Observations on Street Railways (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 Excerpt: ...that in addition to the great advantages the proprietors have in being able to move a comparatively very great weight at a good speed under complete control, that the public enjoyed the benefit of ample accommodation in the vehicles, were conveyed at very cheap rates, were taken up or laid down wherever they desired along the line, were carried without noise or jolting, and as compared with any other means of locomotion were particularly free from accident. "The rails for these conveyances are of a peculiar construction, so contrived as not to interfere with the ordinary traffic of the streets they traverse, but, on the contrary, afford a surface which is invariably taken advantage of by drivers going in the direction of the tramways. The annexed section represents the rail in use on 6th Avenue, New York, a crowded and fashionable thoroughfare; it is a heavy rail, and one that does not interrupt the crossing in any direction, or at any angle of ordinary vehicles, although there is a double track through the street. There are, however, other sections quite as free from objection, as far as interference with the street surface is concerned. The 6th Avenue establishment consists of 4 miles of double track, laid with a 741bs rail; the rolling stock consists of 70 carriages of about three tons weight each, worked by 420 horses and mules; the fares for the entire length being 2 d. for adults, and l d. for children. Notwithstanding, the owners realize 10 per cent; the number of passengers travelling on this road, which may be taken as an average per annum, is 5 millions; and the number conveys an advantage the rest of the street derives from such a multitude being thus carried instead of travelling on ordinary modes of conveyance, and adding s...