El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-25
STREET RAILWAY
XPANDS
FL Paso Electric Improves
Service and Raises the
Garments Pay.
By ALBA H. WARREN.
Manager Fl PnsO Electric Railway
Company

Company.
Notwithstanding that 1918 was the
worst year in the history OF the
street railway business. and that IN
settled conditions. largely brought
about by the war, necess1tated re-
trenchmeut and rigid economy IN
every line OF endeaVOr. the Fl PasO
Electric Railway company not only
did not permit its service and equip
ment TO deteriorate. but on the con-
trary, improved il IN almost every
way. These Improvements not only
entaiIed expense. but required IN
ceasing effort and persistence 10 Sc
cure material at a time when ma
terial was almost unObtainable.
Club House for Employees
At an expense OF about $4,000
club house was built for the men,
which provides a comfortable place
in which they may spend their leis-
ure time. A library. containing many
books and all current periodicals In
cidental TO the railway business. are
on file, and a restaurant where the
men may obtain meals at cost IS a
feature OF the building. shower
baths and other conveniences are
furnished without charge.
New Safety Cars Installed.
In the matter Of new equipment,
we have been extremely fortunate in
obtaining 20 Of the new Birney safety
cars These cars are revolutionizing
the street railway business and are
affording rapid, safe service unOb-
talnable with the old and heavier
type. More new cars VIII be pur-
purchased as soon as we are able
10 borrow the money necessary to OBJ
tain them
Service to Val Verde.
A new service was added during
the year-a Val Verde car, which
runs from Washington park to Val
Verde and affords rapid transporta-
ton to many people who formerly
had to walk several blocks 10 secure
q car This new service required
new special work. which was put in
On Arizona street. several new
switches we're installed and the reg
ular cars on that line increased from
three to four and the Roadway re-
duced from ten to seven and one-half
More Car to Highland Park.
On Highland park there are now
five regular cars and the time be-
tween cars has been reduced from
Is TO 10 minutes.
Washington park now has eight
regular cars and the time between
cars is five minutes instead OF 10 and
for several hours IN the late after
noon 10 cars are run on a four minute
Roadway.
Fort Bliss service has also been
greatly AAAA NAlNEAa HENgAA 4AaA Gal6
now being IN operation, instead Of
five. and the Roadway 10 minutes in
stead OF r.
wages Increased.
Along with these improvements
she pay Of carmen has been consid-
erably raised, the schedule now be-
ing from IS cents 70 ~ cents per
hour.
improvements IN the lighting de-
partment have kept pace with the
growth OF the city and the improve
ments in the railway departmen
and We look forward to the year
1919 with confidence in our ability
70 furnish our patrons better and
more satisfactory service than they
have ever enjoyed in the past We
only ask the confidence and good
viii OF our patrons and, with their
cooperation. We are convinced that
we viii be able 70 do our part to
wards helping FL Paso attain that
place in the ranks OF the large cities
OF the country which Is her right
and which she is unquestionably des-
tined TO attain.