Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-26
RAILWAYS IN JAMAICA.
The Steam Line InSuccessful. but the
Electric Cars Crowded.

Louis A. Dent. United States consul at
Kingston, Jamaica. has written as follows
to The State Department, describing the
railways on the island:
The principal mode of travel in the
larger part of the island, until the last few
years, was by carriage, there being net
work of excellent roads. For some time,
there had been a steam railway, operated
on the English plan. for a short distance
from Kingston into the interior.
Some tour years ago this road was eX
tended lib miles northwest to Montego
bay and 10 miles northeast to Port An
tonic, thus connecting the three principal
towns of the island. The road was built
by an American company. The govern
ment gave over the old road. made GER
tam land grants and guaranteed bonds.
There was great friction and litigation
growing out of government claims on ac-
count of construction, the company failed
and the government is now about to take
over the railway. The cars are principally
in the American style, and the locomotives
also, except on the old portion of the line,
where they still use English locomotives
and compartment cars. Ordinary coaches
for the masses are called third class and
the rate of fare averages cents mile.
These cars have compartments cut eff for
a small number of first-class passengers,
who pay an average of cents a mile. The
time occupied in making the run to Port
Antonio is about four hours. and TO Mon
tego bay about six hours. There is quite
q nttle Climb over spurs OF the mountains.
For some years there has been horse
railway in Kingston, but electric road
covering the lines of the old horse cars
and other thoroughfares as well has just
been completed. This new line has about
twenty-five miles of track in and around
Kingston, divided into three districts viz:
the lines north of the city, those east of
the city and those in the city. 1t is a
private enterprise, started by Canadian
capital and is called the West India Elec-
tric Company. The government license is
for a period of thirty years renewable for
ernOr. The company pays 4 per cent of
its gross earnings to the government and
assumes the maintenance of the roads and
streets occupied by it to the extent of
eighteen inches on each side of the tracks.
THE rates of fare on this road are I'd.
a cents for each passenger from any
point within a district to another point in
the same district by most direct route;
that is, the fare Is practically I'd. for each
section of the line. and from the end of
the line to the east, through the city to
the end of the line north, would be three
fares or Cd. ~ cents). In addition, the
company reserves three front benches on
each car on which a hrst-class fare-3d.
Is cents) instead of 2d.--is charged. Tickets
are sold as follows: Seven 2-penny tickets
for Is GA cents), five 3-penny tickets for
Is, and ten children's tickets, for under
twelve years, for Is.
Passengers are allowed to stand. There
is no difference in this respect, from con-
ditions which prevail at home. There are
no restrictions as to number of passengers
carried, and the same complaints of-over-
crowding are heard. Cars run every fifteen
minutes in the city. In addition to regu-
lar motors, this company runs market cars
before am. and after pm. for country
people who carry produce. These cars are
trailers. and the fare on them is 112d. g
cents)."