The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-03
AMERICAN BRAINS
AND ENTERPR|S
To Build Trolley Lines in England
Over Vide Territory-I47
Miles of Track.

American brains and enterprise, with
England a system of electric traction
lines covering a territory as populous
as that of New York city and embrace
ing 14l miles of trackagc, says the New
York Herald The lines will run from
Liverpool to Manchester, extending in
both directions between these two ex-
tremeS and touching some OF the most
populous towns Of the British Isles
Thomas A. Nevins, who. in connec-
ton with his father, Thomas Nevins,
was among the pioneer traction con-
tractors and promoters of the East. is
at the head of the enterprise and will
sail on Saturday to supervise the work.
He and his father are not only to build
the lines, but are financing the enter
prise as Well. The operations will in
volve S20000.o2o, all of which will be
American capital. The Nevinses are
themselves largely interested in the pro-
ject, and have associated with them
New York capitalists.
Many men in the enterprise are inter
ested in the Metropolitan Street Railway
and in the North Jersey Traction Com
pany, the corporation which owns all
the trolley lines Of Northern New Jersey
A few years go the Messrs. Nevins as
tonished England by getting a franchise
ACi d lipIiSy iliic III SuSlttiIIldIl, WHICH
they built and own themselves. But
even with this example before them, the
English have been slow to appreciate
the possibilities of electric roads.
Talking last night a t Holly Hail. his
handsome residence in Harrison Street
East Orange. Mr.. Nevins spoke of the
lack of enterprise shown by the English
in beginning traction enterprises.
They do not seem to have awakened
to the possibilities in electric roads," he
said. American capital can go over
there and build lines and make a success
of them. Towns in England of large
population are to-day without q trolley
line. Even the London underground is
being built by Mr.. Ierkes and his Amer
lean friends.
This new system, the South Lanca-
shire Electric Traction and Power Com
pany, Limited, is a consolidation of sew
eral lines, some of which are built, but
the greater portion of which remain to
be constructed. It includes the South
Lancashire tramways, extending for
eighty-four miles; the st. Helens tram
ways. twenty-five miles; the Liverpool
and Prescott Light Railway, three miles.
and the proposed extensions of the South
Lancashire system, including the Bolton
and Darwin Light Railway, twenty
three miles.
In Liverpool the roads belong to the
municipality and Manchester is begin
ming to build lines under municipal own
ership, but the major portion of the
country between is undeveloped. Our
lines will extend between these two
places, down to Warrington, with its
population of $1,000, and up to Black
burn, which has 1888, CJv, and Aggrington.
with 1900. Of course, in some of the
towns there are small lines already in
operation OF provided for, but the great
e, portion of the route will be new. and
besides the population in the towns
there is a large intermediate population.
sufficient to make up a total of three
and half millions, which will be served
by the projected system of tramways."
Mr.. Nevins said that while he and his
father had disposed of their holdings in
te street car system in Detroit some
time ago. they still had extensive inter-
ests in this country.
However, he said, I'VE look upon
England as containing our principal In
terests nowadays. because the field there
is SO largely undeveloped. We have done
a. great deal of work in this country and
have had large operations here, but this
country is pretty we'll supplied now and
the field of operations is consequently
restricted. In England it Is practically
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