Evening journal., 1906-08-01
Wednesday, August I, 1906.
NOTHING BUT A FUNERAL CAR.

~ OMPLAINTS about noisy cars and the in
~ efficient service OF our street railway sys-
tenn are piling up Beyond assurances from the
local management that the people OF Whining
ton should be grateful for the service they have
and which, according TO Superintendent Hoh
is superior to that Of almost any city, Of the
size OF Wilmington, in the United States, and
promise that to improve this very perfect and
modern service 100000 will be spent, the flood
Of complaints appear to avail nothing. Not only
have we not seen any Of those handsome new
cars that are SO badly needed, and which were
promised by the Wilmington City Railway Com
pany several months ago, but it is reported that
at least one Of the companies with which it was
said contract had been made for new cars de-
nied positively there had ever been made con-
tract or a move made in that direction BY the
Wilmington City Railway Company, When it
is considered that the local street car company
is now overburdened with bonded debt, and
which is probably more than rs per cent OF the
actual value Of the property, and on top Of that
is flood OF watered stock, it is difficult to see
just where the money is to come from 10 make
the much needed and promised improvements.
The obligations assumed by the foreign owners
of our street car system in specializing in other
trolley fields are such, it is said that every
Wilmington car fare is spent or pledged before
it is collected. The money spent by our people
for transportation is used not for the betterment
Of Our service but to make up the deficiencies
Of trolley companies in other cities This is in
deed an evil which either the law or the indigna-
ton Of long-suifering people should correct.
1t is not only burden imposed upon us, but an
f,t,fro xVet Tbarn Il x,yl,x
city should not have the benefit OF a three-cent
fare and a satisfactory service. But, as matters
now stand. there is really no hope for either
Not only do we suffer in this way, but our city
at the same time Is deprived Of its Just and fair
taxes. However in order to accommodate those
Of our people in advanced years OF in middle
life who may die before any improvements or
betterment Of the service are made, the company
has considerably built funeral car which, ii is
said, is provided with SO many convenences that
trip TO the cemetery can be made in such way
that not single complaint will be made by
the dead man
The time to correct some Of these evils is near
at hand--whcn nominations for the Legislature
will be made. No man should be permitted to
60 to Dover from Wilmington this year who IS
not in favor OF a new charter and the passage
Of those laws necessary to make public service
corporations perform their duty to the public
and pay fair tax a share Of their earnings
to the city and county. Already the corpora
tions are grooming certain men as candidates,
and every effort that their sinister influences can
bring to bear will be exerted to again thwart
the people and put their minions in the Legisla-
ture If the people will take hand in the mat
ter, the relief for which they have been sighing
and crying SO long can be had and that very
shortly.