THE TERRACE TRAMWAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 255, 23 July 1919, Page 8

THE TERRACE TRAMWAY

Sir,—l think the City Council is to be commended for tile enterprise it is. displaying in connection witn the proposed Terrace tramway.

Some seven years ago a proposal was submitted to the City Council'by private ratepayers, residents of tho Terrace,by which—if the council had consented— these private ratepayers were to erect a lift for tho purpose' of carrying passengers up to the Terrace,. These ratepayers demonstrated to themselves that it would bo a paying proposition, and asked the council for a concession in tho same way as the Kelbum Tramway Company did. The City Council, on the principle of "once bitten, twice shy," declined to entertain the Terrace ratepayers' proposition, because the then Mayor, the Hon. 'I'. M. Wilford, saw, as 'he phrased it, that "it was a good tiling," and being so good a thing it should bolong to the ratepayers as a whoio. This scheme was deferred, but a year or so beforo the war it was announced by the Mayor that a comprehensive scheme of tramway extension, embracing the Terrace, South lvelburn, and even Ivarori, was under contemplation.

There is no question but that tho Terrace tramway will pay, mid pay just as satisfactorily as the Kelbum Tramway Company's, but with this difference, that tho profits will accrue to the people instead of to .1 few.

I do not know what the council's scheme may bo with regard to the purchase of sufficient ground alongside the Albert Hotel for (he purpose of a tramway station, but there can be no question whatever as to the proposed tramway becoming a paying proposition. And what does it matter that more people travel up than travel down tho Kelbum tramway? That scheme has' paid handsomely from the beginning, and doubtless it will continue to pay handsomely for the future. The City Council has made many mistakes, from the Byko Corner transaction, the Kelburn Tramway Company's concession, cvjen to tho Morton Dam. The fault gunerally has been lack of largeness of view and intelligent comprehension of the requirements of this expanding city. In this new project there is nol'hing to fear. If the City Council should act on the advico of some of the wiseacres of the city, they would not construct this tramwaj'to the Terrace, but they would grant a concession to a Terraco Tramway Company, and repent the blunde.r it made in connection with tho Kelburn Tramway Company. The City Council must not be deterred from action in this matter by attempts to throw cold water upon a serviceable aud paying proposition.—l am, etc., CITY PROGRESS.