Evening star., 1907-11-05

The average length of ride for the ten
cities is 1913 miles. which is two miles
less than the longest ride in Manhat-
tan.
Ten years ago, when electricity was
coming into general use as a motive
power for surface lines. the average of
the longest ride without change of cars
in the principal cities of the country
was 65 miles. This was almost the ex-
act length of the 4th avenue line In
Manhattan, which was electrified in
1897, and the running time was one hour.
In the Old horse-car days it required
nearly an hour and three-quarters to
cover that distance.
Cost for Passenger Unchanged.
In 1893 the old Broadway horse car
line was converted into cable road. and
the schedule time from Bowling Green
to 53th street. distance Of five miles
was reduced from one hour and fifteen
minutes to forty minutes. In 1894 the
cable line was extended up Columbus
avenue from SD street and Broadway
to 10th street. making a distance OF
eight miles. for which the running time
was sixty-five minutes.
The figures for all of the cities show
that the length of the ride. both by the
lengthening of direct lines and the ex-
tension of the transfer system. has
steadily increased With this lengthen-
ing VI lut rue tilCiC hoo cSSAi q wa
siderable increase in the cost Of opera
ton, but the cost of the ride remains
the same Street car riding is the cheap
est of all luxuries. and the only neces-
sity Of life that has not advanced In
price A passenger can get a longer
ride for a nickel in any city of the
United States than ever before, and il the
companies charged the legal fare pas
sengers would have to pay cents a
mile.
to reduce the earnings considerably.
On the railways of. Manhattan Island
the average gross earnings have been
reduced to 36 cents per passenger be-
cause of the transfers-that is, one
fourth of the passengers get two rides
for one fare.
With the increase in the length of the
ride there has also been a decided i'm
provement in comforts and conven-
fences. as any one who rememb berS the
old horse cars will testify. The seat
ing capacity has been largely extended.
the tracks are smoother and the vibra-
ton is less: in place of the Old kero-
sene lamp and coal stoves. or no stoves
at all. the cars are now lighted and
heated by electricity. and in all Of the
read at any time of the day or night.
The ventilation has also been greatly
improved in all cars
South of 59th street in New York a
run of sixty miles Is rated as day S
work; from 59th street to 145th street
seventy Ave miles is figured as a days
work, while from 145th street to Kings
bridge each car covers an average of
more than 110 miles in ten hours.
On Elevated and in Subway.
The longest ride In one direction on
the elevated railroads of New York is
by the Sd avenue line from South Ferry
to 2OOth street and Bronx Park. a dis
tance of 1888 miles, for which the run
ming time Is fifty-f1ve minutes. One
can ride on the 9th or 9th avenue ele-
waited from 155th street to South Ferry.
and there transfer to the Sd avenue
line and ride back up to Bronx Park
without the payment of an additional
fare.
On the subway one can ride all day
longsn ne wants to for nickel by
using the cross overs. The longest d.
rect ride on the subway is on the
Broadway division. from South Ferry
to 23Oth street. distance of 14.22
miles. for which the running time OF
express trains is forty-five minutes.
There is now under construction an ele-
waited extension to the subway from
23Oth street to 242d street When this
Is completed and the Brooklyn exten-
sion to Flatbush avenue is opened one
can ride for 17.4O miles On the subway
for a single fare. covering the distance
in fifty five minutes. The distance from
the city hall. Brooklyn, to 242d street
in New York Is 1851 miles. and the
running time Of express trains Will be
ffty-two minutes.