The Record

New Styles of Streets Cars.

This is an age of street-railway development. Hardly had the pay-as-you-enter car attained a degree of familiarity with the public than someone made a pay-within car, and now we have another new style -- the pay-as-you-leave car. In other words, you buy your street-car ride like you purchase your luncheon at a restaurant, and pay for it when you go out.

Cleveland is the birthplace of this newest style of vehicle for urban railway transit. Only one of the type has thus far been constructed, but it is expected that others may be built so as to give the pattern an adequate test in actual service. Passengers board the car by the front platform and leave it at the back, where the conductor stands with a fare box and a machine stamp to put the time limit on transfers issued. On one side of the car are cross-seats; on the other is one long seat extending from end to end of the vehicle. This arrangement of the seating facilities, it appears, is not new in Cleveland. Another feature not common in other cities -- and maybe not so in Cleveland -- is a megaphone fixed overhead, but with speaking connections so that the motorman can convey information to the passengers presumably such as "Transfer here for So-and- So," etc. The car is fitted with folding steps, and passengers can not board it while it is in motion.

There seems to be some advantages gained in the pay-as-you-leave car. Passengers may quickly get on board and obtain seats without having to wait for transfers or for someone to have money changed, and they can leave their seats sufficiently early to pay their fares and obtain transfers in order to avoid delay at the exit.