The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-18

Trolley Wires Under Ground.
The chief objection that Is urged against
tho changing Of the motive power Of. street
railways from horses 20 electricity IS in
variably directed against the use OF over
head trolley wires. The overhead trolley
system involves the Disagreement Of
streets with poles ard the suspension Of a
network OF highly charged and bare wires
under conditions that are in many ways
both inconvenient and dangerous. The
projectors Of electric street railway en-
terprises in this country have stoutly
contended that no other electric system
than the overhead trolley could be made
10 work successfully; and they have al
most invariably carried their point. with
the result that probably every city in the
United States that has electric street rail-
ways is suffering the afiiction Of an over
head trolley system.
By way OF controverting the claim that
the overhead trolley is the only success
full system in use, and offering American
cities striking object lesson in electric
street railways. the Review Of Reviews
calls attention to the highly successful
system employed in the city of Buda-
thorities Of that city absolutely refused
10 permit overhead trolley wires, with
the result that the seekers after the cleo
trio railway franchise agreed and under
took 10 do away with all overhead wires.
They promised also not to employ a sys-
tenn In which the rails themselves were
charged wAh an electric current. or to
use third rail for carrying the current.
what they agreed to do. and what they
did, was 10 place a conduit under one
Of the rails, carrying in that conduit an
insulated wire or metallic strip which con-
veys the power to the motor on the car.
and another wire or strip which carries
the return current. In short, the sys-
tenn is completely underground. and the
Tive" wires are so arranged that they
are not visible, cannot be reached by
pedestrians, are not affected by the wealth
er and do not interfere with telephone
and telegraph lines by induction. Tho
system has been in use five summers ana
five winters, and has stood the test Of
service admirably.
The first cost Of the Buda-Pesth sys-
TEN was probably much greater than IS
the comparative cost of an overhead
trolley system; nevertheless, the Buda-
Pesth system pays very well upon the
investment. Last year its stockholders
received dividend of per cent. after
a good round sum had been paid into the
municipal treasury as a rental for the
use of the streets and the gross receipts
had been drawn on for an employees in
surance fund. for a reserve fund, for
taxes, etc. It Is, however, concluded that
the reason the Buda-Pesth system was
able to make such a good showing is he
cause its capitalization-about 5000 600
represents the money actually employed
IN the enterprise It's stock is not watered.
An American street railway COM
pany similar to the one under
consideration would probably be
capitalized at from 100000 to
$40 900, COO and an effort would be made
to get large dividends from the enormous
~ Inflated and fictitious capitalization. ii
is alleged and asserted that the Brooklyn
street railways that are now operated by
the overhead trolley system could be
changed 10 the Buda-Pesth under
ground system and made to earn 2s per
cent. year upon the actual investment.
The secret of the adoption of the under
ground system at the Hungarian capital
was the firmness Of the city authorities.
Had they been as easy and accommodate
ing as some of our American city
fathers" are, their beautiful streets would
be spider-webbed with trolley wires, just
as the streets in this country are.