The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-11-22
GIGANTIC ELECTRIC
RAILROAD SYSTEM
Hartman Lines, in Wyoming,
Utah, Idaho, Montana and
Nevada to Be Electrified.
AN ENTERPRISE OF
STUPEND0US MAGNITUDE
To Build Interurban System
That viii Create a New
Empire.

What will be one of the most gi
gantic electric railroad systems in the
West will be the electrification of
Wyo.. to Sparks. New, and from Butte,
Mont, TO Salt Lake City and the Gar
field smelters. Within six months work
on this enormous undertaking will be
inangurated, and the completion Of the
scheme will involve the expenditure Of
millions of dollars, 1t is possible that
the system will also include the double
tracking and electrifcation of the
San Pedro from Salt Lake TO Provo,
so that the entire interurban field of
this and adjoining States will be fully
covered and equipped.
This enterprise will he carried out on
the basis Of the New York Central
system of electric interurban lines,
which have proved such a success and
have demonstrated the possibility of
long distance electrical means of trans
portation. From Green River to
Sparks and from Salt Lake to Butte
double tracks will be laid. and every
provision made for a complete and
modernly equipped electric railroad
It has been demonstrated that 8
per cent grades will not interfere
with electrical transportation, because
more energy can be driven into motor
than can be done by modern steam
locomotive, and the maximum grade of
tie Oregon Short Line and the Union
Pacific is 9 per cent The electrif-
cation of the Garfield line and the San
Pedro 10 Provo would be at an expense
of about $4,000 for wires and equip
ment.
The Hartman system, taking basis
of $22 per mile, can electrify these
lines and compete with any iuterurban
system anywhere. Hartman can
transmit power from the Shoshone
Falls plant, which can be greatly
ampiied, for net cost Of SIS per
horse power per anuum. This gives
the railroad magnate an advantage on
initial cost of power over the present
Utah Light and Railroad system. which
an advantage over steam generated
electricity. which costs S3S per horse
power per wear, and over steam gene
rated power of S5l per horse power
annually. Those figures are given on
a perfect interurban system. with
modern equipment and perfect admins
tration.
When it is remembered that quite
recently Mr.. Hartman had an inter
esting tilt with Mr.. Bowen over the
ownership of the South Shore line in
won out. 1T can readily be understood
that the former desires no further in
reference with his plans, and that
now when he enters an interurban
field he will see TO it that his system
is so perfect that opposition will be an
unknown quantity,
AS to the immediate local situation
the electric operating construction
company having aba ndoned it's option
IN the Saltair properties. that matter
IS now open for negotiation. 1t is pos
sible that Hartman might purchase
hose properties could they be bought
At a reasonable figure, not s450.000.
he price asked; but in the event Of
there being no recession from this
price, Hartman will build his own line
% the lake, and will erect there an
pavilion that will be second |
% none in the country. This line would |
simply be continuation of the Gnr~ !
ield line, which will be built indie |
pendent of whether the Saltair pur- /
.hase is made or not.
From the figures given above it will |
,e noted that the cost of such a svs-
EN- Of railroads has been carefully |
computed. that is the cost Of operation
# such system in comparison with
ne present cost of operation of the |
ines mentioned. The enterprise opens
mrh a field of possibilities and of such
magnitude as to be nothing short of
marvellous. The territory embraced in
he system is so large, so vast in its
esources- es-agricultural, mineral and I
ndustrial-that it really means the
OF an empire What il
means to Salt Lake City and other
communities can not be computed, far
ess realized. Cheap. rapid and easv
transportation facilities are the need
oday of every territory. Nothing
,riIgs about so rapid development Of
NY section as those facilities do: moth
ng builds up cities and States so
urely and on 40 6rm foundation as
% those highways for commerce and
industry. The consUmmation OF this
'ast enterprise would. in few short
ears, transform the sections embraced
n its scope aud build up industries,
ities and communities now undreamed