El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-28
Street Cars
Abroad
An Interesting Pamphlet On
Transportation Facilities
In Foreign Cities.


|
reading for the large number of people
who ride as for the smaller number
who own the vehicles. Mr.. Mack had
an idea that some data gathered from
the American consuls in the various
cities as. to rates of fare, terms on
which franchises we're granted, method
| of propulsion and various other details
would make ''good reading for people
| in Chicago, and he sent out number
of letters of inquiry. The replies are
| from the uttermost parts of the earth
and they reach Chicago just at a time
when horse cars are running in State
street.
OF all foreign cities, it is probable
Marseilles. France, is best provided in
the matter of passenger transportation.
Toronto, Canada, Florence, Italy, and
served than they have commonly been
credited with being.
Beginning with Basic, Switzerland
which appears first in Mr.. Mack's pam
phlet-one finds electricity as the pow
err, and that all lines are operated by
the city. The fare is 2 cents for short
and cents for long distances. Passen-
gers are allowed to stand in the aisles
and on platforms, much as in the time
honOred way known to Chicago.
There are horse cars in Belfast, Ire
land, and nothing swifter. The fare is
2 cents q mile, and no one may stand
on the platforms or in the aisles. Ber-
lin has electric, steam and horse care.
The rate of fare is 81 cents for two
miles, and 1 cent for each additional
mile. Companies must pave and re-
pair the streets through which their
lines run, and pay substantial bonus
to the city in addition.
Calcutta, India, Ia changing from
horse to electric motors. No passen
gers are taken after the seats are filed.
The franchise runs for twenty-five
years, and the company pays fixed
amount per mile per annum, and keeps
the middle of the street in repair. In
Cape Town, South Africa, there are
electric trolley cars of the ''double
deck" pattern, and they are made in
the aislee. The consul general to China
writes to Mr.. Mack: "There is not a
street car in all China"
"Cork, ireland, has electric lines
and g 2-cent fare for any distance. In
Dublin there is a minimum fare of 2
cents, with cent q mile for long dis
tsnces. In rainy days passengers was
allowed to ride in the aisles. The
company pays the City of Dublin 3d.
its tracks and for one foot on either
side. The franchise here runs forty
years, with the provision that after
twenty years the city may buy the
lines. If company and city cannot
agree on the price the board of trade
will be the referee.
Liverpool owns all the transit lines.
Lyons has electric, steam and horse
traction. There are cushioned seats
for first-olass passengers. and these
pay cents; others pay 2 cents. Four
nj
form, but no one is allowed to ride in
the aisles. There is but one door in
each car.
In Maracaibo, Venezuela, there is
rule against passengers standing in the
aisles. but no one pays any attention
to it. There are three companies here,
and none has anything better than
horse cars. The oldest company pays
2 IL per cent month on its capital,
and does not want to be disturbed.
Passengers may stand anywhere but on
the front platform in the mule cars of
Mexico City. Fares are 5 or cents,
according to distance.
ALI the lines in Paris are owned by
one company, and its exclusive fran
chise will expire in 1910. Cars and
omnibuses are double deckers," and
side apC on top it is cents.
St. Petersburg has horse cars, and |
single tracks. There are dozen diff
erent lines, but co transfers. The |
,ars are ''double deckers," and the |
are ia 2 IL and 3 cents. Cars slow
Town but seldom stop for passengers to
ret on or alight. In Winnipeg the
are is cents. Passengers are taken
N without regard to seating capacity,
md in general way the situation is
much the same as in Chicago.
One nf the most infarastipO Iettorl |
eceived by Mr.. Mack is that from M.
y. Gibbs, consul at Tamatave, NADIA
ascar. Mr.. Gibbs says: 81 should be
cry happy to afford you all possible
but in truth this country
J about one hundred years behind
he times" He adds that there Is
othing even remotely resem bling
treet cars in that city. nor on the is
and. Men are carried from place to
re regarded as innovations, and are
OF commonly used, even for the haul
1g of goods. The streets are sand
early foot deep; the first 500 yards
cement sidewalk ever seen in the is
md was laid there in the present year.
he first six miles of the first steam
abroad on the island was opened to
ne public May Is, 1899. Passengers
ay the men who carry them cents
lille. IT it be more the rate is simply
multiplied by the mum Der of miles.
"To speak of electric, compressed |
ir and other motors writes Mr..
Iibbs, sis to deal with the mythical,
Dr. even bicycle would be useless In
Madagascar. Chicago Times Herald
Mexican Mineral Belt.
The only direct route to the rich