New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-09
ENGLISH TRAMWAYS.
CAN EYES-MUNIC1PAL MANAGE
MENT OF STREETCAR LINES

., the employment Of either horses or steam
tenders in place Of cables or electricity is con-
,cuous The surplus accommodation for the
,ub,c is equally noticeable, the cars being large
and amply supplied with seats. No passenger
aver stands In an English streetcar. The con-
Suc,or is liable to arrest II such an outrage oe-
cr-s Then there Is the remarkable cheapncss Of
the fares mile for halfpenny is the rule.
and for penny a passenger may often go three
or four miles
The most striking contrast between the Eng
ush and the American systems lies in the re-
,a,ions Of the municipal government to these
s,terprises In America the streets and high
ways arc surrendered (often gratuitously and in
frequently with proper compensation TO private
corporations which for the sake of paying large
Eivjsends to stockholders overwork and under
nav their operatives. withhold from the puolic
adequate accommodation and seldom reduce
fares unless they are compelled by legislation to
IA So In English and Scotch cities. with rare
exceptions the municipal governn ent retains
~ontrol over the roadway. constructs ard owns
me tramway and either operates IL as branch
~ the town service or leases IL to the highest
BIDDER with guarantees CT remuneratve rentals,
low fares ard satisfactory accommodation for
the public
HUDDERSFTELD'S CITY TRAMWAYS.
In Huddersheld municipal operation of tram
WAYS has been exposed to many vcissitudes OF
fortune. The corporation was authorized in 1880
BY Act Of Parliament to lay tracks and to adver-
tise for proposals for working the lines. The
railways were constructed. but no satisfactory
bids were received for operating them. The cor
poration consequently was compelled In Janu-
airy. 1888. TO employ engineers and conductors. and
10 enter into the business Of railway manage
ment The grades were very steep and it was
necessary TO substitute steam for horse power.
The fares were low, and the system at once be-
came popular; but the railways had not been
operated longer than six months before a fright
ful accident occurred from the overturning of a
car over which the engineer had lost control
This accident cost the corporation over $4,000
in compensation for lives lost and injuries sus-
tained. and temporarily created much prejudice
against steam tramways. Eight years afterward
another accident occurred from the explosion OF
a boiler on tramway engine and this cost the
corporation $4,000 in damages. The tracks had
been laid originally Cor horsecars. and when
steam was introduced the cost Of keeping them
in repair was materially increased from the use
Of heavier rolling stock, SO that the reconstruc-
ton Of the lines became necessary
consequence
the heavy charges for repairs the lines have not
been remunerative enterprises although the pas
senger traffic has been very large for a town OF
100 900 population. The deficiencies in running
expenses. with the interest charges and sink
ing fund contributions added. nave been met
from the rates. or local taxation. the burden
ranging from oae-nnth OF penny to five pence
in the pound After all these drawbacks the bills
for damages have beea paid and the lines recon
strrcted and the tramways now virtually
self-sustanng under municipal management
From information supplied by the courteous
Town Clerk of Huddersfed. find that s702,5Oo
has been borrowed by the corporation for which
there is an accumulated sinking fund of s31,Sl5.
The expenditures for tracks engines and cars
have been 1913. 435 About twenty miles Of street
railway are in operation The receipts and ex-
pendtures now meet on working terms. although
the taxpayers during fourteen years have been
called upon 10 provide about s2O6.OOO for def
cienc!es one-sixth Of which was represented by
sinking fund contributions.
THE TOWN SEEMS SATISFIED.
These figures on their face seem to carry con-
demnetion Of municipal management as an un'
profitable financial undertaking; but both the
corporation and the public seem to be satisfied
with the situation. AS the Town Clerk explains
the matter the Municipal Council does not wish
to show a more favorable balance sheet. Under
the Act Of Parliament by which the corporation
acquired the right 10 lay and own the tracks,
II is under obligation to advertise for proposals
for the letting Of the lines and so long as the
statute remains without amendment the Council
In order to retain in its own hands the manage
ment Of the tramways will not allow the bust
ness TO become profitable Whenever there seems
10 be large margin for surplus earnings extern
sions OF the lines are planned. and the expend-
lures increased. This policy Is adopted DELHI
eratey in order TO discourage bidding for leases;
and at the same time the fares are maintained
at abnornrally low rates. The Council seems to be
convinced that municipal operation which was
forced upon the corporation when II was i'm
practicable TO obtain responsible bidders. pro-
notes the interests of the town and must not be
abandoned through technicalities OF the act,
which will sorle day be removed. Certainly
Huddersield has cheap If not rapid transit and
the extension Of the system by the construction
Of unremunerative branches has tended to serve
the ends OF public convenience and the building
up Of remote sections OF the town.
II Huddersfield presents the anomaly Of street
car management which aims to keep down earn
ings by Improbable extensions of the service
and by low fares. the neighboring city OF Leeds
offers the equally amazirg spectacle OF corpora
ton control Of tramways for the sake of redress
ing the grievances of engineers, drivers and con-
ductors While the streetcar lines of that town
managed by private companies the men
employed were overworked and underpaid. and
the public sympathized with them About
year ago in consequence Of the public agitation
Of the wrongs Of the operating force the Town
Council purchased the property OF the street.
car lnes-horses. engines cars and stations
for s650OcO and brought them under direct
municipal management. The wages OF the oper-
etves were advanced almost at once and their
working hours were shortened. Fares were re-
euced the rolling stock was improved and the
trafic enormously increased.
The financial results Of the hrst year OF munici-
pal management are generally accepted In the