Milford chronicle., 1909-02-12
STATE TROLLEY LINE.

QeQlS OF the lower counties are PAL
ticularly interested is the projec
for trolley line in Kent and Sus
sex counties. There is undoubted
ly a strong sentiment in those
counties that a trolley system
should be built with the aid Of The
State if necessary. In this connec
ton it is recalled by the friends o.
the plan that the State years age
assisted in building the Delaware
Railroad.
For years the subject Of trolley
! line in lower rural New Castle, and
in the other counties has been dis
cussed. Many promoters Of more
or less ability have attempted to
secure money from private capital
lists for Constructing such a road.
/ The last scheme that we think OF
is that OF a promoter who is said to
J be certain of securing foreign cap
ital with which to construct a troll
ley line from Delaware City on down
through the State.
At one time il was limited that
this trolley would be built overhead
in the air, as it were-a sort of sus-
/ pended trolley. But the truth seems
to be that the whole scheme is in
the air This promoter spent con
siderable time and money in secur-
ing the right Of way for a trolley
from Delaware City TO Smyrna,
and we believe that he has praCti-
cally got the right of way, the
property owners along the route
permitting the use of their proper
ty. About the Kent and Sussex
schemes for trolleys little has been
heard Of late, excepting the plan
which cOntemplates State aid.
Private capital is coldblooded
and is little influenced by seuti-
ment. The capital necessary to
construct such a road is not forth
coming because the promoters have
not been able to convince men with
money that such a State trolley
road would be profitable In fact,
the opinion held by many practical .
trolley men is that such a road /
would not be prohta bic and the ex- +
perienCe of private trolleys i'm this
neighborhood, in this instance, +
seems to fortify that opinion with
facts. There may be many reasons
for this view held by practical troll
ley men which are not necessary to
dwell upon at this time.
The feeling that the lower coun-
ties need better transportation facil-
tiles is at the bottom of the agita
ton for the construction of a trolley
system with State help Some
parts Of Sussex county ale not pen
=trated by the railroads and, nat
lrally the people Of those districts
desired transportation facilities
And yet, on the other hand, If the
abroad corporations thought the
business would warrant it, they
would extend their lines.
1t imight occur to some that a
proper manner Of solving the trans
problem in this State
would be to appoint a railroad
commission which should regulate
he rates of the companies doing
in the State. We however
lave never been very hopeful in
,eleving that a commission would
mount to much because we fear
hat if such commission should
e appointed in the present condi-
ion of things in Delaware, the ma
Jrity of the commission would be
of meE favorable to the
interests of the railroad company.
he net result would be that some
Zen would be provided with posi-
Ons, as railroad commissioners,
rawing pay from the State, and
no service TO relieve the
of shippers and passen-
ers.
Some parts of the lower counties
ave steamer lines connecting with
le cities. Our impression is that
one of these steamer lines have
zen very successful, financially.
hey have done a fair business
I'D have been a great help to the
eople of the respective cOmmun
les in which they operate, but the
Gamer companies have not earned
uch money.
If we had trolley system the
ilroad companies would probably
duce its rates TO meet the compe-
ion of the trolley lines. OF course
e shipper would be benefited
ereby, but it might not be profit
lie for the owners of the trolley
les.
This point brings up the whole
estion of public service corpora
ms. The proper thing is not so
1ch to build competitive lines as