The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-02-11
YAOKIN POWER.
Idea of Trolley Lines Through the
Conntry Again Suggested.

Idea of Trolley Lines Through the
Country Again Suggested.
Editors Sentinel.
SAVANNAH, Ca, Feb. S-To all
who are in any way interested in
Winston-Salem or Forsyth county
the article ''Yadkin River Power" in
last week g SENTINEL, should be very
encouraging.
Of course a good many have
known for some weeks that the prac-
ticability of the scheme was being
thoroughly investigated, but up to
the present no public announcement
had been made.
l have been confident for several
years that it was only a matter of
time when capitalists and those
looking for profitable investments
| would become interested in this mat
ter and develop it into a successful
enterprise. There appears to be no
, reason to doubt now that it will be
undertaken, as those at the head of
it are in a peculiarly advantageous
position to make it success.
At the point where the power plant
would be located there is probably
from five to six thousand available
horse power, and with what is known
as the three phase" alternating cur
rent system, the per cent of loss in
| transmission OF electic power that
distance would not he very great.
With this system it is practicable
to utilize water powers at a much
greater distance and at much less
| cost than Was possible a few years
ago with the direct current systems.
While those now interested in this
enterprise may not at present con-
template the building of any electric
| rail way lines between Wins OF Salem
| and other points as suggested in a
| former ommunicatiOn, it is not at
| all improbable that when they have
| realized how cheaply they can fnrn-
ish power, they will he led to consider
propositions along that line.
1t is very reasonable to expect that
in few years there will be several
trolley lines leading into Winston
Salem from various directions.
The following editorial which ap-
| peared recently in the leading daily
of this city contains some interest,"
ing and instructive thoughts on this
subject. IL follows:
A GIANT COMPETITOR.
"Steam railroad companies are
| just beginning to realize what
great competitor for business trolley
car lines are getting to be. II Penn
| sylvania, New Jersey, New York, the
New England States, Ohio, in fact in
all closely settled communities,
| trolley lines are being built with re-
markable rapidity-
| II
| build these electric lines AS a rule
| they run along the highways and the
| right of way costs little or nothing
The cost of constructing them is
small in comparison with that of
steam roads and the cost of operat-
ing them is also small. Consequent
ly they can make money on half the
| freight and passenger rates charged
by steam roads.
As yet the trolley lines do not
| cover great distances. They are
operated between cities and the sur
rounding small towns, or between
towns OF the larger size. They are
| cutting into the revenues of the
steam roads and express companies
to such an extent as to alarm them.
The steam road companies which
have trolley line competition are
already beginning to think that they
will have to reduce their fixed
charges. They cannot stand much
more of such competition as they are
having. And yet the electric lines
are only in their infancy. That is
evident from the amount of money
that is being invested in them
OF course much of the business they
have is new business. They follow
the highways, and hence run close to
the homes of farmers. Consequently
farm life has been greatly frightened
where the trolley lines have been
built. At a very small cost a farmer
and his family can go to city ten
OF twenty or more miles away and
take eggs, butter, milk, fruit and
such things to market and return
home within a very few hours, for
these trolley lines run twenty miles
or more an hour. 1t can be readily
seen also how much more attractive
farm lie is when trolley lines run in
front of farm house doors. Visiting
among the farmers is carried on to
much greater extent than ever before,
and their social life is much more
attractive"
Now that among other public i'm
provements Forsyth has q court
house that every loyal citizen should
be proud OF, let every one in a posi-
ton to do SO encourage an enterprise
that when completed would enable
all kinds of Industries requiring
power or light to operate cheaper
than by steam and no better induce
ment can be held out to those seek.
ing advantageous locations
The cost of fuel for steam power
especially in inland towns and cities,
is quite an item In the expense ac
CT unit and when cheaper power can
be offered investors it will go long
Ways towards inducing them to
locate where they can take advan-
tage of it. r WoMMACK. /