The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-18
Salt Lake May Soon Boast of
Best Street Car System in
United States.
NEWSPAPERS INSPECT
VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS
New Fort Douglas Extension an
Exceptionally Fine Piece
of Railroad.

in this city next August, Salt Lake VIII
possess one Of the finest electric street
railway systems in the United States.
This declaration was made Saturday
afternoon by prominent official OF
the company and was confirmed by Cen
eral Manager Joseph ;. Wells. y
glance at almost any one Of the Varl-
GUS improvements which are under way
at the present time is sufficient TO sub
stantiate this statement. An Inspection
of the improvements under way was
made Saturday afternoon by party OF
company officials and representatives OF
the newspapers.
The party left the corner of South
Temple and Main streets in i special
car AT . clock. The first part of
the trip was made over the new Fort
Douglas extension of the Third street
and Second West line. The party re-
turned 10 the city over the Mount
Olivet line. after which trip was
made TO the new ear barns ana thc
scenes OF various Improvements in the
southeastern part OF the city. ASIDE
from the prcSs representatives, the tol-
Inwiug officials participated in the trip:
Joseph S. Wells, general manager; r. +:
ltunt. assistant general manager; Fred
IL. knickcrbocker, secretary; ID. ;. Spen-
Ger. assistant general passenger agent
of the Oregon Short Line; Lee l.. Dag
ron, chief engineer; \. l.. Bong, super
intendent of roadway; {. y. Cohen, su-
perintcndent of power stations; y. y.
Honnold, electrical engineer; ". ,. An
dcrson. chief clerk of the car service
agency; J. II. Tempest, assistant en-
gineer The special car was IN charge
of Conductor j. II. Eyenson and Motor
man i. Hadley.
Fort Douglas Extension.
The newspaper representatives. were
especially invited 10 make the trip by
President w. r. Bancroft, also vice
president and general manager OF the
Oregon Short inc. The invitation was
extended in order that they might get
an idea of the improvements which
are now under way and what they mean
10 the city. The new Fort Douglas eX
tension of the Third avenue line is one
of the best pieces of railroad in the
entire country. This extension begins
at the end of the old Third avenue line
nj the corner of Fourth avenue and
Twelfth East street and then runs
cast 10 Fourteenth street and thence
southeast to Fort Douglas. The old
Fort Douglas line was operated in con
nection with the Mount Olivet line. but
when the new extension is put into oper-
alton. which viii probably be about the
middle of next month. the old line Will
he discontinued. The new line is ex
ceptionallv well balasted and the car
runs over II with as much ease as If
ii was q steam road. Il runs through
one of the best scenic sections of the
valley. and the trip alone is worth
MANY times the car fare. 1t is made
Of heavy steel. and in fact. IL is the
same kind OF track that is being laid
nv the biz railroads The grade is not
vcrv steep one. and hence the car
is able 10 mako good time. The cX-
tension has been built during the last
several months.
Work on the new ear barns is now
-20rcssiue ut 4 rapd rate. The walls
f the barns are up and the roof is
How heing constructed. The barns. when
completed. viii be absolutely fTeproof
and VIII have a capacity Of goo cars.
The barns are being built in eight sec
tions and two tracks run through each
section There viii he several other
buildings aside from the car barns TO
accommodate the dispatcher. employees
and The lilc The harms are 430 feet
long ard go feet wide.
New improvements.
Many improvements are 70 be made
during thc present year. When =. H.
Hartman was in the city several weeks
ago he personally told Mr.. Bancroft
not 10 stand ~ expense. but to 90
ahead and make of the local system
the best in the country. Mr.. Bancroft
intends to do this and n long list Of
improvements is scheduled for the com
ing summer. The lono-rroposed Ninth
avennc line VIII be huilt as soon as
POSSIBLE and also the Eiqhth West line
The Murray line IS TO be rebuilt, and
eventually extended TO West Jordan and
Sandy. This will not be done. however
within the next year. as it is the in.
tcntion Of the company to get the sys-
TEN in the city in rood shape before
building any outside lines
When the system was acquired by the
Harrima interest in October of 1906 it
was IN a deplorable condition. but dur
ing the past two years it has been
transformed into a system Of which
anv metroDolitan city might well be
proud, The company also plans TO ex.
tend the Jordan Bridge line and also
to construct new line on Ninth South
street, between Ninth and Eleventh
East streets. and on Eleventh East
street. from Ninth to Tenth South
streets. SO that the Sugar House cars
Will be run by way Of Ninth South
and Eleventh East, instead Of the pres.
ent route. New steel is to be laid on
Temple and Fourth South streets. The
South West Temple street line is To
be reconstructed 10 the Oregon Short
Limo depot.
Wooden Poles Must Go.
During the next few months all Of
the. unsightlv wooden poles which re.
main on Main street, between South
Temple and Ninth South streets and
also on South Temple, between Third
West and Main streets. are to be re.
moved and the wires put under ground.
This will leave the entire width Of the
street free for the big G.. A. r. parade
Another l500horsepower motor gen
orator, similar 10 the one installed last
fall. will be introduced into the West
Temple street power station, and there
Is to be Encouragement of switch
boards and so on at the Jordan SUBJ
station. This will necessitate an add.
ton TO the station. which will be
built Immediately. The company also
proposes to put in new luminous arc
lights all over the city during the pres