Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-07

The Passing Into Oblivion Of the
Trolley.
The UNDERGROUND SYSTEM
How a Cable Limo is Managed
Day After Day.
MEN WHO ATCH 1T

MEN WHO ATCH 1T
If the question were asked Of an execu-
tive officer OF the Capital Traction Company
when their cable lines will be converted
irto electric roads. the answer would prob
ably be that such thing Is not even con-
templated.
And while this, no doubt, is true. there Is
more than one electrical engineer now in
Washington who is willing to predict that
in less than five years time there will not
be cable railway in the District, and that
by that time all street railway cars will
be propelled by electric power.
Already have such changes been made
in many cities. In Baltimore, on what Is
known as the Gilmore street line. which
extends from Druid Hill Park to the heart
of the city. and the expense for con-
structing which was well up In the hun
dreds Of thousands of dollars, the cable
has. been given up. because 1t was found
that even after making allowance for the
IL terest on the money invested in the cable
machinery and the mechanism which had
to be buried In the ground when the cable
road was laid, there would be a saving In
operating expenses In favor OF electricity
(Which was adopted) of at least S2o,ooo an
nually.
1t is understood also from reliable source
that the officials of the City Passenger Rail
way Company, which operates an extensive
system of railways in the monumental cry,
which system is operated by both capie
and electricity, have become so favorapiy
Impressed with the manifest advantages OF
electricity as motive power, as Wen as d
matter of economy, that 1t Will be put
comparatively short time before al the
lines belonging to the company Will De oper-
ated by electricity exclusively, and already
a resident of Washington has been selected
to superintend the change.
Baltimore Trolley System.
It is true that at present the trolley Is
the only electric system in use In Baltimore
but fortunately for the citizens who have
become greatly disguised with what might
be termed Anticipated means of propulsion,
clause in the charter of each electric railway
inserted by the city council empowers the
city to compel the removal of the trolley
poles after seven years from the date OF
granting the charter; and within certain
other period if. from any cause, the council
shall deem it best to have them removed
The successful operation of Mr.: Con-
street line Of the Metropolitan Railway
Company of this city has set electric and
cable men CT Washington and other cities
to thinking, and they are asking them
selves whether they ought not to have the
same system on their own lines.
The 9th street system. it is said, was to
certain extent modelled on the Buda-
Pesth system, which has been in success
full operation there for several years. vet
SO many improvements were devised by
Chief Engineer Connect of the Metropolitan
Railway Company as to constitute an al
most entirely different system.
The Trolley Doomed.
1t Is said to be very certain that the ex-
tension of the trolley system will no longer
be permitted in any of the larger cities
fofn 1rin
place, and since the 9th street line has
been opened and has worked so success
fully, the people of Baltimore, many of
whoSe principal streets are network OF
electric wires. are asking through their
papers why similar system cannot be
adopted there. There the impression is
that the wide awake railway companies
who desire to retain the good will Of the
public. will Of their own motion make the
change from cable and trolley to the I'M
derground system, rather than wait to be
forced to it by legislative enactment or by
ordinances of the city council.
Arrangements have also been completed
by the cable and horse car companies OF
New York city for the substitution by
them of the same system that by which
the 9th street line Is operated, and 1t Is
said that contracts have been signed under
which almost four hundred miles of sur
face tracks in that city. comprising several
cable lines, will within the next five years
be changed into underground lines.
cable line, which was among the first con-
structed in the east. has been converted
into an electric line. At present this Is
operated by the trolley system. but 1t Is re-
garded as only a question Of short time
when the trolley will give way to the I'M
derground system.
For long distances, such as between cities,
like for instance, Washington and Balti-
more, between which cities an electric line
Is now being constructed, the trolley will
undoubtedly hold its own for many years
to come because of its cheapness, but in the
cities named above and in others that
could be mentioned its days are practical
ly numbered.
These facts were brought out in the
course of conversation with prominent
official of one Of the cable companies OF
Washington. who was asked by Star re-
porter to tell him some of the details Of
the operating of cable system outside OF
the duties which fall to the lot OF gripmen.
conductors and office men, those employees
with whom the general public Is most
familiar.
What q Cable Man Says.
'Well," said he, in reply. there tho
oilers, who keep the wheels upon which
the cable operates in proper running or
der There are but few persons VINO pay
any attention to the matter at all who
have noticed at the various curves of the
lines what might be allied a trap door, over
a hole in the street. Frequently man Is
seen to crawl into or out OF that hole ana
shut down the trap. He is one of the fierce
called the vault men. and the hole into
which he crawls Is called vault.
In this city, on what has heretofore
been called the Washington and George
town Company's lines, vaults are found
at the following places: Peace monument,
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue 10Th
street and Pennsylvania avenue. 18th
street and New York avenue and at each
| of the terminals.
These vaults are large underground
rooms, and are clean, well lighted and
ventilated. The men assigned to work in
| them have their hours and off, just the
same as the other employees, but when on
| duty they must exercise constant vigilance;
| for it Is into these that the cable runs, and
should anything happen to weaken the
rope, such as the breaking OF a strand, they
are expected to detect it Immediately. and
notify the proper persons at the power
house. The position is one Of responsible
| ity, but it's duties are not, as a general
| thing, unpleasant.
"One of the cables extends from tho big
| central power house on e street between
| 18th and 18th streets to Mount Pleasant.
| Another controls that part Of the road be-
| tween Georgetown and the Navy Yard,
oa1,I 10 as he i,