The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-14

Several English cities have under
taken 20 wresste with the problsn Of
street railways, but not che G. them
has yentzred TO undertake II upon sueh
large scale az the city of Paris A law
has just been passed authorizing the
municipal government Of Paris TO con-
stracs = system os metropolitan rail-
ways which Il VIII ogn but not operate
The plan IL SO unique that its appllca-
ton VIII BE- watched with considerable
interest
The length Of the system authorized
is 10 be forty miles, but for the present
only twenty-five miles will Re construct
loan not TO exceed tss 90. &c. The opera
ton of the road viii be delegated TO
traction Company whose capital Il
$500. go. That company viii operate
the road fer thirty-fye years. the city
reseryfng the right to take possession
any time after the year 1910 on con-
dislons partly laid down and partly left
to equitable adjudication. The fares are
fixed at cents for a frs.-class passen-
ger and cents for the second-ciass,
without regard TO distance Passengers
before . In the morning viii be entitled
10 return tickets available at any hour
for cents Public school children,
when travelling ia a group ard accom-
panied by a master, are TO pay a fare
Of cent. The revenue il TO De divided
between the company and the city. and
that Ia the only compensation paid the
municipality for the franchise. or con-
cession. as it should be more correctly
termed. For each irst-ciass passenger
carried the city Is TO receive cents,
for each second-cIasg passenger cent,
and the city's share is to increase pro-
gressively when the number OF passen-
gers carried during a year exceeds
40, 600 900.
Stations and other accessories are 10
be built by the company. as well as the
rolling stock and plant. all Of which
must be made in France.
The municipality has also prescribed
the salary and other conditions In re-
lation between the company and its en-
ployes. The minimum pay for regular
employees Is fixed at $50 francs per
month. and the minimum daily wage
for temporary employees at s francs or
esiz cents day. That IL just about one
half Of the average pay in Seattle. as
the days work there is limited to ten
hours. One advantage they receive Is
that each empioye is TO have one whole
day or two half days rest weekly. in
addition to which regular employees are
10 be allowed ten days annual holiday
without deduction. The most important
provision, however. Is that in case OF
serious sickness wages must be paid In
full for at least year, and In case Of
accident wages are 10 be paid until CON-
plete recovery, without prejudice to In
demnlty for partial or entire disability.
No municipal organization Of this kind
that we know OF makes such liberal pro-
vision for its employees. On the other
hand, the rate OF fare Is much higher
for short distances than in any OF the
more important European cities. Gem
sidering the enormous traffic. the rate
may be considered very high. 1t would
be impossible to run the Seattle street
car system If such advantages were ac-
corded employees In addition to the
greatly increased rate OF wages. Only
an enormous traffic. and the low rate OF
interest for which capital could be Sc
cured on municipal bonds. would justify
such liberaiity.