The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-14
VALUE OF
ELECTRIC
RAILWAYS

The recent establishment Of the inter
urban trolley service between this city
and Attleboro. the same being the nat
ural and very satisfactory development OF
the former system OF connecting local
lines. has given rise 10 a revival in the
consideration OF certain problems Of vital
importance TO those municipalities most
directly concerned and worthy of the at-
tention OF all progressively disposed COM
munities
There Is no question as 10 the all-lm-
portant part taken by the electric car In
modern municipal growth and nter-urban
expansion and none can deny the neces-
sity OF maintaining liberal and beneficial
policy I'm the administration OF the trolley
service In such Of It's phases as con-
Germ public convenience
The passing decade has seen an extraor-
dinary development OF the inter-city and
suburban railway systems here I'm Rhode
Island and with the approach OF the New
Year II seems a trte comment 20 say that
from now on the single city or town will
steadily lose it's significance as a unit
OF communal organization in favor OF that
modern condition Of unique complexity
best designated a syndicate OF cities and
dependent towns we'll bound together by
efficient electric railroad service.
The state of affairs here I'm Rhode Island
is vastly interesting. presenting an ex-
haustive series OF problems all intensely
practical and OF extreme public import
ance. There is a great need at present
OF more general understanding among
the people OF the deep significance Of the
rapid expansion and opening up OF the
inter-urban districts and too much time
cannot be taken in setting the meaning Of
IL all, the great possibilities OF future
years the trend Of affairs portends before
them.
Communication is an all important prob
lem which must enter into the reckoning
OF the value and helpfulness OF popular
railroad. Little OF its benefits are as yet
afforded the people OF Rhode Island as far
as the suburban electric roads are con-
cerned. OF sll the lines that radiate from
Providence into the suburban districts,
special Communication rates are allowed on
but one OF the Riverside lines That road
traverses the southeastern section OF the
city. crosses a part OF East Providence
and threads It's way along the eastern
shore OF the river. touching several typi-
cal and prosperous suburban settlements,
terminating at Riverside. Ordinarily the
fare for a single passage over the line is
ten cents the distance being between sew
en- and ten miles. special provision OF
the Rhode Island company makes II pos
sible for persons regularly riding over the
line TO buy rs tickets for one dollar each
ticket OF course emitting the holder the
full privilege OF the ten-cent fare. The
rate is thus fixed at a trife OF Ave cents a
trip against ten cents, the regular fare. A
marked growth In the building up OF COM
munities adjacent 10 the route OF the
Riverside cars has been apparent OF late
years
The Attleboro line has been pronounced
great Improvement over the preceding
arrangement and comment Is freely made
upon the excellence of the service. The
line is most efficient In equipment and its
running time is very satisfactory. The
distance from Providence 10 Attleboro is
estimated as 12 miles. The fare charged
There is no special commutation rate
nothing but the straight, full fare being
accepted. Persons regularly using the At
tleboro- Providence service pay nearly
three times the fare for riding IL miles
than do the Riverside commuters for rid
ing more than half that distance. Logi-
cally Il would seem as though the appar-
ent discrepancy In adjustment of rates
would be serious hindrance 10 the full
est efficiency OF the new line.
On certain longer established suburban
lines operating along the western shore
OF the bay similar situations exist under
present conditions. IL Is a matter for
much serious thought and minute consid-
Grafton The Communication system Is an all
important factor in the expansion and de-
veiopment or outlying suburban districts
and must be reckoned with.