Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
TRAMWAYSOF CHICAGO
Report Published by Corpora
ton of Glasgow.
Special cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
GLASGOW, April 9.-The report which
Mr.. James Dalrymple. manager of the Glas-
cow corporation tramways, made regarding
the tramway system Of Chicago at the re-
quest of Mayor Dunno has just been pub
lished by the corporation Of Glasgow. Mr..
Dalrymple in his report thanks Mr.. Dunno
on behalf Of the corporation for having
looked to Glasgow for information, and
says he had a most delightful and instruct
I've trip, every person whom he met ap-
parently being anxious to give him what
ever Information he required. He took 1t
for granted that Mr. DUNES object in ask
ing the city council Of Glasgow to allow him
to visit Chicago was that Mr.. Dunno might
learn from him how and why the munich
pahty of Glasgow took over the operation
of the street railways; also that he might
have full details regarding the organiza-
ton and management of municipal street
railways department and whether the ex-
perience in Glasgow could be applied to
Chicago.
From the day he landed at New York. he
said. he endeavored through the newspa-
pers and in private interviews with Mr..
Dunno and his associates in the city gov
erpment to tell what the municipality Of
Glasgow had done in this connection and
how they had made such conspicuous
success in the management OF all the public
utilities under the control Of the city coun-
ell. including Of course, the street railways.
which have been operated by the city since
1894. He said he had not been many hours
In Chicago before he fully realized why the
citizens should be SO anxious that a change
be made at once in the management of
their street railways, and 1t did not as
tonish him that Mr.. Dunno should have
been elected mayer by such large ma
jority when he had intimated that II elect
ed he would take immediate steps to have
the street railways owned and operated by
the municipalities.
Warranted in Demanding Change.
Mr.. Dalrympie considered that the citi-
zens of Chicago were fully warranted In
demanding an immediate change so that
they might have the travelling facilities
which were now enjoyed by the citizens of
every other city of the United States His
sympathies were entirely on the side of
municipal ownership and operation of
street railways, but in Chicago they were
peculiarly situated. There were many
questions which tended to make the position
a very difficult one for municipality to
deal with. There was, for instance, the
unsatisfactory state of the various fran
chises that had been granted to the street
railway companies. II these long fran
chises were upheld 1t would be very difi-
cult, almost impossible, for the city to pur-
chase them.
Presenting that they were able at a salts
factory figure to purchase the present I'M
dertaking, including the franchises there
would undoubtedly be very great danger
In the city attempting to operate what
would be the largest street railway under
taking in the world without making very
radical change In the methods usually en-
ployed In carrying on municipal work by
the cities of the-United States. Presenting
that the present companies were unwilling
to meet the municipality on anything like
reasonable terms the only course was to
start municipal system on each line as
the franchises expired. He would be sorry
were they forced to take such step, as.
speaking generally the municipalities OF
the United States were not yet quite ready
to successfully undertake this work He.
recommended that the street railway de-
partment be managed by q small COMMITTEES
OF the city council. to be chosen irrespec-
tive Of politics. and that the whole internal
management be placed under one perma-
nent officer.
As to Overhead Trolley.
AS regarded the system of traction no
other system should be thought of at the
present time than the overhead trolley. II
properly constructed 1t was not unsigttIy.
It was not dangerous. 1t was the most re-
liable. and It was the most economical.
both to construct and maintain. To install
Inc underground trolley In any part Of CHI
cago would for various REASONS be scan-
dalous waste Of money. In regard to the
production OF power. II should not be neces-
s sa e the outset to erect power station.
ton they should certainly have one central
nigh tension generating station. With stih-
stations e Meantime they should purchase
In regard to the fares 1t was unaiwesv
that the citisens would care to chaneo from
the uniform fare with transfers tp the Nu-.
ropean system. They could not Issue fran1-
fares. AS an appendix "a fho rSccrf ~.
Dalrymple gives elaborate ssNofeS an tn