Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-18
The Observation-Disclosures.

AS the conditions of life in a number
of cities have already been almost totally
changed by what has been accomplished
In the way of constructing electric street
railroads, ii is but reasonable 10 expect TO
find the future doing for the country as
well as the city, and for small towns as
well as large cities. what electricity has
already done for these larger places.
The Philadelphia Enquirer says that
steam railroads have a serious problem
confronting them, seeing that the trolley
is already cutting into their business.
In every city where there Is suburban
traffic the electric roads are extending
their operations. Not only passengers but
light articles Of freight are now carried
in some cities, and soon will be carried
in other cities. The Enquirer adj that
in some States open cars carry pas
village to village. The next Legislature
OF Pennsylvania is expected TO be asked
by the combined traction-interests Of
Philadelphia and Pittsburg to do all sorts
Of legislation for the extension Of trolley
roads. We quote the Enquirer:
zone of the plans In Pennsylvania is
TO allow trolley-cars to carry the malls,
and TO do light express business. 1t is the
rapid growth Of electricity which the great
roads have to face. They must meet this
problem in some way, or suburban traffic
will not only fall of greatly, but a profit
able express business will be seriously
injured. The trolley is cheap. 1t Is not
the motor of the future. Some under
ground or storage system will in the
end furnish the electricity necessary for
turning the wheels. But Just now II Is
the trolley, and the trolley Is here 10 stay
until something better is forced into the
market. But when IL comes IL will come
in still cheaper form, 80 that cheap
fares will be the rule. and more roads will
be built. So extensively is the electric
system being introduced that already
there is talk OF building from Washing
ton to New York. 1t has for some time
been a project to unite ST. Louis and
Chicago. New Jersey Is being covered
with electric roads. And the growth Of
these roads cannot fail to have a marked
influence on the management Of the steam
roads,
1t is suggested that the steam roads
enter into competition with the electric
roads. We quote again:
Nearly every standard road has ample
room for trolley or electric ROAD OF
some kind on its own bed. Such electric
roads could easily be built and run AZ
tenders to the steam roads. They could
diyerge at points. enter streets. and re-
turn TO the straight lines at convenient
places. But the great point is that they
would protect the steam roads from the
dangerous competition OF the trolley
lines"
1t will not be easy to shake on the
competition of the trolley with steam.
Mr.. f.. l.. Carson, an electrician, OF Bos-
ton, says on this point:
"The growth Of the use OF electricity
as a motive power Is remarkable. Two
wears ago there were only l6l electric
RAILWAYS in the United States. while now
there are over 500. Six years ago an
electrician with two motors cost A,JO,
while the bids for the last contract
knew to be given ran from $40 TO $l'JV'
and the former was the price at whlch
AZ was given out, the manufacturers being
reliable men, 1t seems singular that WIN
such a acknowledgements demand there
should be such a competition as to run
prices down to one seventh or what was
paid six years ago, but such Is the case.
and before II stops there Will be very
few lines Of street railroad IN the coun'
try not run by electricity.