The Washington herald., 1910-06-26
TROLLEY Line MAY
INVADE VIRGINIA
Many Rumors Start from
Work at Petersburg.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY
Distances Are Great and CSzf of
Construction Almost PrOhibitIve.
Agricultural and Industrial Prog
ress Make Better Communication
Imperatiye-Run 10 Mountains.

Vague reports have been current here.
in New York. and in some of the Vir-
ginia cities of a large movement toward
the establishment Of electric railroad
lines between Washington and various
points in the1Old Dominion.
Traced to their source, these reports
grow out Of the plans started more than
year ago by George Gould 70 make
Petersburg. Va. the nucleus of large
| electrical development by using the
available water power near that city
for the manufacture Of the current
needed 10 run the lines. The first step
in the plans is supplying the city Of
Petersburg with power for street rail-
ways. with current for lighting pur-
poses. and for the running Of mills and
factories.
This having been done, the plan con-
templates the extension of electric rail-
roads to nearby points. and finally, to
Washington. Engineers have been over
some OF the routes making preliminary
surveys with q view 10 getting at the
cost Of construction and the possible
utility Of such lines.
Not Ready for Construction.
It is believed here that nothing definite
has been determined in regard TO any line
between Washington and Petersburg, or
any other point in Virginia, but 1t is con-
ceded that such lines have been con-
sidered by Mr.. Gould and other capital
lists In New York and Virginia, It is
also a practical certainty that some time
in the next few years the movement
toward the development of interurban
electric railroad lines will begin in Vir-
ginia to be worked out TO some such re-
suits as have been arrived at in Indi-
ana, Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri
Owing 20 the many rivers, the noun
tains, and the character of the country
over a greater part of Virginia, the prob
lem presents many difficulties, The cost
of construction would be many times
greater than in the comparatively level
regions OF the Middle West, and along
the Lake Erie terraces; but the rapid set
Element of Virginia with a new class Of
farmers, with the great progress going
on everywhere in its industries, Will
make necessary in the next few years
better means Of communication than now
exist
This means Of transit will, in all prob
ability, be brought about through the
electric railroad. It's first cost is cheaper
than the steam railroad, and in all
parts of the country now the tendency
is toward the electric railroad TO supply
the needs of local traffic.
More Railroads Required.
1t will be but natural that more steam
railroads WI be built in future years in
the State of Virginia. but they viii be
in the nature of trunk lines into the
mineral Businesses Of the Allegheny
Mountains. making connections with the
great railroad systems beyond. The link
ing up Of the cities Of Virginia, and
their connection with the Capital of the
nation, as well as the capital Of the
State. will probably be accomplished by
means of the trolley road.
Electric railroads out of Washington
into Virginia are at present those TO
Great Falls, to Falls Church and Vienna
and to Alexandria and Mount Vernon
These roads were constructed to provide
for strictly local needs. without any def
mite view to their extension beyond the
points to which they run.
It would be comparatively easy to link
up the Great Falls road with the trolley
lines across the Potomac in Frederick
County. Md. and in time make con-
tinuous route to the battlefield of Gettys-
burg. Many plans have been talked of
to establish a line between the Capital
and the battlefield, and 1t is strange that
the thing has not been done, except that
"a feasible route and the cost of construc-
ton are greater than any body has been
willing to shoulder heretofore
Might Run to Mountains.
It would not be a difficult task 10 ex-
tend the Great Falls line to Herndon,
Va: and on 10 the foot OF the mountains,
or. at least. TO Leesburg, except that It
would parallel the Bluemont division of
the Southern Railway, between which
and II might raise q rate war that
would be disastrous to both II the cleo
trio line were so extended. The fact is
that only blanket mortgage covering