The San Francisco call., 1905-05-04
CONDUIT ROADS
ARE THE BEST

The Sutter Street Improvement Club,
through Secretary Troy, yesterday re-
ceived a letter from ]. Allen Baker.
chairman of the London County Coun-
ell Highways Committee. that has
charge OF the municipal tramways. The
information relates to the working Of
the conduit system In London, and the
report of Mr.. Baker to the London
County Council on the New York con-
duft street railways.
Mr.. Baker is not only chairman of
the most important committee of the
London County Council, but he is one
Of the most distinguished engineers of
England, being a member of the firm
or Joseph Baker & Sons. Limited.
engineers, of London. Melbourne. Aus
tralia, and Brantford, Canada
The letter Is as follows:
LONDON, April IL. 1905
Dear Sir: Your letter OF March so with
Enclosures. is duly to hand and note the in
terest you take in connection with improved
methods of traction, and especially in connec-
tion with the conduit system OF electric tram
ways. have asked our London County Coun-
cii o,ncials 20 send you copy OF my report
that may be OF interest to YOU I also innioes
herewith a further pamphlet or two in which
yon may be interested.
II any fact Is required TO prove the economy
o. the conduit tramways, as compared with
cable. think the fact that the Metropolitan
4EdC1on company OF New York 2malgH-
mated into the New York City Railways, con
yerted their great system of cable on Broad
way and other New York streets TO the electric
vailing In that city. should be sufficient The
cable lines in New York were the most expen-
s.ve lines that have ever been built in the
world. but the economy Of the electric over the
cable was so great that il paid the operating
company TO make the change
Here in London where the Council are now
operating their system on the South Side we
also converted considerable length Of cable
the amount on the conduit that we previously
earned on the cable lines. So successful have
our electric conduit tramways in South Lon
ocn proved curing the last two years that the
London County Council is now about 20 pur-
chase the remaining portion of the company $
lease on the North Side OF the Thames This
lease was granted nine years ago for period
OF fourteen years, but the Council has come TO
az agreement with the company whereby we
VIII take possession and Immediately electrify
these lines that are worked by horse traction
and have one complete uniform system for the
ways conmi,tees tees report spo npon yIa tbs our sta high
ard think you may take il that the Council
course OF the next few weeks
AS to the success OF municipal tramways
you are quite justified In stating that in our
great provincial cities-Lverpool Manchester
Glasgow Leeds, Sheffield Hull and other
plaees-they have proved an unqualified sue
cess. giving a cheaper service to the public
and being also profitable TO the ratepayers
(taxpayers). An ample reserve fund is pro-
yfded for renewals and reconstruction and be-
interest
capital is always first charge on revenue ac-
count. the sinking fund providing repayment
OF the lines and plant within period OF TWEEN
ty-ive years. London was behind some other
large cities in municpalzing its tramways
but the success Of the last year two has
been such TO entirely justify our COUNTY
Councils decision to follow the lead of other
cities
I am personally familiar with your cable
system OF tramways in San Francisco having
observed them very closely during my visit to
your city some years ago No doubt at the
time they were installed they were most suit
able and up to date. but great advances have
been made since that time and 1 think IL is
now universally acknowledged by all engineer
Ing experts that the cable system cannot live
beside the electric. Edinburgh adopted ths
cable system, but II has been many times un-
der discussion since then ss to whether they
should not be altered to the conduit electric
With the cable already laid in the streets IL
should be comparatively inexpensive matter
TO put in the electric conductors and fittings
and so entirely reconstruct them
1 astonished 20 note the enormous amount
per capita that your population spends in
street railway fares per annum ($20 per cap
ita).
Any further information I can send you I
shall be pleased 70 furnish. and remain yours
faithfully, j. ALLEN BAKER.