The Proposed Cable Road.

Last Monday the Boston aldermen gave the West End Street Railway Company a hearing concerning the cable system that they propose to introduce in Boston and vicinity. Many strong arguments were presented in favor of the system, and but little opposition encountered. The various advantages of the cable over the electric and elevated systems were shown. The cable system can be operated at all seasons of the year, while the electric will not work in winter; the elevated system, by darkening the streets and stores in addition to making it disagreeable for second story dwellers, decreased the value of real estate along its route; while the cable system, by its rapid and easy transit would bring the suburbs nearer the city and raise the value of real estate in them correspondingly. The cable is run along a trench under the tracks; is operated by steam power at the ends of the route; is kept taut by a system of weights at its extremities, which rise and fall according to the number and weight of the cars attached. A slot about three-quarters of an inch wide runs between the tracks, and through it the clamp of the dummy or grip car is operated by the driver. The cable moves at a uniform rate, but the speed of the cars can be regulated by letting the clamp grasp the cable more or less loosely as the occasion may require. In the winter the snow is removed by a plough attached to the cable. In case any break occurs in the cable an alarm is sounded by electricity and the engines are stopped. The cars make so little noise while in motion that a bell is placed on the axle of the car to warn teams and pedestrians. The cars can be stopped as easily and as quickly as horsecars. In crossing a railroad or draw bridge a pair of horses are kept to pull the cars across. The cable system has worked well in Chicago, and has been in use for several years in San Francisco. The demand of the railway will probably be complied with by the Boston aldermen.