704 RAPID-TRANSIT SUBWAYS IN METROPOLITAN CITIES, 



expense, must be i^reserved at every cost. And true to French 

 custom no ])]an Avould be approved until a comprehensive scheme 

 for the whole city was fornudated. This had been accomplished 

 by 189G, an electric subway having been decided upon. The street 

 traific had become so congested that no more surface lines or omnibus 

 routes could be added. 



The extent of the Paris metropolitan subway is indicated by the 

 above map. AVhen it is entirely com])leted the system will be nearly 

 40^ miles in length, will cost the city $-')().()00,000, and the operating 

 company about $10,000,000 more for equipment." At present, only 

 one section and parts of two others have been completely constructed 

 and i)ut in operation, namely, the line running from the Vincennes 

 gate in the east, past the Hotel de Ville, the Louvre, and the Tuil- 

 leries, down the Champs Elj'^sees to the Place de I'Etoile, from which 

 three lines operate — one to the Trocadero,.one to Porte Dauphine. 

 and one to Porte Maillot. The total length is some 8 miles, and the 

 cost al)out $7,000,000 for construction alone. 



PUBLIC CONTROL IN GREAT BRITAIN. 



The relation of the municipality to the subways varies greatly from 

 city to city. In no instance have the city authorities undertaken 

 operation, but in Paris and Boston, as in New York, the public owns 

 the subway, having constructed it at public expense. 



The extent of public control is least in (ireat Britain, there being 

 a marked difVereuce between street railways — surface lines — and 

 underground roads. The former are subject to strict control, and 

 the nnmicipality may take over a line twenty-one years from the 

 time when the franchise is granted, or may construct or purchase 

 the tracks and rent them to a private company. But no underground 

 road is municipally owned or operated, and no public authority has 

 the right under the act granting the franchise to purchase a line. Of 

 course the local authorities nuiy regulate to a moderate degree, but 

 beyond a somewhat restricted exercise of the police powers they may 

 not go. The most important provision found in any of the acts, ex- 

 cept clauses protecting avowedl}^ private interests, such as are to be 

 found in acts ci'eating steam railroads using private property prin- 

 cipally,'' is one requiring workmen's trains to be run each day, morn- 



«The city lifis planned for two more sections, making eight in all, bringing the 

 totiti icuictli up to 4.S.,5 miles, and tlio cost up to between $45,000,000 and .$.">0.(MIO.- 

 000. These last two sections have not yet been authorized by the central gov- 

 ernment. 



6 The restrictions imposed upon i)rivate companies relate j)rincipally to the 

 amomit of capital that may he issne<l, the extent to which loans may he nego- 

 tiated, location of the mad, the property purchased, the indemnities jiaid, the 

 maxiumm fares charged, the number of trains run, the motive power used, etc. 



