The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-19
THE CITY'S CAR LINES,
LESS THAN TWENTY YEARS SINCE
THE FIRST ROAD WAS BUILT.

LESS THAN TWENTY YEARS SINE
THE FIRST ROAD WAS BUILT.
A Democratic Institution That Savan-
nahans Were Afraid of-Aristocratic
Days When 1t Was Unbecoming to
Run After Street Car-People Who
Thought a Dime Was Too Small
Fare and Who Treated the Con-
ouctors to "Quarters"-The Negro
Riots.
Street cars are comparatively recent IN
stitlton in Savannah. 1t is not twenty
years since the first car ran on the present
Whitaker street line The original pro
jectors of that line did not expect much
from the city lines, bnt they built their
homes upon the development of the subur-
ban resorts. Isle Of Hope and SIdaway
Island. In fact, the incorporators
were almost entirely citizens who
were interested in these places.
The charter Of the company gave the right
TO the streets in the city simply for the pur-
pose Of facilitating passengers in getting to
the suburban lines. The outside line, as it
was then called, was an air line TO the salts,
but it never reached its proposed terminus,
Skidaway Island, which was the fond hope
TIE FIRST CHARTER.
The gentlemen named in the original
charter were Col. w. r. Symons, Col
Joseph Caghorn, Maj George w. Wylly
and others. The present line, as all know
who travel over it know, passes through
great deal of swamp land,
though not so much now as formerly, for
much of what a few years ago was swampy
has been drained by the county, and is now
tillable land. A story is told Of a well
known citizen, now dead, who was noted for
his hard headed manner of putting things,
who in referring to the route followed toy
the road, said that it appeared TO him as
though the engineer, in running his lines,
had turned negro loose, and told him 30
cut out for the Isle of Hope and negro
like he took to the swamps." OF course
that would not apply 10 nowadays, because
the colored brother doesen't take to the
swamps now as he did then The Savan-
nah, Skidaway and ScabOard railroad
was the alliterative title of the first COM
pany. The word railroad" was significant
because it Indicated that the road had never
been through bankruptcy As soon as that
legal feat is accomplished it is a railway"
NOT USED TO STREET CARS.
The Savannah, Skdaway and Seaboard
railroad was a handsomely built and
equipped road, but it was a long time before
people would ride on the street cars. 1t was
a llbClb JOO utlllDCIdJlt Ipl bilb tliiLfllS vi
those days They didn't like mixing, though
at that time colored people, or as the ex
Liberian Minister likes to call them, the
negroes, were not allowed to ride Men
and women couldn't or wouldn't "heo'' for
the car TO stop, and even when it did stop
they were apparently undecided whether or
not they should ride, To run after a street
car was considered unbecoming. The fare
was Zoe, and very often the conductors got
a quarter from liberal people who thought
loo too small sum for a gentleman to
offer for any service. Things have changed
since those times. The very same people
now want five rides for DC. and more if they
could get them.
THE NEGRO RIOTS.
When the civil rights bill was passed by
Congress the negroes attempted to ride and
the result was a riot The young men of
the city and the negroes had numerous en-
counters on the Whitaker street line, and
one night the whole city was III arms Tho
company, to settle the trouble ran
double cars or rather one car follow
ing another. One was for the white
people and the other for the blacks
This pacified everybody, but the owners of
the railroad We're not satisfied, as it was a
losing business to run two sets of cars for a
few people. After while the extra car
was discontinued, and since then both races
have ridden on an equality.
When the Whitaker street road was built
1t was considered good days journey to
Laurel Grove Cemetery, and there were
few houses south of Castor street. 1t was
supposed that the railroad was making
money, but it was not; and eventually 1t
went through tn bankrupt court and be
came railway. TE3 old savannah, Sea
board and Skidl y railroad soon reap
peared as the City aud Suburban railway.
THE coAst LINE ROAD.
The next street railroad built was the
Coast Line. 1t was anxious for water
connection also and had for its objective
point the CLASSIC town Of Warsaw, popu-
larry callei ThunderbOlt. This company
had for its incorporates the late DR.
Waring, Nh NJ. J. De,verSers, Mr.. Alfred
Haywood and other prominent citizens. IT
had to await the on come of uN Injunction
hut eventuJN tn road was built 1t got
into the hands of "a receiver once, but, for
turately or unfortunately, got out without
much damage, and 1t IS now doing a very
prosperous business.
the next inter-city line was the Barnard
and Anderson street railroad. 1t struck out
1or Laurel Grove Cemetery and developed
the intervening country. 1t was built by
Col. j. Fl. Estlll. The company did good
business, but was finally consolidated with
the City and Suburban railway, and is now
part of that system.
THE NEW ROAD.
The new railroad now being built has an
old charter and a very long name 1t is
called the Savannah Street and Rural Re
sort Railroad Company. BY its title it
would appear that it has a longing for an
out OF town terminus. 1t is not likely, how
ever, that 1t will ever have any hut street
line. When completed it will be over six
miles in length With the completion of
this line the city will be well covered and
people will be able to 80 to nearly every
part of it without walking.
Savannah owes much of her prosperity to
her street car lines. OF course. like all
institutions that cater TO the public wants,
they come in for very considerable share
of the public spleen, but with all that, they
are pretty well managed, and the public re
ceives good accommodations. Horse cars
have made it possible for the poor people to
own homes and rich people to build and live
III much handsomer residences The men
who invested their money in the first street
railroad and taught the people to avail
themselves of its advantages, lost their iu-
vestments, but the result of the enterprise
Is to be seen In the growth Of the city.
CHARGED WI II CROOKEDNESS.
Ralph L. Lilienthal Arrested for Lar
ceny After Trust.