Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-18

ated with four horse cars to modern electric street
railway, equipped with the best centralized power
that money can buy, maintaining service over more
than 100 miles of track, having at its disposal more
than 400 modern cars and requiring the services of
several hundred men
A feature of the street railway system which has
attracted great comment is the new car building and
general repair shops at Twenty sixth and Lake
streets. The shops of the company are entitled to
consideration by themselves as an industrial and
wage paying factory. Permanent employment is
possible for about 100 men, comprising the highest
and best paid kind of artisans AS the work done at
the shops is constantly growing with the expansion
of the company the payroll shows steady increase.
LARGE STORAGE YARDS
The shops and large storage yards are located
tract of ground two blocks square, giving ample
room both for present and future needs The main
building is 245 feet long by 100 feet wide The Of
fices and draughting room are housed in separate
building, % by 30 feet in size. This is fitted with
fireproof vault for the storage of maps plans and
records
The shops are separated by heavy brick fire
walls into six departments as follows: Machine
shops, forge shops truck ROOM armatre rooms,
mill or wood working shop and paint shop.
ALI of the many expensive machines apparatus
and devices used are thoroughly modern and capable
of performing far work than is required of them
at present. All mechanical power used is electric
and so far as practicable the various machines have
their individual motors ready for the most economi-
cal operation at all times. The natural lighting
facilities excellent and the entire building is
fitted with incandescent lamps.
Compressed air is used for operating hoists and
certain tools. The HOSTS are portable and are en-
ployed when it is desired to lift anything which is
tax to mans strength upwards to cotton cars.
BUILDING ITS OWN CARS
The Omaha 8 Council Bluffs Street Railway
company has built some of its own cars since 1906
In deciding to build these the company was in
fluenced by number of reasons, being the wish
to add to the industrial growth and welfare of the
city The company found that it could build its own
cars about as cheapy as it could buy them from
macturers BY building the cars stronger and better
and carefully supervising each bit of construction it
Is believed that superior service could be offered
and maintenance costs reduced at the same time.
Repair parts could be always obtainable and local
needs could be studied and specially met as they
arose.
The cars turned out at the company's shops can
be compared favorably with any regular urban SER
vice In the United States. They are AZ feet long
built on heavy double tracks and operated by four
4O-horse power motors. They are heated by hot
water systems, with the stove in the motorman's
compartments. The seats affording room for forty
two-passengers, are covered with cane the larger
proportion being crossseats with an aisle in the CEN
ter. Electric pushbuttons to signal the conductor
are placed between the windows.
WELL EQUIPPED CARS
All OF the large cars are equipped with air
brakes and air controlled sanders The rear plat
form Is large and roomy steps wide and easy to
mount and the passage into the car is protected
by railing Careful attention is given to ventia-
ton and every effort is made to offer a passenger
the safest and most comfortable ride that money and
invention can procure.
The company not only attempts to give it's pa
irons the highest class of equipment but makes
special efforts to keep the clean hygenic and
slightly.
At least once year every car on the system
goes through the repair shops for thorough over
hauling and revarnishing. Once week remains in
the car house long enough for thorough daylight
inspection and for any minor repairs that may be
needed. Every night all cars and trucks are in.
spected oiled and cleaned and if anything is found
materially wrong the car is taken out of service
The cars are cleaned thoroughly every day with
soap and water and disinfected twice week with
formaldehyde
The investment Of the Omaha & Council Bluffs
Street Railway company in its central power station
rotary reverting substations and high voltage
cables runs into the millions
FOUR DIVISIONS MAINTAINED
The Omaha Council Bluffs Street Railway sys-
tenn is operated in four divisions as follows: Ames
avenue division, with its car-house at Twentyfourth
and Aes avenue; Vinton division with its carhouse
at Twenty fourth and Vinton streets Mason division