The Municipal Council have not yet decided on what form of electric tramways they will adopt for the Settlement, although thy contract of -the well-known British firm, the Brush Electrical Engineering Company, has been accepted. Mr. A. B. Cook, the representative of that concern, and also of the British Electric Traction Company, two businesses which practically join interests, interviewed on Tuesday, said that he could not state what yee of tram and tramway the Council would select, but very careful consideration was being given to the whole matter, and he had no doubt but that the best choice would be made.
The difficulties in the way of makin; electric tramways in Shanghai a success complete suecess—are very amall_accordin Mr. Cook. parts of the Far East, and is of the opinion that if John Chinaman in the Straits Settlements swears by the electric tram as a locomotive, so will his brother farther north. There will also be the patronage of the entire foreign community, The French Municipal Council do not see their war to arrange matters with the Councilof this Settlement, andthescheme for one unbroken system of tramways supplying the residents both north and south of the Yangkingpang creek will be unrealized. The French would have rails of different gauge and cars of different shape to our own, and the resalt would be junctions wherever the tram lines in the concession aad the S2ttlement met, and a consequent incoaveniencs. It is matter for hope that the outcome of the negotiations on the question between the two Councils will be such as to avert necessity for the intro-due tim of two distinct types of tramways, It is expected that thegwork of construction will commence in Six months' time, and by the end of 1904 the tramways should be ready for trafic.
Me. Cook stated that the cost would about twenty thousand added to three million dollars, and that people desirous of teking up shares would have opport vities of doing so. A business offer has already been made to him of the whole of the required money.
In securing an acceptance of the contract put forward by his firm, Mr. Cook—and it 1s divulging no secret—had to fight against powerfal local influence use on behalf of companies, notably the Westinghouse Company, and the Municipal Council has oace again given an instance of its absolute impartiality and fair dealing where the interests of the public are concerned.
In conclusion, it may be stated that Mr. Cook thinks business would be much more brisk in the law courts of Shanghai if, as declared the ovher day, the trams did' the distance from Bubbling Well to the Bund in ten minutes. That would mem a speed of 18 miles an hour, not counting stops on the way to take up' passengers, "At home the average speed is 7 miles an hour, with streets beter adapted for tramways than our own,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.