Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-11
POI rERs FROM ABROAD.

In a whole lot of things the New
World is far ahead of the Old, but there
are other-and important ones-in
which the Old World still leads us.
This is especially true in the matter
of public utilities. No European NUM-
cipality would think of giving away to
private firms or corporations valuable
franchises giving absolute control of
these natural public monopolies, with
out price or even retaining a general
supervising control OF them, as we have
done in Wheeling and will be asked to
do.
Dr. Hugh Pitcairn, of Pennsylvania,
q. S. Consul to Hamburg, Germany,
sends to the State Department an inter-
esting report on the manner of handl-
Ing these matters in that famous old
city. He deals with its electric street
railway system and presents a striking
illustration of the manner in which for
eign municipalities deal with these cor
porations and guard at every point the
material interests of the public, as well
as its comfort and convenience.
Hamburg's street car system is the
electric overhead trolley-the Thomp-
son-Houston system. Among other
things DR.. Pitcairn's report says:
The Hamburg electrical works pays to
the State of Hamburg 20 per cent of its
gross income as return for the monon
Oily; the street car company pays for the
electric current 1872 pfennigs (eoual to
2971a cents) per kowatt hour q kilowatt
hour equals 1,000-volt amperes. or /. So horse
power). The State of Hamburg refunds to
the Electric Street Car Company 70 per
cent. of its price, leaving a net cost price
Tor the electric current Of 10 pfennigs e. So
cents) per 1,0o0-volt amperes. As a COM
pensaton for the use of the public roads
the street car company pays to the state
OF Hamburg L pfennig (0.23S cent? for each
passenger. The average fare for each per-
son carried being lis pfennigs (274 cents).
the state receives 81 per cent. of the gross
income OF the company. In addition to
this, the street car company must keep the
paving inside of the tracks and 80 cent?
meters Oils inches) outside of each track
in proper condition.
The street car company is not at lib
erty to fix the pricesof the fare on its lines.
but must forward passengers at the rate
fixed by the board of public traffic to be
approved by the Senate. All lines are
divided into zones of 1900 meters Q.24
miles,, and the fare is as follows: For
the first two zones, 1900 meters. or 2.4S
miles,, 10 pfennigs CESS cents: for each
two zones or part thereof, thereafter. 5
pfennigs Q.19 cents).
All of which will be highly interesting
to the gentlemen at the City Hall. who
have been asked to give away precisely
similar privileges to similar corpor-
ations, not only without any return
whatever, but without retaining any
right of supervision or control by
the city.
DR.. Pitcairn's report continues-and
it is evidence how far ahead of us this
Old World city is in this matter. at
least:
The street car company has issued com
mutation tickets, divided in two sections.
The first section entities the holder to the
use of one line in both directions, and as
many times as he chooses. including Sun
days. The second section issues commute
ton tickets for the use of all lines. in all
directions, and allows the holder TO avail
himself of the accommodations as MANY
times as he chooses. These tickets are
valid from to ~ months and the prices
are so low that if person uses the cars
over three times a day, Communication
means saving-in some cases the fare for
each trip amounting to less than one cent. .
Communication ticket good for a year,
emitting the holder to ride on all lines as
many times a day as he chooses, can be
nod for $3.50
No crowding is allowed on the Hamburg