New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-19

This GRO hundred years ago. ". the cny means Il
M. ftc.lts - railroads know anything u the I'll
coavenlenccs ~ our spartan fathers
HOW THE BUSINESS HAS GROWN.
In ls-5 the first railway line IN England for carry
Ing passengers AMI freight was opened and steam
engine No. l. made AMI run by George Stephenson,
pulled the first train during the next twenty years
many railroads VAC built connecting the various
cities ami tho freight arl passenger business trans
acted Oh tA.se railroads enormously increased
Fifty years after tr- opening n ne hT- rtir'A't
there were n operation n EngnnI ls''p miles ~
railroads. carving 62}eo passengers per an
mum. AMI earning 500 10000 ana these figures are
still largely increased al the present time IN TINS
country. our FIRST steam railroad was constructed
In $50 ana the growth IN the last seventy yeafs
shows today about 1900 miles In operation IN
the United states. carrying 62s 10000 passengerS
About so.oo employees are engaged in operating
these roads and II - ms number Is all,l , ne
number 81 men engaged directly in the manufacture
or railroad supplies. there are some l..Vp" men
dependent on railroads for their support Or. win
their families representing approximately one,
twelfth u the total population OF this country, ana
the taxable valuation OF me progry OF th,Sr ran
roads amounts TO one-seventh OF the total valua-
Regarding street railways these roads have been
running for some forty years with the ordinary
horse-cars. poorly lighted with smoky lamps and
win straw on the floor TO keep the feet warm But
little complaint was made ana people were appar
emily satisfied To-day 10 per cent OF all street rail,
ways IN TINS country are operated ny ei"trlclty AM
more railroads have been built during the last hVe
years than in the hfty years preceding. Compare
Tor on" moment the modern electric road with the
former horse roads To-day rail IS used weighing
ninety pounds ana upward 10 a NdfI ana costing
over $1,000 n mile OF single track The cars are
large. commodious and comfortable brightly lighted
ana Vel heated by the same electric SuTren tna
propr's thr car. ana cost uP"Hru OF s-vD 'acn
In place OF the stables and carbarns, expensive
power-houses and shops have been constructed for
the generation OF the power required 70 operate the
cars and for repairing and maintaining the electri-
public. owing 10 not having "A thorough knowledge
or the matter are inclined 10 condemn these cleo
do great many thnrs that the old compaines were
never thought OF being asked TO do. The majority
in the main far more comfortably than ever before
ana very much greater distances at no more cost
than for the rides In the old horse-cars. II Is fact
that up TO the present time the public have really
received far more benefit from the new system than
have most Of the owners OF the properties directly
interested would also call attention TO the fact
that no one thing has probably contributed more to
last few years than the reconstruction Of these
roads ana the extension OF the same into the new
districts and suburbs bringing ak parts OF the city
into close relation with the business centres.
FIGURES FROM BROOKLYN.
The company represent operates about two hum
drcd and sixty niles OF track In this city and ad-
jacent towns employs some i've thousand men in
the operation OF It's cars. In the powef-houses and
In the maintenance OF Its tracks and equipment.
Something over three hundred thousand passengers
are carried daily IN winter and "a high as 10000 on
pleasant DAYS In the summer. or nearly onc-haf Of
the population OF the city. To furnish power 20
operate this road have three large power houses
with "A combined capacity Of 22O00 horse power and
IL may be OF interest 10 TO know that the power
represented for simply heating the cars by cleo
tricty represents something over $500 horsepower.
IL cannot be said that the railroad Is Independent OF
the city OF the public and the better understand
Ing between the two results In beneiitng both alike.
quote from "a recent statement the following:
THE street railway OF the city IA IA quasl-pubc
institution which has come TO be OF the surest
means Of determining what kind Of town II exists
In. II the tracks have all gone to pieces the cars
old ana dirty apd unlnviting oil dripping from dngy
lamps. IN" men IN charge unkempt. uncivll and
stupid the cars operated at infrequen and irregular
intervals. and In fact. the whole system down:
II gives the town black nothing else do
IL Is. therefore. admittedly. question OF personal
interest pride and indirectly money to every bust
ness man and resident In that town TO have It's
street railway creditable one"
INJUSTICE TO TAXPAYERS.
Mr. Rossiter followed by Frederick w.
Hinrichs. Registrar Of Arrears under Mr.. Schier-
ems administration. Mr. Hnrichs's subject wac
street Railways-Private Ownership" He said
In part:
]. for one would not continue the control Of our
streets 10 the hands Of wealthy political machnes-