The Eleventh Street Cable Line Breaks Down Again
Tacoma residents are left stranded and forced to hike up the hill after the latest in a string of mechanical failures on the transit line.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
"Broke, broke, in my cold, greasy slot," sighed the Eleventh street cable as it came to its usual Sunday night stop. The break occurred about 8 o'clock last night. As usual, the blame was laid on a long-suffering "strand" that has had to bear the brunt of the maledictions brought forth by reason of the numerous suspensions of traffic that have occurred on the line during the past three months. The finish of the much-limited strand, however, is in sight. General Superintendent Franklin informed The Times this morning that a new cable was ordered ten days ago and should be here in about two weeks. This will be a most welcome announcement to the people who have on many occasions during the past three or four months been compelled to walk part way up the hill after paying for a ride.
“"Broke, broke, in my cold, greasy slot," sighed the Eleventh street cable.”
Public transit reliability has been a sore spot for Tacoma since the early days of the city's growth. Just as 1904 commuters faced constant cable snaps on the 11th Street hill, modern riders continue to grapple with transit gaps that define the geography of who can easily navigate our steep terrain.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.