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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1936)
FASTER! FASTER! CRIES PROGRESS! Street Railway Man Says "Take It Easy! You'll Get There Just the Same" JAMES W. HARRIS, America's oldest active street railway president, paused the other day to look through his office window at the 1933 transconti nental plane as it winged its way to New York from the Coast, silhouetted rg .i:it t'.ie azure sky then he turned his eye3 Cjv, n at the yellowed musty ledger recording the pio3t3 of the world's first cable car. He heaved no sigh for "the good old dnys" for his cable cars ar.i still in o;;uation and will prob ably continue to be in operation, bccai-.se of the need for them, for many years, They still pay divi dends, for the world still rides them! Rides them and discusses the fare of the new streamline trains that make a speed of 100 miles an hour. Sixty-one years have elapsed since the world's first cable car slowly climbed Clay Street hill in San Francisco. Prophetic residents at that time expressed the confidence that this invention would revolutionize city transportation throughout the world, a vision that came true with surprising swiftness. New York, Chicago, Kansas City, Seattle and many other large cities here and abroad were soon boasting miles of cable road. It was back in 1879 that "Jimmie" Harris came to work for the street railway company. He took to his work like the proverbial duck to water. Soon he was general manager and then president. Today at 81, Mr. Harris is on the job every morning at 7 o'clock, managing the affairs of one of the few, if any, street railway systems that have consis tently operated on a five-cent fare without passing regular dividends. True, at times the stockholders' dividends have drifted downward, but never has there been any red ink on the president's report! These cars seat 33 passenrjers br.t have been known to load as many as 150 fares on a single trip! They weigh 11,500 pounds each, and braking is accomplished through two sets of hand brakes, operated by the gripman and conductor, and a powerful track brake. The cables pull cars over grades as high as 21 per cent and are 60,000 feet long. They consist of wire strands wound to a diameter of l'i inches with a hemp core to allow for the "squeeze" of car grips. Power is f-. mis'-ed by two 900-h.pi 2200 volt a.c. motors orcr;.ting in inrniorsly designed win-.Iing machins. In ca3e cf emergency involving motors, there is a 600-h.p. Corliss-type steam en gine always ready for immediate action. A com-, pensator wheel, weighing three tons, keeps tension "GO SLOW BUT SURE" SAYS HARRIS - -e$ ft&K Iff Ypd ! Cable cars are still needed, says James VV. Harris, veteran street railway president, as he watches modern transportation grow to meet demands of speed. equal as 30 cars grip and release their hold on the cables. Slack in' cables, caused by stretching in use, is taken up by special equipment. The cable grip through which the car operator can pick up or drop the cable at will, is in itself a clever piece of mechanism, perfected by Mr. Harris shortly after ne became superintendent. There's just a trace of wistf ulness in Mr. Harris' voice when he talks about the strides that are being made in transportation when he talks about airplanes and streamlined trains and other modern day distance-choppers. "It had to come,' or course," he says, "because the people who travel always are in a hurry. In a hurry to get to where they're going, and in a hurry to get back. And they'll always go rushing back 'and forth by the means that will take them the fastest. "Because of the urge for speed, airplane builders will go ahead building faster stratosphere ships, and steamship builders will vie with one another to see which can build the vessel that will cross the ocean in the shortest time, and every other transport man will cry for something that will give his patrons more speed, but "Let me tell you one thing! When these people get along to my age, they'll find that most of this craving for speed that fills the world today is a false need. They'll find that the man who takes it slower and easier gets there just the same in the end. And they'll find the slower-going person . probably will be trodding on his leisurely way long aft" th- sneed-cravers are jfone and forgotton. "If there is one message I'd like to pass along to the younger generation, it is this: take it easy! you'll get there just the same." H oroscopes Of Famous People FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT -By Leurie Pratt THE horoscope of a President has an important bearing, during his term of office, on'the affairs between conservative and progressive elements will continue to grow in heat. Roosevelt's policies will always favor experimentation, governmental regimentation and concentration of power in him self as a virtual dictator. His Sun in humanitarian Aquarius indicates that his sympathies are broad and impersonal, truly concerned with the welfare of the common people. His courage and pioneering abilities are unquestionable, and history will remember him, not so much for the mostly mistaken, rhich are rather those of the head than of the heart, but as the fearless innovator of necessary and inevit able changes for America. HIS chart shows clearly such extravagance and staggering financial problems that this coun try cannot hope, under his leadership, for res toration of normal conditions. He is, rather, the unusual leader for abnormal times than an influ ence for peace or security. The perspective of time will reveal him as the destined bridge-maker for the troubled waters of an outstanding transition period in our national life. His New Deal, uncom fortable, unbalanced and chaotic as it is to live under, is based on an American ideal of social progress that will grow in power, though under wiser and more acceptable forms. YOUR DAILY GUIDE Sunday, January 19 An active day; use delib eration. Monday Good for nearly everything, especially travel and sports; avoid deceit. Tuesday Progressive and venturesome, but today and tomorrow are unfavorable for approach ing those in authority. Wednesday Inspirational; your business hunches are reliable, but do not start new ven tures for the rest of this week. Thursday Finish up old matters and tasks alrcadv started. Friday Much violence in the world today and tomorrow; use caution. 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And so we now issue this new "try ten" invita tion In order that others can find out for themselves the difference Camel's cost lier tobaccos make in smoking pleasure. You'll find this difforonce that Camels are milder. And you'll find this difference they have a rich, pleasing flavor. You'll find that you can smoke Camels steadily, and that they do not jangle your nerves or tire your taste. Why offer can be made Vie know smokers like Camels, once they try the costlier tobaccos in Camel. Literally milliona of people have changed to Camels and found new enjoy ment... new benefits. We want you to share their enthusiasm. Turn to Camels. Be one of the vast number who share . in the enjoyment and appreciation of those finer, more expensive tobaccos. ( Camolf arc mad from flnejr, MORI EXPENSIVE TOBACCOS Turkish and Domestic than any other popular brand. PAGE NINK 1-1215B
