The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-27

chisc-MtieS OF Excellent Track.
Benjamin H. Ridgely. American Consul
10 Geneva, in a letter to the Department #
state, writes Of an electric street railway.
Constructed under American auspices. as
Follows
within six months an electric street
railway. projected by a citizen Of san Fran
cisco, and constructed by an American
electrical engineer, will be in operation in
Geneva
Some TWO and half years ago Henry
Z. Buffers. of san Francisco, Cal. who HIS
been connected with the construction aLd
exploitation Of street rcfIways in Cape
Town and the City Of Mezieo was in Gen
eva. He found congo ted population
badly served by old fashioned steam tram
ways and horse ears. and the idea Of Sc
curing control Of the franchise Of the prin-
eipal companies and organizing a new COM
pany for the operation of a street railway
system on the American plan at once oc-
CURED to him.
The interest OF local capitalists was en-
listed, and in the course OF some months
Mr.. Buffers and his associates had secured
controlling interest in the Narrow Gauge
Street Railway Company Of Geneva. which
owns and operates some 44.74 miles in the
city and suburbs The projectors also Sc
cured an option on the franchise and prop
erty Of the Compagnie Generate des Tram
ways Suisses. which owDs and operates
1886 miles IN The heart Of the city and its
environs The price 10 be paid II the right
under this option is TO be exercised. as il
doubtless will be is $l.254. 500 The pro-
jectOrs have also secured a federal charter
under the title Of COmpagnie Genevoise des
Tramways Electriques. and obtained con
cessions 70 lay their tracks on some OF the
finest streets and Quays in Tie city. in
Guiding the famous Rue du RhOne and Quai
DIES Bergues.
They also secured the right 10 con
siruct and operate line on the famous
lakeside drive from Geneva to Versoix a
distance Of some IA miles past the fine
villas and chateaus Of the wealthy and
aristOcrauc classes.
The new company was organized with a
capital stock of 1865. OOO but none Of the
stock has yet been issU ed or sold al
though IL has probably been largely appor-
toned. IL is understood that the money
Tor the construction is being furnished
by the Paris Bank Of South Africa Lon
don capitalists are also interested in the
venture. and il is likely that the new com
pany In a short time viii own and control
all the street car lines in the city and
canton OF Geneva.
To put existing options into effect to
construct and equip an these lines on the
American plan and TO exploit the extra
exclusive rights of the new company will
entail a total expenditure Of about 50
\
about 81 miles OF road traversing the city
IN every direction and serving the entire
canton. The total population amounts to
about 10000. The canton is next to the
smallest Of the Swiss confederation. and
has only about twelve square miles OF ter
ritory. The lines would also cross the
frontier into France and would serve vari-
Gus small towns in the French depart
ments Of Haul Savoie and Ain
The engineer under whose management
aud direction the new lines are being con-
structed Is Stephen d. Field. OF New York
and Boston. The work is progressing. and
nine miles of track have already been laid
One. az least. Of the new lines will be in
operation boy June /. The American over
head trolley system is being used and the
American system Of cOnduits for under
ground cables, for the first time in Europe
The charter OF the new company re-
quires that the materials used I'm The con-
struction be bought either from Swiss
manufacturers or from Swiss houses rep
TeSenting foreign manufacturers. This for
the moment virtually bars United States
manufacturers. as no American concern
has Swiss agency. Up to this time all
rails have been bought In Germany and
all contracts for the construction OF cars
have been placed with Swiss agencies Of
German builders. The cars however. are
being built on the American plan and one
ear has, by special permission been ship
ped here from the mandatory OF the Brill
Company In Philadelphia. France is large
y furnishing the wire The only American
material that has vet been used is the
Brown Edison plastic rail bond.
Although Geneva has a large water pow
er force for generating electricity, il is
not believed that this plant will be able TO
furnish sufficient electric power for the
new street railway. Mr.. Field also thinks
that the price asked by the city 3-S
cents per kilOwatt hours unreasonably
high. Electricity can probably be Droduc-
ed by steam in Geneva for from / 1t to
] b-S cents per kilowatt hour and Mr..
Field is willing TO pay centimes. The
question is yet 10 be adjusted.
The tariff for street railway transpor-
tatiOr In Geneva is fixed at cents per pas
senger for the first fve-eighths Of a mile,
and cent for each succeeding kiIometer.
Experts who have studied the situation do
not doubt the profitable result of the en-
terprse.
The company has an Office at 43 Thread
needle Street. I'm London but its stock is
not yet issued and is not for sale