ITEMS OF INTEREST May 15, 1909 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

The New York Legislature has passed an act broadening the conditions under which the public service commission may grant franchises for rapid transit lines. Under the present regulations, as laid down in the Elsberg law, subways may be built by private capital only in the single case of extensions to existing lines; otherwise they must be built with the city's money, or with the city's credit, the franchises or leases running not more than twenty-five years, with renewals of twenty years, periods too short to attract private capital. The amendments just passed permit the building of subways in three ways. First, by private capital, under an indeterminate franchise, which may be terminated by the city at any time after ten years on the payment to the traction company of the actual cost of the road, plus a profit of fifteen per cent. Secondly, by the use of the city's money, with provisions for an operating lease. Third, by assessment, either of the whole or a part of the cost of construction, upon the property which would be benefited by the construction of the subway.

A camera has been invented and is now used by Boston policemen, which promises much in the way of accurately determining the speed of automobilists. It contains two plate-holders, one above the other, with a stop-watch between the two. The operator takes his place within focusing distance of the road. and when the automobile is at a certain distance, the upper plate is exposed. This takes a picture of the position of the automobile on the road and also records the face of the stop-watch, showing just where the hand is at the second the picture is snapped. The camera is then turned at a certain angle up the road, and a second picture is snapped. This also records the face of the stop-watch, showing how much time has elapsed between the first and second exposures and also gives the position of the automobile on the road. By mathematical calculation the exact distance traveled by the automobile is secured and the stop-watch shows the exact time that transpired between the first and second exposures. From this the speed of the automobile is secured.

The United States Government made a profit of $10,415,371 during the year of 1908 on the coinage of silver, nickel, and one-cent bronze pieces. These figures represent the difference between the price paid by the Government for the metals and their coinage value. Silver bullion purchased for subsidiary silver coinage during the past year aggregated 18,819,279 standard ounces, and mutilated and uncurrent United States silver coin of the face value of $1,162,982 was received for recoinage. There was purchased 525,833 ounces of silver bullion for the Philippine government, the cost of which, $295,054, was reimbursed to the United States by that government. The coinage executed by the mints of the United States during 1908 amounted to $197,238,377 in gold. The amount of subsidiary silver coinage was $16,350,477, which is the largest subsidiary silver coinage executed in any one year since 1877. The amount of minor coinage was $1,946,008.

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