Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-07-18

so great; there have been no street
cars. and it is fatal to walk in the sun.
| This makes living more expensive
/ mere than elsewhere. without consid-
ering any other OF several Important
Items, for besides horses people have
TO Keep coachmen in addition to other
servants. They have single vehicles.
called earromettas, like old-fashioned
phaetons. on two wheels. and mlnia-
ture Nictorlas that will carry three
people comfortably. The returns of
the assessors show that there are
more than 10000 of these licensed in
Manile for population of $4,000.
which is carriage tor every eight
people. do not know of any other
city With so large a number.
Ihe livery business is very proflta.
bic. The charge for any twohorse We.
hicIe is VI an hour. and so cents ex.
ira If IT has rubber tires, and so and
90 cents an hour for carumettas.
have been paying s25 week for a
two horse team and n victoria that did
not cost $500, and use IL as much as 1
Ike, but people who live here perm.
anently can make little better terms
The liveries will not pay such big
dividends when the new electric car
line is finished. and tracks are being
rapidly laid through the PRINCIPAL
streets and out into the suburbs in all
directions 1t is tho most important
Improvement that has been undertaken
since American occupation. and will
revolutlOni2o things. Heretofore peo.
pie have had to huddle together 10
keep near their work. or else keep car
rlages There has been an antlauated
horsecar ruuninf at long intervals. but
seldom patrnnl1ed by foreigners be,
cause II was always crowded by ma.
tiyes, who are not the most agreeable
companions. Jlnrickshas were tried,
and Chinese coolies were employed to
haul them, but the experiment was
abandoned after an experience of two
days. The u.,tives drove them OFF the
streets They declared that they
would not permit one human being to
be hauled about by another, and since
then the 'rlckshas have been piled up
In stable, and the public has been
compelled TO depend upon the liveries
These conditions have arrested the
growth of the city. have tended to con
gest the population within limited dis.
tricts and have made rcnta very high,
There IS plenty Of available building
area outside Of the city limits. The
ground is higher, drler and cheaper
The atmosphere Is cooler ana more
healthful. and there Is great activity
In building in anticipation of the com.
pletion Of the trolley line. The new
houses are built to suit the American
taste. They are more comfortable and
commodious than have been required
by tho Spanisrds or rllipinos, and will
soon be 80 numerous that rents will
have TO come down.
The street car concession was Offer
ed to the highest bidder Advertise
ments Inviting bids were published In
the newspapers OF New York, Chicago,
Washington and San Francisco. but
there was only one bidder in the per.
son OF George NJ Swift OF Detroit. rep
resentlng syndicate of capitalists of
that city and New York, to whom
contract was awarded for forty miles
of track, aul also for lighting. heating.
and furnishing electric power to local
manufacturers Under the contract
the line must be completed and run
ming within tyenty-slx months from
last September ana trom the way Mr..
Swift Is pushing things he Will be pay
ing dividends by that date The com
pany ia allowed to charge & cents for
first-class tlckels. but must sell FIVE
for a quarter. and cents for sec
ond-class ticket and sell six for quar-
ter This is in the local currency.
worth just one-half of ours at home,
which means 2ia and 3 cent fares.
The company is required TO pay 21e
per cent Of Its gross receipts into the
city treasury.
WILLIAM 4. CURTIS.