The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11
THIRD RAIL A GOOD PAYER.
rIE, ,TED PROFITS INCREASED
S5OO, 400 LAST Qt AFTER.
Predictions Of the Electrical Experts
That IFS Cheaper. Better and Greater
None, Maker Than steam for Local
Passenger TraMc Justified by Re-
.u.ts-Nhat the Figures Indicate.

After long cogitation and apparently
with some misgivings, the directors OF the
Manhattan Railway Company decided
somewhat less than two years ago to change
their motive system gradually from steam
10 the third rail system of elect richly. They
had been talking of it and even expert
uerting with various motors and devices
for year at least when they reached this
decision They did so only after long
and constant urging
Now, if there were misgivings in the
conservative old Manhattan directorate
about the results of this change, there
vere none among the elect rical sharps
they consulted. The opinion was unani-
nous among the electrical experts hat
the change would be worth the large sum
would cost to make it.
~, only would the public have better
service and be better satisfied said these
experts, but the road would profit
bv the change. The trouble about the
elevated railway has always been, not that
/, could not get enough passengers, but
that during the principal hours Of travel
il could not handle the crowds it did get.
yerrs assured the directors, it would be
possible 10 increase the speed OF trains,
the number of trains and the number Of
cars to a train, and therefore the number
Of passengers it could carry. The in
creased receipts, it ives argued, would
quickly pay the cost of installing the new
ele trical system
They went further. Not only would
receipts he increased, they said, but the
cost of operation would be reduced.
There would he no fremen's wages to
ray. Running more cars to train. the
ratio of train receipts to the wages of the
man who ran it-engineer or motorman--
would he considerably more in favor OF
the company. Greater speed would mean
more trains run for days wages
Presidents were quoted. The South Side
Elevated Railway of Chicago, after chang
ing its motive power from steam to cleo.
tricty, had cut down the percentage Of
operation expenses to gross receipts from
7Ss under steam to a bare $50 under cleo
tricty.
The experience of the Metropolitan Street
Railway was that while running a horse
car line cost 10. 10 cents a mile and cable
power 1850 cents mile, running by the
under trolley system cost only at the rate
of 49, SO cents mile.
The experts figured that with the third
rail system the cost OF operating the ele-
waited railways ought to come down from
SO cents to So cents car mile And the
Manhattan directors, somewhat grudgingly,
decided to try it and see what results it
would bring forth. Other railroad men
10 whom the experiment was of great mo-
ment also waited to see.
Well, they have now seen, but meantime
the elevated railways have passed from
the control of the old Manhattan directors
to the new marlborough Rapid Transit
Company, which is building and is to oper-
ate the subway.
Among the many railroad reports issued
in the last few months, none has aroused
keener intesest among railroad men, es-
yecially among those interested in what is
technically known as short haul heavy
passenger travel than document issued
ly the marlborough company. 1t is the
report covering the operations OF the Man
haitian Elevated lines during the quarter
comprising the months of April, May and
June the first quarter under the new man
agement, also the first quarter since the
complete identification of the roads.
The report is interesting because it shows
scr The first time in the light of practical
experience hi re in Manhattan Island, in
the best testing field that can be found,
and right under the personal observation
Of the heads of the principal great railroa d
corporations just how The profits foperal =
ing passenger lines by steam and electricity
compare. As the experts predicted the
advantage Ia all on the side OF ELF ctrlcity.
The gross earnings of the Manhattan
Elevated lines under electricity during
April, May and June this year were So
27l 1871; under steam in the correspor ding
three months last year they were only
81 S5T ,25O That is an increase ofSn4,5S.
Under electricity during that quart er
This year the operating expenses OF the
system were 81 1902 ,0s9 under steam in the
correspon ing period last year they were
s. ,tOl 100. That il "a decrease Of S39,0l7. Gem
bning The lessened cost OF operation with
The Increase in earnings. it will be seen
that in the three months the roads profit
was exactly $513,!54
NOW lHlS sFtOHu VI 'hU 'uiohthi
year is by no means the most profitable
Of the four for the elevated railroads. The
earnings Of the elevated roads are great est
IN the winter.
II il therefore a conservative estimat e
that on this basis the increase in profits for
The entire twelve months will be between
$3.50 900 and 5000 600, chiefly due. 1t il
declared, to the money saving and money
making power Of the third rail system.
In other directions the Interborough
company has been spending money on lts
Mar hattan lines II is enlarging the plat
forms of many stations II has built at
iea, one new station.
10 taxes have slightly increased. II ID
steadily improving it's running stock
Never heless it il able to record an increase
Of 3ls3,74O in the three months surplus
The reputation Of the experts who pre-
dlced a result something like this, but not
So e-ceIlcnt, is borne out by the facts
In the corresponding quarter OF last year
with steam power. the cost OF Transports
lion to he old elevated railway company
was ? y cents passenger In this quarter
under electricity, il il only l9s cents a
passenger
Now while the company is making more
money for itself the public is better pleased
with ts work. Not half 10 many COM
plants about the elevated lines are heard
IN these days