The Indianapolis journal., 1899-08-22
ELECTRICITY VS.. STEAM
TRUNK LINES TO UTILIZE TROLLEY
LINES FOR SHORT HAULs.
Decision That VIII Benefit Shippers
Transcontincntal Lines May With
draw second-CIass Rates.

The New York Tribune gives details Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company's pro-
ject to construct trolley line from New
York to Washington. The company already
controls most of the trolley lines In Jersey
City and Newark and is negotiating for the
purchase of line from Newark to Eliza
beth. already in operation. This line will be
continued to Trenton, fifty-six miles distant
from Jersey City. and will pass through
New Brunswick and Princeton.
While these plans are being executed in
New Jersey the same capitalists and their
agents have been busy along the thirty
three-mile stretch in Pennsylvania from
Philadelphia to South Trenton. This section
Is dotted with fiourishing cities and towns.
which have required the running of local
trains at short intervals. Between these
populous and busy towns are smaller and
rapidly growing settlements, and as soon
as the continuous trolley line is finished be-
tween Jersey City and Philadelphia the
route viii be patronized by many who now
ride on the local trains of the Pennsylvania,
and that corporation will then run fewer
local or short trains and more through ex-
press trains to meet the increasing demands
Of through passenger traffic. An official OF
the New York Central said in commenting
upon the report that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road would in the near future parallel parts
Of its track with trolley lines for the carry
ing of short-haul traffic, that such an ar
rangement was sure to come in the end on
nearly all the big roads. The cost of operat-
ing these trolleys at short distances, il was
pointed out, Is much less than getting up
heavy trains and running them frequently.
Already at Niagara Falls and on one or
two branches the New York Central has
substituted electric motor cars for steam
trains, and the experiment has been salts
factory. OF course, IL is not expected that
trolleys will ever supplant the big, heavy.
through trains. 1t is believed, however, by
many railroad officials that at some time in
the future the railroad will use its steam
trains largely for long-haul passengers and
freight and make use of trolleys for short
rides between intermediate stations and the
moving OF freight which is not to go far.
VIII Abolish COlonists' Rates.
The second-class colonist rates from points
east of the river to San Francisco, Los
Angeles, San Diego and other California
points will be abolished on Sept. /, and
after that date no colonists rates will be
sold to any part of California This action
of the Western roads is the result of long
disputes which have been carried on the
subject. These rates. it was claimed, were
made means of cutting the rates on legiti-
mate second-class traffic from the East and
West. and certain of the lines have been
lighting for a long time to have these rates
removed. the regular second-class rates
from the East to California will not be dis
turDed or changed in any way. The col
onistS' rates were nominally a second-class
rate. but the fare was less than the regular
second-class rate in all cases. This action of
tie western lines in removing the colonists'
rate and certain movements made toward
C1GC0ntlnninQ a rat oix ric 70
the belief that second-class rates will soon
be made subject Of discussion. East OF
the river, at present, nearly all of the Sec
Cnd-class rates have been withdrawn and
some of the Western trunk lines are avowed-
ly in favor of extending this reform TO trans
continental traffic as we'll