New-York tribune., 1902-12-22
MANIL4 R4PID TRANSIT
Franchise To Be Granted for Con-
et,uction of Electric Road.

Washington. Dec 21 (SpeciaD.-Rapid transit
and electric streetcar lines are the latest phase
/ of the American occupation or the fhllippihes.
| with these are to come baseball parks and
speedy communication with SUBURBAN race
| tracks The Insular Bureau in this city has
inst received from Manila the full text Of an en-
actment of the Philippine Commission providing
for the granting of a franchise to construct,
maintain and operate an electric railroad IN the
streets of Manila and its suburbs, and also to
operate an electric light heat and power station.
The present streetcar system in Manila is en-
tirely inadequate; the cars are small. and drawn
by the native Philippine ponies: the service is
infreauent, and then only along a few or the
more important thoroughfares. 1t Is at present
the practice of all classes to hire pubic caps'
called carronatas or quilezes, in going from one
point to another in the city. The charge Tor the
use of these cabs is from 10 to 70 cents for
the course The demand for these public We
hicIes is such however, that. despite the Iact
that licenses have been issued to ABOUT Iour
thousand, the number is entirely inadequate 10
meet the demands. and it is practically lmpossl-
BILE to secure public transport in certain nours
of the day This forces many. in fact all VINO
can afford 1t, to purchase and MAINTAIN private
vehicles for use in going to and returning from
their regular duties. and the number OF such
vehicles is believed to be almost as great as the
number of public licensed vehicles
Recently an effort was made by some private
parties to introduce the jinricksha into Mania,
which has been found such a satisfactory means
of street transportation in the japanese ana Shl-
nese coast cities. The ricksha is light, t"o-
wheeled vehicle, capable of accommodating one
passenger and drawn by a coolie But with the
climatic conditions and the distances IN Mania
against it. 1t is not believed that it Will AFFORD
any relief to the present congested transporta-
ton facilities.
With an American and European population
of more than twenty thousand and a ma
tive and Chinese population of upward of
three hundred thousand living in city
covering an area of twenty square miles,
II will he apparent that there is proad
field for the installation of suitable ana ade-
quate street railway system The climatic con-
ditions during the greater part of the year are
such as TO render walking difficult and unpleas-
ant and 1t is believed that the percentage Oh
the population that will have recourse to a
properly conducted street system of transporta-
ton will be greater than in the average Ameri-
can city. Manila is in a country where coolies
ride An analogous condition formerly existed
In the City OF Mexico, and the installation OF
an electric tramway system some three or four
years ago it is understood has been enlinently
successful to the investors. The route OF the
proposed system as fixed by the Philippine Com
mission Is thirty-five miles long, and iS so ar
ranged as 10 furnish satisfactory system Of
transportation from any part OF the city to any
other part and without passing through any
territory which would not regularly contribute
its quota of passengers taking in two race
courses and the baseball park.
The interest Of the population. both American,
European and native. in horse racing. due TO the
fact that many forms of recreation resorted 10
by residents OF the United States are imprac-
ticable is such that meets are held on one
or two days of each week practically all the
year round except during short period at the
height of the rainy season. This trafic in it
self il is believed would contribute much to the
revenues OF the street railway system.
AS that portion of the franchise relative 10
the furnishing of light. heat and power, Colonel
Edwards states that there is at present an cleo
trio light company in Manila which furnishes
street arc lamps and incandesCent lamps to the
city of Manila, and limited number OF incan
descent lights and power for the propulsion Of
electric fans to private individuals 1t Is un-
derstood. however, from persons returning from
Manila. that the service is inadequate 10 meet
the demands upon it. There is no coal gas sys-
tenn Of Illumination and IL is thought In view of
climatic conditions. II. furnished at permissible
rate. electric lights would supersede practically |
all acetylene and petroleum oil methods of illu- |
mination: and further. that motive power |
II would be found more economical 10 consum- |
ers than the present power generated by wood
and coal particularly in view of the heavy de- |
mands Of the shipping for coal
The points of competition for bidding the |
years. the rate Of fare the street railway |
not to exceed 712 cents gold for first class pas
sengers and five cents gold for second class |
passengers. and the compensation to be paid |
the city of Manila for the franchise. not less |
than ~ per cent of the gross earnings Con- |
struction must begin within six months after |
awarding the bid. and be completed twenty |
months thereafter.
The Bureau of Insular Affairs is in DO
sition to furnish the full text of the enactment
of the Philippine Commission TO intending bid |
ders. A map showing the proposed route of the |
Cfrn Yatu ole. L.
office.
The bids are to be filed in Manila before March |
D, 1913, on which date they are to be opened