The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-25

lines are now sought for by all enterpris-
ing hrms wherever the elevated exists.
Everywhere, whether in city or coufi-
try. We found the subject OF the separa-
ton or crossing in the foreground. CITY
Engineer Weile, of Spokane, informed as
that the reconstruction of the Great
Northern tracks in that city VIII leave
but two grade crossings. In the CITY OF
Duluth. with but 5s.oe0 inhabitants, the
railroads have been elevated for a dis
lance OF nearly two miles. being carried
on heavy and expensive steel tresting.
In the city of Detroit work has begun
on the separation of all crossings Ihefe
are $50 such separations 70 BE- made Win
from one TO thirteen ira ks 10 ne cafed
Tor at each crossing. The first separation
made accommodates four tracks across
Woodward avenue and cost AnWN, an n
which WAS borne by the railway COM
pany. In Washington u. G. the =. ..
and Pennsylvania lines are being required
By congress to abolish every grade cross
ing IN the city: also to build new termsn-
ais TO cost Ss.ae0Oo0 II would be Inn
possible to describe the vast sums being
spent in accomplishing these enas
throughout the country. The necessity Toy
these separations was painfully impressed
upon your committee by the TACT that
on the night OF leaving chicago tne
evenings paper announced taat tear
deaths We're the results so far reported
for that days traffic, two persons Killed
and shamefully mutated. two fatally IN
iured. suffering slow and painful death.
th @ls se nappsqea az the pp roads l had
not YET been completed Millions
81 O. dollars are nov being , spent u
roads TO effect this separation. Every
where the verdict was that he who would
allow new grade crossing was a GRIMM
al Local conditions i'm all cases deter
mine whether the street or the railreal
Is elevated but under all ordinary coilui-
tlons the streets are left 90 enjoy their
natural surface traffic and the railway
is elevated BY actual measurement matte
by your committee we find the clearance
used for wagon traffic Is twelve feet. and
the clearance used for railroads varies
from sixteen to eighteen feet
Your committee has collected large
amount OF data as TO he revenue pare
to the various cities by the duiefent
franchise corporations. We cite few
instances only. In philadelphia the street
car lines grade, pave and maintain irom
curb to curb those streets on whieh theN
lines are operated and pay SO Nftr
license on each car The fare Is GEMS
for a straight ride. and cents for rice
giving cFosstown transfers. The gas CONT
pany in philadelphia leased the CTS
81 ,O00. GOO royalty. sell gas at 81 per thous-
and feet and pay The city 10 per cent
of gross receipts. Al the end of thlrt%
years. the company returns the plant TO
the city with SIT. 100000 added value. They
also furnish the city In the meantime
large amount of free gas.
improvements In Cleveland.
I'm Cleveland. o.. on q ten-ycar exten-
sion Of franchise, the gas company fuf
nishes gas al 10 cents a thousand teet
and PAYS the city Gia ner cent. or gross
earnings, this Amounted to s65,i21ss for
the year 1899. In Cleveland the street
railways maintain seventeen feet of street
pavement and pay all their own and one
half of the citys part of the cost OF any
change Ct grade and up TO per cent.
of gross earnings. In Cincinnati q stree
car fare with cross transfer is 5 cents 1he
roads pay the city per cent. gross earn
ings. and pay the city 81 a year for each
linear foot of ear, measured from inside
of door to door.
"in Baltimore the street car lines pay
. per cent. of their gross earnings TO the
city. For 1900 this revenue will aggregate
$4,000 Here also they pay S. year
license on each ear also there ~ levied
in the streets. Philadelphia also secures
quite an income by assessing each pole
in the street.
1--WE have gathered large number of
documents relating to these matters. and
were fortunate in securing complete cop
les of all street railway franchises in
Philadelphia. also copies of their great
gas lease contract.
'.Your committee visited many parks
while on this trip. and find every city
taking active steps to enlarge these places
of healthfu recreation. In Washington
city even. where we thought parks were
abundant we found our president ufg-
urge upon the council the intelligent use
of every opportunity to acquire proper
and suitable parks and park driveways or
park boulevards We are convinced that
the growth of the city H. being mater
tally retarded by the lack of such drive
ways as are common through many. II
not all. of our Eastern cities. This Is a