The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-02-13
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1905
Trolley and Other Lines.


Thirty miles of through-going
traffic on an interurban trolley line
from The Ohio and Pennsylvania
state line to Steubenville. o., have
been opened by a traction company
after an expenditure of a couple of
million dollars and work of twenty
months. Rapid construction is pro-
crossing on. an eastern extension
which will be opened March and
will extend to Conway, Pa, or half
way between Pittsburg and Roches-
ter, Pa. With the opening of this
line 1t will be possible to travel down
the Ohio Valley from the Ohio state
line to Moundsville, w. Va, dis
lance of eighty miles. All of which
goes to show that the trolley sys-
tenn is growing and extending its
lines all over the country and to re-
mind us again of the slow but bard
fought battlesfor supremacy that has
been waged against the steam rail-
roads for years.
That the electrical system of
transportation has quite a number
of superior points is evident. There
is no coal smoke and dust to blacken
up and annoy passengers and there
are many other conveniences which
have supplanted the Inconvenience
of the steam, systems. For while the
development of speed by electrical
ly propelled trains held the advance
ment Of the electric system in check
but when electric air lines from Chi
capo to New York to be operated in
competition with the fastest and
most modern steam passenger trains
are being promoted it appears that
the question of speed has been solved
and awaits only development in 9TH
er lines to bring the battle to a eli
max. The installation of electric
motor cars on number of big steam
railway systems and the replacing of
steam locomotives with trolley and
third rail cars on. city and suburban
passenger lines point to the ultimate
decline of the steam system.
The principal contest between troll
y and locomotive rests between the
intrurban electric lines and the
steam accommodation trains with the
advantage in the preliminary rounds
all in favor of the smokeless system.
AS rule the railroads utilize old
and cheap equipment for the accom-
mediation service which is being sur
passed by more modern and better
equipment on the trolley systems.
Where the question of speed is in
favor of the steam train on equal
runs, the trolley system is surprising
its rival by giving a larger schedule
and more ears. This may mean bet
ter equipment of steam accommoda-
ton trains but as all of the old and
worn out locomotives have to pass
that way on the road to the junk
pile 1t seems very remote POSSIBLE
ity.
Other elements are entering into
this fight for supremacy which may
give altogether different phases TO
the situation in the near future and
perhaps relegate present methods of
transportation to the shade of the
old apple tree. There is the gyro-
scope system of transportation which
looks formidable indeed. The evo-
luton of the road motor cars has de-
veloped new methods of Transports
ton and even now in several parts
of the country there are systems of
gasoline street cars being operated
with success. Science keeps on dis
covering new things and Bringing out
new methods and there is no telling
when another revolutionizing inven-