Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-08-09
A LONG
RIDE FOR
A NICKEL
By Using Transfers In New York Pas.
Senger eau Ride Nearly Forty
Miles

| fresluenJ IneOd0re L. ShOnts of
the Inter-Met gave out yesterday
some statistics collected by the
American Street and Interurban
Railway Association which went to
show that a passenger can travel
further for nickel on the surface
lines in Manhattan than on any
lines in any other city of the coun-
try. Mr.. Shonts pointed out that by
boarding a car at the Battery and
following a zigzag route north, using
all of the transfer privileges, a ride
could be taken to Kingsbridge.
distance of thirty-seven and one-half
miles, 70" a single fare.
Philadelphia is second in the
length of ride which can be had for
one fare, with a maximum distance
of over twenty-six miles. The aver
age for the ten principal cities of
the country is a little over nineteen
miles, which is about half of the
longest ride that can be taken in
this city for a nickel. Mr.. Shonts
said:
"The figures for all of the cities
show that the length of the ride both
by the lengthening of direct lines
and the extension of the transfer
system has steadily increased. with
this lengthening of the ride there
has been a considerable increase in
the cost of operation, but the cost OF
the ride remains the same in
other words, the statistics show that
one gets more for a nickel now on
the street railways OF the country
than ever before, and that street.
car ride is the one necessity OF life
that does not show an increased cost
in keeping with the increased cost
OF its production and maintenance.
The old horse car cost about $500.
the cable car and grip cost $4,000,
the standard electric car, fully equip
ped, now costs $4,000, which is an
increase OF $1,000 within a COM
paratively few years. Copper and
steel have increased In price. and
much heavier rails I are now being
used than ever before. Rails weigh
ing from ninety to 120 pounds 10
the yard have taken the place of
rails which weighed only forty
pounds 10 the yard. There has also
been a steady increase in wages. IN
the horse-car days conductors and
drivers received so for a day of
twelve hours; conductors and motor
men now are paid from s2.45 to
$2.6 for a day of ten hours.
''In the way of real rapid transit.
however, there is no city in the |
country which can be made to COM |
pare with New York, either in the |
length of ride for a nickel or in the |
time required to cover II. The long |
est ride in one direction on the ele- |
waited is by the Third-avenue line
from South Fe' ny to Two Hundredth
street and Bronx Park, a distance Of
1868 miles. for which the running
time is fifty-five minutes. One can
ride on the Ninth or Sixth avenue
elevated from One Hundred and |
Fifty-fifth street to South Ferry and
there transfer 10 the Third-avenue
line and ride up to Bronx Park with
put the payment of an additional
fare.
ION the Subway one can ride as
long as he wants TO for a nickel Oy
using the crossovers. The longest
direct ride on the Subway is on the
Broadway division from South Ferry
10 Two Hundred and Thirtieth street.
4 distance of 14.22 miles, for which
he running time of express trains
IS forty-five minutes. There is now
under construction an elevated ex-
.ension to the Subway from Two
Hundred and Thirtieth street to Two
and Forty-second street;
when this is completed and the
extension TO Flatbush ave-
lue is opened one can ride for 17.4O
niles In the Subway for the payment
,f a single fare, covering the dis
ance In fifty-fiye minutes. The dis
anee from Borough Hall, Brookly1,
o Two Hundred and Forty-second
street Is 1851 miles. and the run