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.
Saturday Social, group and women's activities
favorable; financial deals are deceptive.
'kVRYT&ODYS TALKING . . ABOUT CAMEL'S COSTLIER TOBACCOS!
I f CAMELS 1 ICAM
R0SC0E TURNER Famous Flyer
ELS APPEAL
TO A WOMAN'S
TASTE
TEST
MRS. WM. U VARRE- Explorer
I SMOKE STEADILY. W ICAMELS ARE I -V "Mxf ( CAMELS f
El CAMELS NEVER. A MILDER If DONT JANGLE t
I AFFECT MY WIND CIGARETTE ! x M I MY NERVES HK I
A CAMEL GIVES
5jJ ME A 'LIFT,' FRESH
GENE SARAZEN Golf Champion
HOMEMAKER Mrs. J.B. Foclcy
FRANK BUCK Animal Collector
zr r
WM. T. TILDEN, 2nd Tennis Star
C2
(camels never!
j irritate i
Mt THROAT J
SALESMAN Allan M. Craig, Jr.
CAMEL'S COSTLIER TOBACCOS mean so
much to so many people that we invite you to
try them too confident that they'll win you.
if
HM6, R J RoytiaMti Tib Co
ci4arctte. you ciBrctte.
-t any time within "
lrom a.. ; po.ta4e.
(, H-J-REVNOUDS TOBACCO COMPANY
Camels have given more pleasure to mor
people than any other cigarette. 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