Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-19
ELECTRIC LINES IN MARsEILLEs.
Concessions Which Revert to the City
1aSO

Robert P. Skinner, United States consul
at Marseilles, France, writes to the State
Department regarding electric traction in
Marseilles: H.
Several inquiries have recently been sent
to the consulate at Marseilles concerning
passenger transit, concessions, rates of fare
and possibilities open to investors. In re-
ply to these, and for the benefit of the
public, 1t may be said that shortly before
the writer took charge of this post a con-
vertfon was concluded between the city
and the Compagnie Generate Franchise de
Tramways of Paris, whereby the latter Sc
cured concession for the principal streets
of the municipality. The concesSionnaires
are now revolutioniZing the traction system
of the city, and in the course of the year
electric motors will be in operation on every
important thoroughfare.
Until the present time MarseilleS has
had an inadequate service of horse and
omnibuses. Under the new order of things
many of the omnibus Hines will continue,
for time at least, BUT the horse cars will
be retired The concession will expire on
December 81, 1850 and, as required by
French practice, it has been ratified by
both the city and the state. The system
of traction is known here the Dickinson
overhead trolley. The company is obliged
10 replace in perfect Gorder, and to pave
when necessary, the s1rfaee of the streets
disturbed between tracks, including the
tional strip thirty five ,oeAtmeters fourteen
inches wide along each outside rail.
AT the present time, the fares on var
ious lines are regulated lby distance. In the
heart of the city, the usuatfare is ten CEN
times 1.-TWO cents), and forSlonger rides as
much as forty centimes. When the electric
lines are installed. the unifo fare of ten
centimes only will be charged. To the city
the company will pay an annual fee of
100000 francs (sl9,3e0i fors the use of the
streets, and when the gross receipts for
year aggregate 7,o9e,9Go- francs, supple
mentary fee will be paid follows: For
the eighth million, 10000 francs (S7, 720); for
the ninth million, 80 eco francs (s9,659}; for
the tenth million, 60, 900 francs GS11,5S0) and
for every million over ten. 60,0o0 francs.
Electric trains will not BE- composed of
more than four cars. The length of the
train must not be over SO meters 11S feeD,
and the speed must not exceed twenty
kilometers az 40 miles, per hour.
Upon the expira ton of the concession,
the state will become the owner of the
tracks and appurtenances, and all other
property of the concessionnaries located on
the public domain; and during the last five
years of the concession, should it appear
that the operating company fails to main
tain the property in good condition, the
state reserves the right to seize all the
company's revenues for the purpose of
Keeping up the same. The state will have
the right to take all rolling stock, tools
and similar movable property at valua-
ton hxed by experts, but will be under no
obligation to buy more than suits its pur-
poses or wishes. Upon the termination of
the concession, should the state deem it
useless to continue the operation of certain
lnes, the concesSionnaireS will be required
10 remove their tracks and restore the
streets to their original condition.
The state reserves the right to purchase
Its concession at any tina. The price, in
such event, will be fixed by the net annual
revenue of the seven preceding years in
Guiding the fees paid to thu city From
the total thus obtained will be deducted the
net revenue of the two least profitable
years. ana the average of the five remain
ing years will stand as the amount of an
annuity to be paid to the concessionnaires
during each unexpired year of the revoked
concession