Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-09-01
Opening of the worcester Horse Rail


numbering about two hundred, were served
with generous supply of lemonade, with the
compliments of the liberal-spirited president,
James B. Blake, Esq.
b AT quarter past eleven the train COM
menced moving, persons being seated in
the cars in the following order: In the first
the Worcester Cornet Band; in the second,
the president and directors of the road and
mayor and aldermen; in the third and fourth
members of the common council and other
VI city officers in the fifth and sixth the press
and other invited guests in the It'll, Sth, and
th the stockholders.
As the train approached Webster Square, a
"a .luite twenty guns was fred by the people
Sof New Worcester in honor of the event.
Here procession was formed, and in Sec
tons of four, under the mar.halshp of Messrs.
George w. Bentley and Charles B. Whit
ing, marched to Goes grove, where boun-
tful collation. had been provided by the la
dies of that enterprising locality. The fol-
lowing was the
ORDER OF PROCESSION.
WorceeteF Cornet Band.
President and Directors OF the w Worcester Horse
Railroad Company.
Contractors.
City Marshal
Venerable Citizens
EX-Mayors of the City of Worcester.
Governors Aid and Attorney General.
Mayor and Aldermen of the City.
Common Council.
City Clerk and Clerk of Council.
Treasurer and Street Commissioner.
The Press
Other Invited Guests.
Stockholders
When the procession had reached the
beautiful grove, and the company were ar
ronged around the well-tilled tables, they were
called to order by the president, and by him,
in behalf of the ladies of New Worcester
welcomed to the feast of good things set be-
fore them. The whole party then fell to and
i helped themselves with much evident salts
faction, and due appreciation of the excel
lent and bounti1ul entertainment.
After music by tho band, the speaking ex-
ercises were commenced with the following
Introductory speech of welcome, by the pres
ident, Mr.. Blake -
Stockholders Of the Worcester Horse Rail
road Company and Gentlemen lit is my
great pleasure, and it is my high privilege, as
the presiding officer of this corporation, to
welcome you here to. day, upon an occasion
which marks so important an era i'll the hsto-
ry of our city, the opening of the Worcester
horse railroad.
While so many of the cities of our country
are Shrouded with the pail of rebellion, whose
bEghting influences have checked everything
progressive and stayed all advance in social
moral, and material growth it seems peculiar
ly timely that we meet here to-day, in this
beautiful grove, upon the last day of summer,
to pass an hour in peace and social pleasure,
to commemorate the advent of this new pub
lie enterprise, which has been conceived pro-
jected, and consummated amid the disturbing
influences of this gigantic war Well does
this occasion typity the contrast of the materi-
al prosperity of the different sections of our
common country, treason and war on the one
hand, law and good order upon the other,
fearful battles devastating the fields of our sis
ter states, and this peaceful gathering in our
beloved city, the central star of this loyal lib
erty-loving Massachusetts,
For myself-and think but utter the sem
timents of ALL express my satisfaction at
the kindly spirit which was SO cordially mani
Tested by the city government of the past year
in readily granting to this corporation the To-
cation of their tracks, and also to the present
city government for the forbearing manner
III which they have interested themselves in
the completion of the enterprise.
In any public improvement of this nature
(Which may be called an innovation upon old
and established usages), where corporate
rights and popular interests are continually
brought in question, great liability exists Of
collision and antagOnism. | think can safe
ly say that this corporation, while yielding
none of its just'rights, will constantly endeav-
or by its management TO interfere as little as
possible either with private or public inter-
estS, and so to serve the community that the
most beneficent results shall arise from this,
the pioneer street railroad in Massachusetts,
which is not in immediate connection with It's
capital
| have no hesitation in hazarding the pre-
diction that within Il few years the neighbour
ing towns will be united to our city by this
new system of frequent communication, which,
in its permanent benefits, will add to the ma
teiial prosperity of our municipality to a de-
gree almost equal to the added population of
these suburban districts.
For the successful completion of this en-
terprise, much credit will be due to the con
tractors, Mr. Charles j. Anthony of this CITY
and Mr.. john l.. Brown OF New York for the
manner in which they have Accomplished the
undertaking at great pecuniary loss ,surlnoupt-
ing difficulties and troubles incident to the no
cular disturbed social condition of the present
year. which must be evident to every person
The company had contemplated opening the
road much earlier in the season; but the con-
slant delays occasioned by the non-fuliment
of contracts in furnishing materials for the
road and buildings, have rendered it imposs-
bic to commence operations until the present
time A considerable amount of labor yet
remains to be done on the Webster square
line, which accomplished, the Pleasant street
line will be completed without delay.
| think | can cordially congratulate the
corporation, as well as the citizens generally,
upon the good fortune which secures to us
the services of Mr.. George Il. Bonney as SUI
perintendent; gentleman who, by long resi-
dence, is intimately acquainted with our
people, and whose abilities as one OF the old
est horse railroad managers in the state have
never been questioned, if they have been
eqnalled.
The present system of running the cars has
been made with great lberality. The company
have endeavored to arrange the time table III
SUI III manner that the frequency of the trips
Will induce riding, and afford to the citizens OF
Worcester as great facilities of transit from
one part of the city to another as is enjoyed