Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-08-21
NEW PHASES OF ELECTRIC
RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT.

NEW fdASES VI ELECIh1C
RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT.
Springfield Republican: Que Of the
electric journals prints news item
to the effect that the Lake Erie and
Western steam road has asked for
reduction Of taxation in Indiana, on
the ground that it's lines have been
parallelec to great extent by electric
roads, that the company's territory is
further threatened by new electric
projects and that its business is being
seriously injured. What is true Of this
steam road must be true of others in
the central West, though the extent of
the injury so far done to the business
of the steam lines may be eKaggerat-
ed.
Electric railway development In
that part of the country, more es-
pecially perhaps than in other sec.
tions, is preceding with amazing
rapidity and to lengths hardly con-
sidered possible q few years ago.
These lines have to large extent
abandoned the old highways outside
of the cities, and taken to ways of
their own belonging, usually follow
ing the course taken by the steam
lines, and closely paralleling them
throughout. Formerly the electric
roads confined themselves to short
distance passenger traffic, which is
still the case in this state as a rule.
Then they added on a short distance
package freight business. Now they
are extending their lines to connect
the populous centers, are consolidat-
ing to establish a through long dis
lance traffic and are bidding strongly,
and promise more and more to do go,
for passenger and freight business
without any limit as to distance.
Thus two electric railway CON-
panies have joined hands to establish
through fast service between Indian.
apolis. 1nd., and Columbus, O., a
distance of 100 miles. This ia but
one Of the similar schemes developing
all over the central West. The In
dianapolis and Columbus line will, in
about month, put on sleeping and
parlor car service, which will be able,
it is said, to offer nearly as quick
time between the two cities as the
steam roads, an equally comfortable
service and much cheaper one. The
cars now being built by q Delaware
concern making q specially Of supply
ing this demand are of an original
design, readily chsngeable into Sleep
ping or day cars. and Offering to the
travellers berths entirely closed in
from the body Of she coach's interior,
as In the case of Pullman car cut
into sections. But by the use Of slid
ing flexible screens the section can
be made up and done away with as
the requirement of day and night
service demands. Otherwise the new
cars are equipped as the Pullman,
with toilet'rooms at either end, smok-
ing rooms, etc. Some of these cars are
also equipped for the serving Of meals.
The CARS will be operated by the car
company as the Pullman company
operates its cars, collecting the seat
and berth fares and charging the
electric road with mileage at q rate
agreed upon. The charge for q single
berth between Columbus and Indian
spolis wiz be %, tor whole section
occupied by one person Is, and for q
seat in the parlor car Enthusiastically
the same rates now charged bv the
Pullman company between the two
cities; but the fare for the ira ns.
portion over the electric road is only
one-half that charged by the steam
roads. The traveller will be able to
make the journey Of 100 miles by
electric railway in one night at half
the cost Of bare transportation on the
steam roads, and with sleeping &C.
commodations, at least 30 far as
privacy is concerned, superior to
those afforded by the ordinary Pull
man car, for the same money. It
would seem that electric roads, under
these circumstances, must draw
heavily on the long distance passen-
ger traffic Of the steam roads.
The electric lines create a great
deal Of traffic which did not exist be.
fore. They have thus DO doubt
brought to the steam roads in many
cases as much new business as they
have taken away in the old business
This is especially true of the short
distance passenger traffic where the
electric roads have developed q
suburban business not known before,
which over-flows back upon the steam
roads and which in remote ways has
helped the freight business of the
later.