THE ELECTRIC TRAMS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5213, 1 March 1904, Page 2

THE ELECTRIC TRAMS.

PROPOSED SUBURBAN EXTENSIONS. THE ELECTRICAL EXGIXEER'S REPORT. A’ special meeting of tho City Council was 'hold last night to consider tho report of the Electrical Engineer regarding the proposed extensions to Brooklyn, Island Bay and Kilbirnie. The Mayor (Mr J. G. W. Ait-ken) -presided, and all tho councillors except Councillor Nathan were present. Following is tho report;—■ •Gentlemen, —I have pleasure in handing you tho three reports for your consideration. From tho drawings accompanying them you will soo a good deal of work lias been involved. In tho estimates I have included, ap is set forth in tho Island Bay report, a certain portion of the capital cost of tho power station and tho car-shed, but have not included any additional power or cars, leaving theso items to be mob by tho city at large, according to tho growth of tho undertaking. If all these sen ernes aro adopt'd, it will be advisable to order a now generating set, and perhaps two new boilers and certain rolling stock. Quo word as to extensions and fares. The citizens should clearly understand that they aro going to bo very' much tho gainers by tho new system of tramways, both in speed and comfort, and they on their nan will he called .upon to pay for this. What I want to impress upon their minds is that they cannot gain all those advantages and have very much lower fares. It costs a great deal more to run a tram twelve miles .an hour than eight, although tho time of work is shorter. Another tiling to bo remembered is tho high price of fuctoind wages in tho colony as compared with similar systems in England and Ino present horse trams aro giving a remarkable rido for 2d, ono which it will bo hard to give with the electric system; perhaps if this horse tramway had boon made to maintain the permanent way m a high state of perfection, tho present results would not have boon obtained. Grea t caro must bo exercised m ad opting any extensions that are not liko.y to pjiVj and I would rather advocate* tho adoption of a ’bus service in connection with tho tramways to build up tho outlying districts until such time as they aro in a position to stand tho extra expenditure. This might certainly be done, and tho (service put on to bo comfortable and of sufficient capacity to carry the people. Tho Sydney linos aro suffering from tho too rapid extensions into remote districts whoro they cannot pay, and from ono or two other causes that tho committee would to guard cheaper construction Could bo put down than what I have 'estimated upon, but this can bo gono into more thoroughly whoa tho extension; and ’scute aro decided upon. ' y BRIGHT, , Tramways and Electrical Engineer. KILBIRNIE EXTENSION.

Tlio present settloniont fit lies in tiio valley and around the foot of tlio old road, so in - the foikwais orbihiates, with ono cxeep-taon, I havo taken tho Kilbinvo Hotel as the? terminus. Tho exception is the route eignated as Crawford*®' new road, wvicu tho terminus Is taken at thofoot of it. In tramway locations it is n<jt always policy to run into uimt at the tone is tho most .thickly-populated district, hut rather .into that part which often; c-roatest facilities for settlement, which all ways Allows .when - onca the lines are constructed. In considering tins district, trials have been made of five routes and several, variations to ono or two of them. Thdy are as follows:—By means of the Queen’s Drive, 'a ■ tunnel through Mount Victoria by ■Elisabeth street, a. tunnel through Mount \ictona by IDliico street, Constable street and Travers road, Constable street and Crawford’s new read. The first is too circuitous for business purposes. The"second, in my opinion is tho route thatiredoramondis itself. I am strongly.' of -aia opinion that this is by tar the strongest and boldest policy; and any other can only bo a makeshift as compared with, tills. The committee can eeo this readily if they would take a walk on the ridge of the hill near the flagstaff on Mount Victoria. A deviation will have to bo made from Elizabeth street on account of the grade, buttlio road is there light up to tho month of tho tunnel. It being by .Elizabeth street, Brougham street. Queen street, Austin street and - Hixpn Grove, the sharpest grade is lin 10.; Tho grade in tho tunnel is about 1 in I'D, running out'.into a grade of 1 in 10 on the Kilbirnie side. Tlio length of tunnel Is about fifteen chains, and can easily be constructed for £20,000. This rente opens up some 250 acres of good building la id, and the route will pass up the valley, which is'already largely built upon and inhabited. On this land is about ten acres of flat, which might bo .secured) for a recreation ground, 'more especially for snob sports as tlio Basin. Bcsorvo is now proving itself too small for. Again, tho excavated material-can bo used to help the construction of Clyde quay, and a further reclamation at Evans Bay, Klilbirnie. ■ I am given to understand that the city will only, have to provide £IO,OOO for this vfork, which, I am sure, if carried out, would in a very short time ainpl'yi repay tho citizens for their venture. .

I fool that I cannot too strongly recommend tins route. The interest on tlio loan might for some time he raised by means of a toll, say, oho penny pur hoad for foot passengers using the tunnel, the tunnel "being sa 'constructed as toba largo enough for both foot passengers and tramway purposes, the two classes of traffic i bding , divided by wrought ■ iron, railing ..or grill. If found desirable 'considerable revenue may be derived by running a ferry car through the tunnel carrying vehicles, ■ such as drays, carriages and tradesmen’s. tarts, or such traffic might be allowed the, use of the, tumid on paying boll during the intervals between the tramway seif rice. This route would tap a large population in the neighbourhood , of Austin street not now served. One hcro-o will have to be purchased mb the extreme end of Rixon Grove, mid thrcc'carncrs widened, and Risen G-rovo widened hy cutting a few feet off the gardens along the .thoroughfare. ■ The cost of these alterations should not exceed £2OOO. ,Tiio : cost of ties scheme.to. the Corporation will bo:— . * , ■ ; . ' £ Tunnel construction (part) ... 10,000 Track construction of 1 mile .50 chains, with turn-out,• say. two miles in all ... 10.000 Overhead equipment ... . ... ,2,000 Feodor cable and return ... 1,750 Power.station' proportion ... 4,471 Car-shod depot, proportion ... 1 ,971 property purchase , ... 2.000 ■ - .Making a total of ... .... £32.192 The: Corporation': 1 (is to provide ail rdlliug-stock. ■' The alternative route, is via'Comtablo street and Travers'roejl to theKiihirnie, road, the cstensron -from Coromandel

street. This is a short, rom-tc, btat hilly.. To make anything of this road, a. considerable amount of cutting and fillings will bo re'ipui'ei'l, tho hill lowered and a deviation cutting into tho Town Bolt togive a suitable grade. £ Tills formation , will cost some £2OOO, and will give a grade of 1 in II 2.00 C Tho length of this route is only 48 chains,'-say 54 chains allowing for passing places, permaraancut way construction ... 3,145> Overhead equipment 530 Proportion of power-house ... 2,233 Proportion of ear-shed 985 Cables and return ... ... RTSd Making ... ... ...i £10,645 This estimate does not include th« extension up tho valley. The Ellice- street route is not practicable through tho grades being uusuilt* able. If they had been satisfactory, tin tunnel would bo longer and 1 moro expert* sire. Tho fourth route, via Crawford’s now road, would cost about £IO,OOO. Tha cutting would bo less, but the 'Cable* would bo longer and moro expensive than by the old route, and this road would not servo the district now .settled as well. BROOKLYN EXTENSION. Several trials have boon taken for this rotate, the access to tho township being difficult owing to the stoop grades. First, route.—Tho Ohiro road vat tried, but the grades and sharp turn* on this road raako it nearly impossible. Tho formation of this road is largely ruled by Maanuna crescent, which will not permit’of alteration at reasonable cost, this road being now largely built upon. Second route.—This route was by. Nairn street, but here again wo aro met by difficulties in grade. The-steepest it 1 in 6J (1 in 6.7 actual). Tins read waa looked upon in the light of a combined cablo and trolley system, hut was abandoned owing to tho expense in working. Third route.—This was by Epunl street and running from Wordsworth street connection.. To construct tin* route there is a considerable amount of work involved. First; a tunnel of 4.63 chains long and then a grade of 1 in 7 to negotiate. True, by running (>r.it of ono of tho two valleys into- tho other by means of a tunnel a slightly bcttoi result could be obtained. These ironies run out into tho Ohiro. road l by the Old Men’s Home, and tho tramway would have to continue on up the main road, which would liavo to bo widened l to allow sufficient room for other vehicle* to pass in safety. This roadway and track would cost some £SOOO to construct; • '

Fourth route. —By.the central spur up the Town Belt with a graddfof 1 in 8. Tho cost of this route would b® about £23,000 and would bo worked by balanccfl care, that is, the down-going car wopld help to pull tho up-going car along, both care sising their; own motors, or tlio trams would be drives on special tracks built to suit tho 'incline and carried up. On the, arrival at tho top. these care would then ran on to their destination' in the neighbour* hood of tho Happy Valley road, w . Fifth route.—This hi the, mast promising, and by a .slight deviation of; routt 4 to_ gather length to oaSo tho grade; this is done by entering the Town Bolt from tho foot 1 ! of Nairn street ami nunning along the; foot of tho bank and round the obntral spur out on tho Obira road by ■Mr (jJoagiuAs .property.: ■ This;, route gives a maximum grade of 1 iff 10. Then length will bo about onci railo, making allowance for .passing 'places. • ■' £ The cost of tho road formation I 1 •estimate at about ‘ ; ... ■ ;... • 1,004 Permanent way, about ' ... ... 5,0001 Overhead ■equipment ... ... 1,000 Cables ... ... , : : ... ... 2,500 •.£9,500' Proportion of powor-aonsp ... 2,235 Proportion of car-shed - ..." , ... 985 £12,720 Purchase of property ... ... 7.50(1 £20,220 After construction theye will be several small sections of tlio , 'p'irchased. property to resell. ; Tho portion wilhbo at tlio foot of the hill and: face on the tramways. and consequently should -he of higher value.

The roadway estimated upon'is 20ftwido and will allow of a now cart -way: running along the side bf tho tramway; by expending an additional £SOO a much broader wav could bo made,. Tin’s would give tho district a circular cart service, emo up tho slower grade by the non’ road and down tho steeper Obiro road for a return. \ Motor waggons could be arranged to run on tho tramway to convoy goods during the intervals between tho service.

These heavy grades consume a large amount of current, and are expensive to run and maintain,, add often form a drain on what would bo otherwise a successful undertaking. On tho : other hand, with reasonable, fares and good traffic they may become a. largo souroa of revenue.

Tlio rolling-stock I have not included, as such would no doubt bo common to all tho lines, and supplied out of a general loan. ■ ■■ . ISLAND BAY EXTENSION.

There is no difficulty in extending tha : tramway’ along: the present roadway as far as the bay. Tho grades are easy and moderate: a short length, lit chains, being 1 in 18. i A slight deviation to tho roadway where i crosses' tho Town Belt will ba advantageous to tho running. To straighten this road some cutting and filling will ho required, at an estimated cost of £312. Tho brook now running alongside the road will require enclosing for some little distance, at an estimated cost of £720. It is possible to alter this road by making a gentle sweep at the woolshed, instead of straightening tho whojp road, and the estimated cost of this Is £SOO, saving some £SC2 on tho above, proposal, Tho length of track to bo served it one mile thirty, chains;, including an allowance for passing places, tho track being single. Tho permanent way, taking good construction, will amount to an estimated cost of ... . ... '£8,666 Tho overhead ■ equipment to an estimated cost of ... ... £1,333 ■ Tho most expensive item of all will bo. the cable carrying: current to’ the district, awl , a : return iin.o, : to carry tho current back to tha powerhouse, whore it will bo “boosted” up when emb out, to make up the loss in pressure, and,as it were, pumped back along the -return'table.:by another small machine <termed a ..negative booster). The estimated cost of these cables and boosters is £3500. This item might be cheapened by using other methods of supply., ;other than , direct continuous current supply, hut tho system is selfcontained'and all the rnaohiney together, no sub-station being required. This ; district; is’ just remote enough; for it to bq a. debatable point ee. to howto servo it electrically. ~: In my 'mind X have sa hesitation iu rcconuiirriding as above.

Tina give*; us the actual ('xpenfi ;,l irc of cany tug tho .lans- forward to I 'r.c Bay. £ Hoad improvements, say\ ... 500 Hormuncut way G,6GG Overhead equipment ... ••• 1,333 Cables and boosters ... ••• 3,500 £II,OOO Roughly speaking, £12,000. Current will bo required for the irain- ' ways, which will Ibo .supplied from our {rentrail power station, winch has been greeted and equipped at a cost of L1T,719. Provision has been made m tho buildings for an extended system, and it is only just to tax the district | for its portion according to mileage, 1 making an estimated cost of £2OOO. The yamo reasoning holds good with tho ear■ihed, increasing tho total estimate by 01300, or* a grand total of—- £ Construction ... ... ... 11,090 Power-house ... ... ... 2,000 Oar-shod ... ••• 1,300 £16.100 In the above I have not included oars, vi the City Council, now, acting as a whole, would no doubt purchase the additional airs required, if this scheme is adopted, as this routo will bo advantageous to tho citizens at large, who will often avjvil themselves of the rido to 1 tho open sea. Tho interest and sinking fund for this additional outlay util be, roughly, CIOOO per annum, which means an addition to tho ptissengers to pay the running charges of 315 passengers at twopence each per day, or a total number of passengers to> place tho concern an a sound ba«U of 750 at twopence each per day, or 375 riding both wj v .> each day. In giving tho -above, I do not wish to prejudice the comndttec 'in any way, / for I feel that if wo only undertake * that which is a guaranteed success from . tho commencement, yon will certainly lo*o what in time will prove a valuable asset, and if that policy wore largely carried out, your city would certainly lose its prestige as a city of progress: at tho same time, I feel it my duty to point these matters out to you, as you will no doubt wish *■ ■ 'ugh the “ pros’ 1 and “ cons ” of tho case before giving your vote. DISCUSSION BY THE COUNCIL The Mayor moved tho adoption of tho recommendations contained in tho roport of tho electrical engineer. Councillor Luko seconded tho motion. Ho thought it was onay right unit these recommendations should bo carried out, seeing that they dealt with tho important question of giving access to mfforent parts surrounding tho district. In regard to Brooklyn, no was glau to perreivo from tho engineer's report that a cable tram would not bo required to negotiate tho Brooklyn hill, 'the cost of which would have militated aeramst tho work of tram extension to that place, and ho thought that Brooklyn, with tome assistance from tho city, would bo able to bear its full share of the cost, ft was part and parcel of tho city's duty to take in these outiying districts and ?iv© thorn every facility of access to- tho city. The industries of tho 91 ty wore being menaced by tho high ratcS of value, For it was almost impossible to get sites for factory purposes. So far as Kilbirnie was concerned, he did not think tho residents there need bother their heads about waiting for the tunnel, which would take three or four years to complete, in view of the alternative recommendation mado by tho engineer. Tho Mayor* explained that Councillor Nathan was absent owing to an attack >f influenza.

Councillor Smith considered that thoro was no question as to the route to Island Bay, ae that proposed was the only way (hey could got there. In regard to Kilbimie, there was more than one route, and like Councillor Luke, he advocated Iho quickest. Ho wished to see the trams go to Kilbirnie by the lowest level Possible, consequently ho thought the £20,000 estimated would be exceeded by ,£SOOO or .£7OOO. In respect to Brooklyn there was very great diversity of opinion as to the route, but he supposed the engineer had given every consideration to the merits of each in the route he had chosen. Ho had much pleasure in supporting the resolution, and he hoped the extension would bo carried out to the ratiafaction of the city and the Melrose ward.

stand that in adopting the report they pledged themselves to apply to the ratepayers or to force Melrose ward to .do so for the throe schemes? The Mayor: It means that certainly. Councillor Izard: VA’ill the next motion be to take the necessary steps to rive effect to the recommendations of the engineer? The Mayor: Yes.

Councillor Izard expressed surprise at the silence of the representatives of the Melrose ward. It seemed to him that Mr Wright's scheme did not matter two pence to the city. Ho had always been against the amalgamation agreement between the city and Melrose, as it was forced down the throat of the Council, and he had always regarded it as unworkable. While they had agreed to pay half the cost of widening the Ohiro road and lowering Constable street, yet Mr Wright said the Ouiro road was impossible on account of the turns,. It was perfectly plain the city ougut never to have agreed to pay half tho cost of removing buildings back on the lower end of Omro road. Ho agreed that Constable street was the route for the tramline to Kilbimie. If they were going to treat all these loans as one, he would only agree to the ■ scheme provided the cost of lowering Constable, street was eliminated from

the terms of the agreement ana became part of tho money to be raised for tramway purposes. He should not support the adoption of tho report, because he, did not know what ho was voting for. I'hey ought to go into the matter more carefully than they were doing. While appreciating Mr Wright’s ability, ho was not in favour of the tramway going through the tunnel to Kilbimie. Ho thought Constable street the right way. Councillor Frost said the representatives of the Melrose, ward were thoroughly sntfniied with the various routes. Ho reminded Councillor Izard that there were no houses to bo removed in connection with tho widening of tho Ohiro road. There was no suburb going ahead as rapidly ns Brooklyn. It bad a population of over 2000 at the present time, and if this scheme wera approved of the population would double before tho trams wore there. Many people holding sections there at tho present time were simply waiting for means of access to go and tedde on them. Tho route provided to Brooklyn was a very good one, and disturbed very little private property. The only fault be found witji it was that he thought it did not go far enough. Councillor Wiltshire could not support the motion for the adoption of tho report If it implied that tho Council must accept the recommendations of tho engineer. Whilst agreeing that the reprt was % very able one. still the recommendations in regard to Kilbimie ware open to question. There could be no disagreement about the Maud Bay route, and in re~tard to Brooklyn—there was very little ’ Choice, and tho city would havo to construct the extension to the suburb, seeing that the route ran mostly through the Town Belt, but tho route to Kilbirnie was very different. . Councillor Godbcr desired to knew the position thev would bo in if the Conntil adopted tho Kilbimie proposal. He was in favour of the tunnel route, but, if tho report were adopted, ho would like »o know if the route could be varied or uot The report was a good one, and it was his belief that tho tramway extension to tho suburbs would pay well, but tho position in regard to Kilbimie wanted to be mad© clearer. Councillor Devine could not support the tunnel route to Kilbimie. Tho

city would have to bear practically the whole of the cost, and in his opinion the city was not prepared at the present time, considering the heavy burdens that the ratepayers were already bearing, to undertake the cost of that particular extension. The Council was desirous of helping the suburbs as far us possible, but of course in these things the Council must-bo just before it was generous. They had a duty to the citizens who sent them there, and the?/ should not saddle them with mono responsibilities than they had got mready. However necessary it might be to extend tho tramways, they must go slowly, otherwise they might bo brought to book lor their action, lie moved as an amendment that the engineer’s recommendation to carry tho tramway through the tunnel bo not aj'proved, but that tho alternative scheme of taking it through Constable street be adopted. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Councillor Barber considered the report a very comprehensive one, and it was a matter for congratulation that the report was now before them. No one, lie thought, after reading the recommendations, could question the engineer’s proposals. Ho regretted that the Mayor had pot gone further with his motion, and included in it an authority for the necessary Order-in-Council in order that there might be no delay in getting on with tho work, because he had confidence that tho various districts interested would give their consent without question. After all it amounted to little more than £IOOO to each district on a five per cent, basis. Tho revenue from the extension would, ho felt sure, be more than realised. Ho favoured the proposed tunnel routo to Kilbirnie, for the shortest route would, in tho long run, be the cheapest. The Council did not hesitate to spend a quarter of a million on the city tramway, which would not cost the city anything, for it would pay for itself, and tho suburbs extensions would also pay for themselves. Ho hoped tho Council would proceed with the scheme at once. Councillor Brans was heartily in accord with the 1 extension of tho tramway to the suburbs, but he thought tho report should be received and referred to a committee which would bring down a report at next meeting as to the routes and as to ways and means, the committee to consist of an equal number of representatives of the city and Melrose. He moved an amendment to that effect. Councillor McLaren seconded the amendment. He* was of opinion that the matter was one in which it was advisable to hasten slowly. Ho favoured the alternative routes to Kilbirnie being submitted to the ratepayers. Councillor Winder supported tho motion of the Mayor, Ho thought the engineer had gone very carefully into the matter, and ho hoped they were not going to sot up their opinions against his. He approved of the tunnel to Kilbirnie, but deprecated the policy of hastening slowly. .

Councillor Frost protested against the amendment as a proposal to set up a committee of laymen to criticise an expert’s plans. Councillor Keene spoke in favour of the motion, and he hoped_ the scheme would bo pushed on as quickly as possible. Councillor Luke sincerely hoped the amendment would not bo carried. Councillor Murdoch was in favour of the report as a whole, but thought they should know who was to pay for carrying the tramlines through the reserves. In the course of further discussion, the question of the liability of the city for tunnelling under the Town Belt at Mount Victoria was raised, and great uncertainty was expressed as to the position regarding the proposal, as well as to thq liability for extensions through the other reserves. The Mayor said Councillors as a whole seemed to be in favour of carrying the tramways to the suburbs. The only difference of opinion was in regard to the modus operand!. He had been asked if the Council would put au alternative route to Kilbirnie, by way of Constable street. It had been stated during discussion that they would never have heard of the proposed Kilbirnie tunnel route unless the Hataitai Syndicate had come into existence, but in answer to that he desired to say that when they submitted the question of the installation of the electric tram service in the city at the meeting held in the Skating Rink, it was foreshadowed that extensions would bo made to the various suburbs, and it was then mentioned that the right way to take th'e tram to Kilbirnio was bv means of a tunnel. At that time there was no Hatpitai Syndicate in existence. With reference to the suggestion that the Council should know exaotlv what it was prepared to do, before pledging itsolf to one engineer's recommendations. he pointed out in regard to Kilbimio that tho report only pledged the Council to £IO,OOO. If those outside the Council did not see their way to subscribe the other .£IO,OOO. then the proposal would, of course, fall to tho ground, unless the Council agreed to find tho whole of the £20.000, and he did not think it was likely to do that. The adoption of the report, of oonrse, did not get them over many difficulties that were in the way, and these would be duly considered. As to carrying the tramway over Constable street to Kilbirnie in addition to the tunnel, he at all events was not prepared to advocate that. He thought if the Kilbirnie people got the tramway in one direction that would be as much as they would be, able to bear, and as much as they could expect for many years. The report went into the whole question of suburban tramways very fully, and the engineer had gone as far as he conld bo expected to go. The questions arising out of it were matters of detail which councillors could settle between them. On a division the amendment was lost by eight votes to seven, and the Mayor’s motion carried. The report was then referred to tho Finance Committee for a report as to ways_ and means.