Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-18
London's PASSENGER Traffic,

Realizing that proper facilities for
the transport of people within its linn
its are one of the most important ele-
ments of city's business growth, the
authorities of London have determin-
ed upon very large expenditure in
order to improve traffic conditions. A
commission of fifteen members, ap-
pointed in 1903, studied conditions in
New York, Boston, Philadelphia and
other American and Continental cities
with congested business districts, and
has now made comprehensive report
setting forth the nature of the prob
lem and the various means open for
solving it. A complete reorganiza-
ton of London for the purposes of lO'
comOtiOn is, of course, prohibited by
costs involved, but the widening of
streets, construction of tunnels, the
laying out of new lines of railways on
better routes, and the inauguration of
an intelligent system of treating Off
cially the questions coming up contin-
ually, are all suggested as steps to-
wards the overcoming of present con-
ditiOns. An understanding of the con-
ditions confronting the commission is
gained when one learns that Greater
London now has a population of O.
100000, which it is estimated will
reach 100000 in 1881. The popu-
latiOn per acre in the central districts
is 148; in the rest of the county of
London "a; in districts adjacent to
the county 1876. and outside of this
2.5. Upwards of 100000 persons live
in the central districts.
The commission presents this sum-
mary of the needs of London in the
matter of railroad accommodation :
"a Main trunk railroads connecting
London with the entire railroad sys-
tenn of the country, with adequate
running and terminal accommodation,
and sufficient services for the conven-
lent and speedy conveyance of long
distance passengers, and for the car
riage of merchandise traffic. (2) Rail-
roads to every suburban district in the
neighborhood of London, with full run
ming accommodation to enable trains
to be run at quick speed and short in
tervals, especially during "rush hours" "
60 Railroads in, through, across, and
around the center area of London, to
provide, not only for urban movement
at higher speeds, and for longer dis.
tances than those which can be con-
veniently provided for by street tram
ways and omnibuses, but also for the
distribution of suburban and long-dis-
lance passengers to the fullest prac-
ticable extent.
For the most part the existing rail.
ways were originally constructed for
purely long-distance traffic and from
their original design were untitled for
the urban and suburban traffic which
has since grown up round about them.
Their termini were located and con-
structed with an eye to the require
ments of long distance traffic, and
their subsequent attempts to adapt
their systems to NO demands of urban
and suburban business have only re-
stricted their usefulness for all pur-
poses. The report comments on the
absence, until recently, OF any rail-
way within a large oval area in the
center of London four miles long and
one and one-half miles broad, except
the railway from harrington street 10
| st. Paul's. But this omission to pro-
vide facilities in this area of enor-
nous population is due to the DELHI
crate policy of Parliament in exclud-
ed therefrom. The deficiency is
now being supplied by the Central
London and other tubes" under con-
struction, with regard to the building
of which the commission believes that
sufficient number Of successful UNI
derground railroad schemes remain to
justify the hope that there is no need,
as yet, to make an alteration in the
present system OF private promotion
in the direction of looking TO public
sources for any part of the funds re-
quired for railroad enterprise. unless
undue financial obligations are thrown
upon the railroad undertakings. eth
er in respect of works or compensa-
ton. or in regard to the carriage of
passengers at unremunerative fares,
or otherwise.
.-..;. 90 RAfiee 4hofflv