The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-14
PROvEMENTS TO
COST 100000
Hartman Plans to Bring Salt
Lake Street Car System
Up to Date.
EXTENSIONS TO BE MADE
OREGON SHORT LINE WILL BE
ELECTRIFIED TO OGDEN.
EXTENSIONS TO BE MADE

changes of a radical nature are to he
made in the street railway system OF
Salt Lake as a result of the recent pur-
chase of the plant and equipment by E.
H. Hartman and his associates. One OF
the plans for the immediate future. al
though not directly connected with the
street railway sale. contempIates the dou-
PIE tracking of the Oregon Short Lima
from salt Lake to Ogden and the eier+r;
Hcatlon OF that road between tha +I.o
Ills LII "A fast and convenient service
VII De installed, the purpose being To
run electric trains at least once az, bo,,,.
ana perhaps Oftener. IL is probable FOO
mat passenger trains over the Short line
VII VII De Drawn into Salt Lake by electric
Regarding the street railway system II
Mds stated yesterday that the property
MouId De transferred within the next few
weeks An interesting story Of the neRo-
tiatlons Tor the purchase was told These
negotiations have been under way for
more than year. Last fall Mr.. Harri-
man sent experts to Salt Lake TO fnyesti-
gate and report to him The investipa
lon was conducted quietly and the re-
ports laid on Mr.. Harriman's desk
Referred to Bancroft.
On account of a press of other brsinass
ne had no time TO examine them thor
OugnIy until early in the year IT was
nus nus purpose then TO hurry the negotia-
temporarily drove all thoughts of the
salt Lake railway out of the railway
magnates mind. In June, however, the
question came up again. This time Mr.
Hartman asked w II Bancroft vice
president and general manager of the
snort Line, an official in whom Mr. Har-
IIlnah reposes implicit confidence, to
make a personal examination of the
property
Mr.. Bancroft was asked to include in
MS inquiry the present physical condition
nd h
power house equipment and all other per-
tinent details. He was also asked to
state on what basis the lines could be
purchased. how much it would cost to
put them in absolutely first-ciass condi-
ton and whether. on the estimated out
lay for betterments and for the purchase
price, dividend could be earned
Mr. Bancrofts report, in substance
was that if the Utah Light G. Railway
company did not ask more than 1900 900
for controlling interest. and if $3.O0OOo0
more, which he estimated would be abso-
lutely necessary for repairs, rebuilding.
extensions and new equipment. were spent
along these lines, dividend OF per
cent per annum could be earned When
this report went in to Mr.. Hartman he
gave instructions to complete the pur-
chase if possible.
Big Improvements Planned.
lie Grand Young, general counsel for
the street railway company. was sum-
moned TO New York. and there, as stated
ect was cOnsUmmated. But the purchase.
II was announced yesterday, is only a be-
ginning, AS soon after the formal trans
Ter is made as is possible. men will be
put 10 work rebuilding all of the exist
ing street railway lines. except, perhaps.
those on Brigham street and on the First
street hill. In the new construction.
heavy rails, electrically welded so as to
do away with joints. will be used and the
system brought thoroughly up to date.
In the matter Of equipment the Harri-
man experts have classed a large proper
ton of the cars now in service as fit only
for the scrap pile. Orders will be placed
for new cars at once, so that by the time
the lines have been rebuilt they will be-
ready for service. 1t was said, too. that
only the most efficient of the present en-
ployes Will be retained in the service
MotOrmen who cannot start cars without
jerking the passengers nearly out Of their
seats, or Earring those that are holding
to straps, will be discharged and replaced
by more experienced men.
Extensions to Be Made.
Extensions viii be pushed in every di-
rection. The first of these will probably
be run out to Garfield, the new smelteT-
town that has grown up on the south
Shore or the lake. Later on extensions
VIII be made to Bingham, Bingham juno
ton, Sandy, RivertOn, and. indeed, to all
points from which paying business may
reasonably be expected.
Salt Lake will be given g street rail-
way system second to that of no city in
the United States" said an insider yes
terday- Mr.. Hartman makes good pub
lie service hobby and he is going to rida
that hobby in Salt Lake. The cars will
be clean, well operated and as fast as is
consistent with the safety of the public
The Salt Lake-Ogden service will be an
that could be desired and every point in
the valley will be made so easy OF access
that we will wonder how we ever got
along without the interurban electric
"Of course all this will take time, and
the people must possess their souls in pa
thence. but the good things are surely
coming Our street railway system will
be as good money and men can make
it,