New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-03-21

In lHo6 the corporation oil the lily
Sheffield England. took over the stree
Transportation of the city az municipa
undertaking and has since demonstrate,
beyond dispute that street railways IL
this city. NJ least. can be operated at
handsome profit, pay good wages, an,
accommodate the travelling public all OF
basis Of penny 1.-TWO cents) fares
The present system has open fol
traffic over forty eight route miles OF
track. of which thirty eight are double
The construction. botb of track base
and overhead equipment, is claimed &c
be of the most approved. modern, and
durable nature.
The gauge is the standard one Of
feet 81, inches and has 120young rails
with modified BS No. s. standard head
thick web. 6-inch flange, the most recent
lots being The Sandbetg high siician
type. Track construction il by the cor
pora'on's own men, average cost being
$4,000 per mile single track. There are
many gradients, both long and steep, and
not few severely sharpe curves. on
which are used rails made entirely of
Manganese steel.
The trolley wire is double throughout,
and of the 30 gauge, made mostly cop
per of 100 per cent. couductvity. The
general feature of the feeder system Is
that Of mains with graded distribution.
Rolling Stock and Employees
The cars number 2s7. of which 226
are doubedeck 50 single-deck and 8
motor buses. each equipped with the
usual 81 to 40 horse power motors The
so-ealled extended canopy double deck)
cars cost approximately $3.50 each,
weigh II to 1917 tons, and have a seat
ing capacity of 40 above and % below
while single deck cars seat 2s. The
brakes are the slipper. reinforced by the
rheotatc and the mechanical track brake.
Those operating this enterprise fulfill
the most advanced theories of considera-
ton for workmen by providing mess
rooms where meals are served al cost,
yeading and billiard roms, lavatories. and
comfort facilities. Wages, in cents per
hour, are: Motormen, 1914 on joining.
14H after six months; Is after further
six months; Is to II for special work.
with small increase for merit of long
term service Conductors, 11N on join
ing IL after twelve months - after
further sin months, with small increase
for merit after long-term service In
spectors, so.75 to 5000 per week.
Public Service and Financial Working.
The service commences at AIS A. M.
from the depot and finishes at A. M.
1t the depot. The average frequency Of
service il five minutes. with cars ~ close
~ three minutes on busy lines during
rush hours The average speed per hour,
stops, IL ~ miles, whereas the
maximum speed allowed IL sixteen miles
per hour. The average fare per mile IL
D772 cent. The regulation fare IL two
rents, but there are l cent stages
throughout the business section Of the :
rity. which range from one-half to three
quarters Of 4 mile These are TO the
points out from the heart of
he city. There are fired stopping pls-
,es throughout the entire system, which
ire approximately about one furlong
lone eighth miles, apart Thu local
public use the tramways to the extent
II '207 miles per head Of population pet
Innum.
For the year Just passed the shtf-
Held Cooperation ran its street cars
,vsr more than 100000 miles and car
led approximately 10O,0O0,O0O passeng-
RI, as average Of 1895 passengers per
ar mile, at an average fare per passen-
Ter Of 1.S08 cents.
The average total revenue per car per
nile was 2i.783 cents, AZ against an
lverage working expense per care per
nile OF 9.27 cents, or on the total sys-
EN- for the year balance net revenue
lccount Of s76s,s55. Of this, about
100000 was appropriated to pay inter-
~ on borrowed capital and for a sink
ng fund to redeem mortgages, stocks.
md bonds; about e145,O0O il applied to
reserve fund for renewals, repairs, and
improvements; and the remaining S22s,-
'55 paid over to the city DURING the fiscal
tear for reduction Of municipal taxes
nd sundry general improvements.
Since 1899 the trsmway has paid over
0 the municipality Of Sheffield in relief
4 district taxes and In grants for
municipal improvements more than 81
10000, which, considering the low
ate Of fares, wages paid, and the eff
iciency Of service rendered, il an ex-
ellentshowing.--N. Y. Times Analyst.