New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18

periments may he tried with the underground
conduit after 1901 in certain broad streets, but
the local conditions do not admit Of the general
application Of the system. The streets OF Man
chester. unlike those Of New-York Washington
and Budapest. narrow and there is not
space for four lines with nine feet between the
outside rail and the curbstone. There is only
room for single track in many of the streets
traversed by tramways. and the conduit is i'm
practicable.
ECONOMY IN TRACTION
The members Of the Manchester Town Council
are rigid economists. They are subjected to
criticism for favoring unsghtly system when
a superior one is in operation in New-York and
elsewhere but they have counted the cost Of
laying conduts In Market-st. and throughout
the city. and have been frightened by the aggre-
gate. They assert that before the concrete
trenches could be formed all gas and water
pipes hydraulic mains. sewers and telephone
and electric light wires would have to be
moved TO a lower level; that many Of the streets
would have to be resewered; that the present
tram rails would have to be thrown away and
| that wherever the lines cross one another each
| roadway would have to be excavated and cul-
| verted and carried on massive brick piers or
| iron girders. The streets would have 70 be re-
constructed at enormous expense and prolonged
|
ways Committee has rejected the conduit sys-
| tenn and is preparing to put up overhead wires.
| One Of the members sums up the argument in
this way: THE overhead system represents %
per cent Of utility and efficiency and per cent
| of ugliness." Another forecasts profit of $780,
GOO year for the town treasury from the oper-
alton Of a municipal trolley service economically
constructed.
The Disagreement Of the streets counts for less
| in Manchester than ii would in other English
| towns. This is because there no fine resi-
dence sections in the heart of the city. The
| town is wholly reserved for business purposes.
and the well-to-do classes live in the suburbs
on the rim Of the circle. Manchester has neither
a fashionable West End nor quiet streets. but is
a dense centre of manufacturing enterprise and
mercantile activity. with constant pressure of
heavy traffic in the narrow roadways. Utility
| and economy are naturally considered Of more
| importance than the unsightly appearance of
streets with posts and wires at the sides. SINH
lar considerations prevail in other towns where
there are more attractive residence sections and
there is less pressure Of business Among the
| towns which have decided to Introduce the
overhead system in whole or in part are Shelf
field. Leeds Belfast. Glasgow. Liverpool, Dub
lin. Cork. Hull. Bristol. Nottingham Coventry.
| Norwich Dover and Middesborough. In Biz
| ,ningham there is strong movement In FAVOR
| OF the underground conduit and the London
County Council has received recently very able
report recommending that system of electric
| traction: but everywhere else troleys win
| overhead wires are rapidly coming in.
Liverpool and Glasgow are experimenting with
electric traction on single circuits Of no great
| length and other towns are following cautiously
in the same direction: but Manchester Is the
first great English city TO take up the whole
| transit problem on a large scale. and to deal
with II boldly and decisvely. The exist
| ing companies. with exceptions In the SUI
| urban districts. left to finish their terms Vi
! tenancy undisturbed. When their leases eN-
pire they will retire without compensation anu
take their horses and rolling stock cut Oh the
| way At one stroke municipal trolley system
| will be brought into use. and Whatever ploht
| there may be in the business Will be reservoir
for the benefit Of the taxpayers lhis siea.
revolution in the methods and management OF
| local transit has been deliberately piahheo' "iu
It will be carried out economically and with the
zoe. rossirle inconvenience to the public. Elec-
tric traction under municipal management is the
final solution Of the tramway question III this
great centre OF population.
MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT.
Mun,c,pal management OF tramways is the
coming policy in all IIltlSH PiON'''NN'
Glasgow was one Of the first great towns TO
undertake the operation of tramways as I"
,a,oh 30 tho municipal service. This was done
IN JuIv / 1894, the day following the expira-
ton of the tramway companys lease. The cor
roration started with its own horses, streelcars
and working force and the experiment was
successful from the outset. The lessees ""oS7
privileges had expired. organized an oPpoS'''o"
line Of omnibuses, but this mas met WIZ" 81
little favor that there are now ofl' '"e"''
seven of these vehicles in the streets Dui me
the last four years the fares nave ueVn -
800 from 33 to 30 per cent the service mas
heen Increased 90 per cent and the houIs "a 'iS
drivers and conductors nave peen s ~ Sn
md their wages raised. cheap tiaisI' mo-. ~ ~.
mo,,tdad for over tw o million passengers weekly
! without loss to the corporation me 90 70 g.
,nnn, docs not aim TO make large prom loi
~ ~ -, treasurv but is content with increaS-
inf, the efficiency Of the service ana WIN
ing the growing demand Ior auuitoiii rarlt
facilities With its siXty-1ive miles OF sihse !. a. ~
a. cIacgov corporation has proved that the
neration Of tramways can be successfully car
ried on as municipal enterprise. IN Two S e'I =
/, bae doubled the number OF PASSENGERS Oai 80
- r. trannvavs Experts predict that me
number will be doubled again as soon az
traction is extended TO the e''re ~ 80 t. cha
0ther towns are following rapid!y IN r. tne
came lines OF municipal management. Inc low !,
! Councils of Liverpool. HuddersIelu Lecus oiIA
Sheffield already opera,,ns We, and Sal
WAYS and. in addition to ManchestSI ail "a.
ford the following cities have recen' tSS,t.,,,,rgh
from Parliament similar powenS, Ration
bradford Nottingham, Southampton
ii =; Halifax Leicester. Meath ana New
bort in Monmouthshire. The city OF farming, I,s;i
ham is moving in the same dreciloH' a,,. ~
rrobahlv introduce electric traction win 'ie
underground conduit system Inc p!lhciino
that municipality is under OBLIGATION TO TO sup lbe
Nv. ,rbotover is absolutely necessary 10 !l'SS
PS M" 49, Community is generally conceded
% ", tbn provinces OF slow and reluctant as con,
servative London to admit It, Wa'er; ra gns
electric light and cheap and eilectNe taIiI-
eIeC'itO No. o. Tho greatest of these neces-
sites. and the only alternative TO vb PrsSeT
monopolies IS municipal control Ma ne' hee q,
;nd 4, has bcen successful Fares have been
raG,Iced The service has been improved con,