Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-12-24
TROLLEY RIDE.
Newspaper Men Enjoy "A Trip Over the
wilkesbarre and Hazleton Road.

Wilkesbarre and Hazleton Road.
The officials of the Hazleton and
Wilkesbarre Railroad yesterday gave
the newspaper men of Hazleton and
| Freeland an opportunity to inspect the
new road between Hazleton and ST..
Johns. A special car conveyed the
party from Hazleton to Halle Park,
where the company's handsome new
car, "Wikesbarre, No. 2O2," was board
| ed.
Alvan Markle, general manager Of
the road, acted as motorman, and in
| 12A minutes after the car started the
| party was landed at the new power
house at St. Johns, which is a fraction
over 50 miles distant.
This speed was made without any
| special effort The car has already
covered the distance in less than mile
minute and could easily have done so
yesterday, but the rate at which it ran
was maintained to give the company's
guests view Of the magnificent valley.
1t is claimed, and not without reason,
Il
that passengers on the new road will
enjoy the finest scenery offered by any
trolley line in the country. The fertile
valleys through which the line passes
will make the ride a most delightful one,
especially during the summer months,
when the well-kept farms will show to
better advantage than at present.
The new car has already been descrb-
ed 10 these column, but it must be per-
sonally examined to thoroughly appre
ciate its advantages and superior ar
rangement over the ordinary trolley car.
| 1t receives its current from q third
rail, which is laid alongside the track,
about foot over ground. The rail is
covered as well as possible, and, though
heavily charged with electricity and
deadly to all who may come in contact
with it, it is not Liable to injure passen
gers or employees, unless they are guilty
of gross negligence or recklessness.
The ballast of the road is stone, and
this, with the Unbalanced springs of
the car, makes solid riding which is not
surpassed by the finest steam propelled
cars. Grade crossings and sharp curves
being none of the former and but one
of the latter.
While there are many heavy grades
on the road, all danger of cars becoming
unmanageable and running away are
obviated by "a speed controller on each
car This apparatus works automatic
ally and AS soon as the regulation speed
is exceeded will bring the car to a stop.
The power honse, it is said, is a model
of its kind, and, while not the largest, is
the best-equipped plant in the United
States. Four sets of three boilers each,
built especially to burn culm, generate
the steam which moves the three mas
sive high-pressure engines. Every
modern electrical appliance needed has
been Installed, aud to the electrical ex.
pert the machinery room is perfection
itself
Within a few days the car Wilkes
barre will begin making regular trips
for passengers between Halle Park and
st. Johns, and during the latter part of
January, the time set for the compile
tion of the tunnel under Wikesbarre
mountain, the car will run to Ashley.
Some day, one Of the officials inti-
mated to the writer, spur from the
top of Butler mountain may be built to
Freeland, and this branch, it may be
safely predicted, will prove wel.p pay
ing investment, as Freeland people will
not be slow to appreciate the advant-
ages offered by riding over the new road
to the county seat.
The inspection party was in charge of
e. 5. Doud, secretary OF the company.
and consisted of the following: w. C.
Dershuck and j. W. Kraft, of the Plain
Speaker; James Cadden and Frank Sny-
der, of the Sentinel; John b. Kraft, of
the Standard; Editor 10th, of the SLOW
ensky Noviny; II, S. Fowler, of the
Progress; D. 5. Buckley, of the Tribune;
Henry Walser, Joseph Levy, Joseph
Doud and John R. Sharpless. Esq.
DIR. Elmer, resident physician at White
Haven Sanitaruim was thrnwn from hi