The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-30
THOUSAND MILES BY TROLLEY.
Albert RiaeiOw Paine's Novel New
York-chleaso Jaunt.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
Albert Bigelow Paine. In the current
Worlds Work. has an interesting ac-
count of a June journey from New York
to Chicago by trolley car. OF course.
he did not cover the entire distance in
that way. but he did 50 far as possible
and found the experience by no means
expensive and highly enjoyable
The starting point was Thirty-fourth
street, New York, and ten cents and five
transfers took him to Larchmont. Then
a short steam and stage ride brought
him to Wappingers Falls. and eight
miles more Of trolley took him to Pough-
keepsie and the end of the FIRST day.
Five days In all We're consumed in get
ting out of New York state, but he did
not hurry, and stopped a good deal to
fish. Another cause Of delay was the diff
fieulty of learning just where lines began
and ended. Rochester was found plan
ming line to Syracuse and Buffalo, and
operating one to Sodus Point, forty miles
away on Lake Ontario, but he had to call
on steam to help him on to Bockport.
Thence into Buffalo the way was easy,
but there, with the exception of a three
mile bit between Dunkirl and Fredonia,
the New York lines end. In the Pennsyl-
vania neck he found but one trolley line,
running sixteen miles from Northeast to
Erie through a land of vineyards.
In Ohio there was no lack Of trolley
cars. Except for a short gap between
Ashtabula and gainesville. they took
him right across the state-15S miles for
81. Din a day and a half, out Of which
he spent hfalf a day in Cleveland,
night In Norwalk, and several hours in
Toledo, and did not hurry anywhere.
One notable feature of the Ohio lines
was the great use of them made by the
farmers, who ship and receive all sorts
of things by them. Another feature was
that all the passengers seemed to know
everybody. not casually, but with MI
mute knowledge of their family ties bus
mess relations hopes and interests. The
trolley is evidently distinct social FAC
tor In these communities.
From Toledo to Detroit was a splendid
ride. with but one break where the line
was built but not yet In operation. De-
troit was especially notable for the ac-
cessible and accurate information about
its trolley lines. All the companies issue
time tables and descriptive folders SO
that the traveller is never in any doubt
where he will get to when he starts
The Detroit system ENDS AT jackson
seyenty-six miles away, which distance
was covered in three hours and forty-five
minutes at a cost Of S1.05. The cars on
the line were. on the whole, the best
found 1.-THE farther west" the author
Significantly remarks, the better the
cars"
For some reason Mr.. Paine did not in
vestigate the trolley lines Of the thriving
towns OF southwestern Michigan and
Indiana, but from Jackson
jumped by steam to Hammond. Thence
a last trolley ride ended his journey on
the site Of the White City OF 1898.
The trip consumed nine days, involved
fifty-seven changes of cars, and cost
about $50 without views. interviews and
fshing, Mr.. Paine remarks, ut could
have been done in a week. and also for
less money" But he considers the time
and morey we'll spent.
Steam for speed; trolley for good
time" is his general conclusion, In which
all who have tried making the acquaint-
anoe of their own country. will be apt
to agree With him.