To the editor:
America would do well to bring back the trolleys. I can remember my mother reminiscing of the days when she used to run up the East Albany Street hill here in Oswego to catch the trolley to get to work at Columbia Mills in Minetto. There were a number of different trolleys in this area from the late 1800s into the 1940s. In fact, there are still a few cities in our country which do still have trolley cars.

I propose that we implement the use of a national trolley system, similar to what is already used in Philadelphia, Boston and Toronto, in our endeavor to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The modern trolley (trolleybus) is essentially a bus that operates without tracks and is run off an electric wire. It can run separated from the wire for short distances. There are two types in this category: 1. A trolley with large storage batteries that requires hours to recharge. 2. A trolley with a back-up diesel engine.

There is another type that uses a super capacitor and it does not require overhead wires. It can be recharged very quickly at stops along the route.

If you believe this to be a priority and would like to see the feasibility of the modern trolley systems being implemented nationwide, please write to our congressman, John M. McHugh, 120 Washington St., Suite 200, Watertown, New York 13601-3370.
Or call him at 782-3150. Or fax him at 782-1291.

Therese Taber
Oswego