Torresdale and Trenton, at the head
which is Colonel Edward MorreIl, a
which will run from North Phiadelpl
to Trenton; a road from Clifton TO Dar
to connect with the Traction Compal
from Philadelphia TO Wilmington n
ming through Chester; from Chester
Media