Opposition to Edgware Road Tramway

From the Kearney Files
The Willsden Chronicle February 4th. 1910

Determined opposition to the Edgware Road Tramway is being shown by the Paddington Borough Council, who have this week responded to oppose the Bill in Parliament. They complain not only that they are being asked to pay a portion of the cost of the widening in Paddington but the scheme will depreciate the better class property in the borough. The latter complaint is hardly justified, seeing that the noisy motor Buses already use the route in myriads, but the ideal system is a tube. I notice that a new company is endeavouring to defeat the proposal of the L. C. C. to connect Oxford Street with Cricklewood by tram line by stating their Intention to apply to Parliament for powers to construct an underground railway from Cricklewood to the Crystal Palace. This is to be constructed by the Kearney High Speed Railway Company, which promises an average speed including stops of 30 miles an hour. The cost of construction is only £250,000 a mile, effects numerous savings in working and eliminates the necessity for lifts. The enormously reduced capital costs will it is stated enable the scheme to be financed on most satisfactory terms whilst the company will be able to give very low fares from a halfpenny upwards, stations are promised at Anson Road, Cricklewood, Blonddbury, Quex Road, Carlton Hill, At John's Wood, Harrow Road Marble Arch, Victoria and so on. Such a scheme reads almost like a fairy story and if ever it did happen to be carried out it would be an immense boon to every district it touched. On the other hand we have heard so much of " tubes in the air" which have remained there. That the locality is likely to prefer the more practical and immediate L. C. C. and Middlesex tramway proposals given effective widenings paid for by the County Authorities.