The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-28

now used are made 10 take the place OF
locomotives. they viii run about the
same number of hours as the motors now
I'm use, but will cover continuously from
two and a half TO three times the distance
now covered by the locomotives. The
locomotives must lie run into the round
house and thoroughly examined and
cleaned up more frequently. The cleo
tric motors used TO move a train can be
placed under one OF the cars. The weight
OF the train is thus reduced and less pow
er Is required for the moving OF IT,.
Now take the situation over In the
New England States. Ii is almost GER
tain that the railroads over there VIII
have 20 fight for their lives. so TO speak
this summer against the trolley lines
This fact has impressed Itself on the
managers OF the railroads whose tracks
lie chiefly IN States OF Connecticut
Rhode Island and Massachusetts IL Is
in that neighborhood that the trolley INES
have increased at greater ratio thah III
any other part Of the country. Inc cleo
trio lines have been run out IN All ulrec-
lions from the principal cities OF these
States in a majority Of cases parallelinS
steam railroads and largely reducing thelr
traffic and receipts.
DwiNBiSG r. IL .0AD RI cEiPTs.
THE greatest railroad I'm that section OF
vice on some Of It's branch lines from TINS
cause. and in its last annual report 1t
said that II would be compelled 10 pur-
sue the same plan wherever its revenue
WAS decreased by competition WIN ale
trolley The receipts between Boston ana
Maiden on this railroad have fallen on
fifty per cent on account of cheap fares
on the electric lines running between
those places and another steam line run
ming 10 summer resorts In That vicinity
has suffered the same proportion or loss
in traffic.
The competition from electricity which
the steam railroads VIII experience Will
for some time at least be on branch lines
and in suburban traffic. The trolley
lines pay nothing for their right Of way.
AM. demanding only comparatively a
small Investment, and able 10 run their
cars cheaply can give service much
below the price at which steam lines can
afford IT, As an illustration Of how
cbaanl, messengers can be carried by the
trolley lines take the case Of the line
r.inning from Boston 20 Marbiehead, a
distance OF tWeutv-One miles, the rare
of which for the whole distance Is eign-
teer .ents Excursions from ana AROUND
Boston. covering In the aggregate over
sixty miles, can be made on trolley cars
at total cost Of ninety cents or az the
rate Of ono. and half cents mile ON
a vell-patrOnized route, doubtless. the
fare could be- PLACED as low as one cent a
milo and still cool profit returned. as II
has been demonstrated that the cost OF
the motive power for "A trolley car Is
Faction under three cents mile.
PLANS OF rHF sAILEoAps.
Notwithstanding this favorable show
in. by the trolley lines. YOU can rest as
sured that the railroad will not 20 ont OF
hugiucss. but. 20 use a well-knOwn express
sion, are laying low They have one
great advantage over their electric rivals.
and that is the possession OF right or
way and laid track that H. all their own.
They are subject 10 few Of the inconveni-
ences that are inseparable from operating
a railroad ON public highway or through
the crowded streets Of "A city This Will
enable us 10 adopt the trolley on our
roads. connecting cities. and run trans
at a higher rate OF speel ans WITH FEWER
distractions than cars can be run on the
ordinary trolley linz. And, YOU know
speed and cheapness are he ele nents
that will tell I'm the long run.
Between PhiladelIh ia and New YORK
We have four tracks. or more accurately
Speaking. Jersey city. II We equip tw)
OF these tracks with electricity and run
cars al the rate OF 4 mile a minute, at "a
passenger rate Of one cent a mile, Ne can
| laugh al the proposed con petition OF pro-
| fected rivals. Tho same situation applies
| 10 the reads running out of Washington
| All the roads will have % adopt some
! such system. and when they do the pre-
se.t situation will be reversed In favor
/ of the railroads.
Before 1 came 10 Washington I went
over the situition in New England and
had quite a talk with the Nice-President
! Of tie biggest road over there. We had
| ouite an interesting conversation, ana ne
] gave me figures from the actual business
| records Of the accounting department OF
his company for the past three months
| showing the inroads made upon their re-
ceipts by the trolley lines and ! must
say they Were eye openers tor me.
1NrLufNcG OF WAGES.
nineteen cases were quoted of stations
! between which there had been railing
! of. between The first stations there had
| been a depreciation Of fifty per cent or
! the entire business: between the second
two. eighty per cont. of the business. ami
SO on down tho list I'm like ratio. That
record IS not by any means exceptional
/ and IL shows the extraordinary strides
| which are now being taken by the cleo
| tric trolley service in country districts.
Whether the adoption of new motive
power will affect the wages Of the higher
! grade of railroad employees is question
/ that will develop I'm the next year or so.
/ one extremely strong organization VIII
| be almost wiped out should electricity
| prove 10 be the future power FOR railroads.
! refer TO the hremeu. The engineers
will undoubtedly hold their own as 10
takes a cool head and steady hand 10 pilot
| train over the country at the rate OF
/ a mile a minute. The engineers work
will 10 simplined. but his experience and
nerve viii DE paid for at the old rates
as Il would never do 10 place ordinary
men in charge Of a train. With addition
! al train service the hremen would be pro-
NOTED up 10 engineers. but H. would take
"A doubling Of the service 10 find places
for all OF them.
The new photograph Of the heavens
which Is being prepared by London. Ber-