One of the most noticeable features of the underground system in London is that it connects these stations by means of a continuous circuit, or “circle,” as it is there called.  The line connecting the terminal stations is called the “inner circle.”  There is also an extension at one end of this elliptical shaped circle which also makes a complete circuit, and which is called the “middle circle,” and a very much larger circle reaching the northern portions of the city, which is called the “outer circle.”  The eastern ends of these three circles run for a considerable distance on the same track.  In addition to this the road branches off in a number of directions, reaching those parts of the city which were not before accommodated by the surface roads, or more properly the elevated or depressed roads, as there are no grade crossings.

With regard to the accommodation afforded by this system:  it is a convenience for the residents of the western and southern parts of London, especially where they arrive in the city at any of the terminal stations on the line of the “circle,” as they can change to the underground.  They can reach the eastern end of the “circle,” at which place is located the bank and the financial section of London, in a comparatively short time.  For example, passengers arriving at Charing Cross, Victoria or Paddington stations, can change to the underground, and in ten, fifteen and thirty minutes respectively, reach the Mansion House or Cannon street stations, which are the nearest to the Bank of England.  In a similar manner those arriving at Euston, St. Pancras or King’s Cross on the northern side of the “circle,” can reach Broad Street station in ten or fifteen minutes, which station is nearest the bank on that side of the “circle.”

In a number of cases the underground station is in the same building or directly connected by passages with the terminal stations of the roads leading into the city.  Examples of this kind would be such stations as Cannon Street, Victoria or Paddington.  They are not, however, sufficiently convenient to allow the transference of baggage so as to accommodate through passengers desiring to make connection from one station to another across the city.  Hand baggage only is carried, about the same as it is on the elevated road in New York.  The method of cross town transfer, passengers and baggage, is invariably done by small omnibuses, which all the railroads maintain on hand for that special purpose.  A very large proportion of the travel, however, if not the largest, is obtained by direct communication by means of the “circle” on branch lines with the various residential portions of north, west and south London.

Approximately on the underground railroad the fare is one cent per mile for third class, one cent and a half for second class, and two cents for first class, but no fare is less than a penny, or two cents.  Omnibus fares in some instances are as low as a penny for two miles.  This is not by any means the rule, and is only to be found on competing lines.  The average fare would be a penny a mile or more.