The Washington times., 1907-07-07
STREET CARS IN GLASGOW
OWNED BY THE CITY

Municipal ownership Of street rail-
roads which all good Americans have
been taught 10 think an altogether
wrong and unavoidable plan. seems In
Glasgow to be a complete success. The
conditions, however, are so very differ
ent from those existing in New York
that comparison is almost out OF the
question. In Glasgow politics do not
enter into the matter at all: Graft has
not TO be taken account OF, and. In fact,
all the arrangements that make the
street car system in Glasgow so ad-
mirable, would be impossible 10 apply
In American cities. The cars are all
double-deckers, some with covered tops
and other without-these last providing
an almost ideal mode OF seeing the city.
The fares (no transfers) paid in SO DIFF
ferent a way from ours, are about a
cent mile; so that you tell the green
uniformed conductor your destination
and he charges you accordingly. For
long distances this Is more expensive
than our way, but as Glasgow Is crowd
ed into a comparatively small district,
II makes a great saving IN going about
in the business quarter OF the town. One
thing that strikes a New Yorker as
superfuous is the giving OF a small
ticket to show that the passenger has
paid his fare. II, Of course. deprives one
OF the exciting disputes as to whether
or not you have paid your fare, and il
also stops those free rides that on the
New York cars are so numerous. but IL
filters the floor of the car with discarded
tickets. which is, perhaps. not so great
d drawback after all, as they are the
only dirt the Glasgow cars have, and
one or two flaws are always needed, II
only to keep general interest UP. The
advertisements are, oddly enough, all
on the outside Of the car and as the
cars are never crowded, and the con-
ductOrs are spiritless creatures VINO
never shout or push. an atmosphere OF
restfulness is really felt in these foreign
cars.
AT the crowded hours the cars follow
so closely on one another that II is one
continuous train. and If in few of the
cars Cthe ones that have the strongest
springs and that the makers felt were
equal to an extra cram) some half
dozen extra passengers are allowed to
stand every one eXclaims and says:
This is a terrible jam. isn't it?' The
cars go at a very good speed, are not
upholstered in dusty carpet, but have
not uncomfortable hardwood seats,
and though the alignting passengers
are not allowed to get of before the
others crowd on. perhaps this hardly
lively" is never felt, and every one
bumps into every one else in an ex-
tremely cheerful way. What to all
masculine minds is highly important is
that the car lines pay very well, indeed
while feminine passengers are cleered
by the knowledge that neither their
clothes nor their dispositions will be
completely ruined by a half hours ride
on a tram.
American women have never been
called unprogressive-they have been
called other things. but so far this one
word has not been applied 10 them
now let them look to their laurels The
women of Scotland are ahead of them
In one respect They board the cars
when they are moving, and moving at
a goodly speed, too. The cars, which
stop at red posts and nowhere else. win
consent 10 slow down at half speed IL
people signal. and then women with
bundles hop on and women with babies
In their arms swing themselves of. and
the poor American girl who has never
reached this stage Of recklessness, is
left blinking amazedly at the fast dis
appearing earn. Y. Evening Sun.