Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-16
THE ELECTRICAL ROAD.
rHR FIRST TRIP MADE OVER A PORTION OF
THB LINE, YESTERDAY.
The Cars Attract a Great Deal Of Attention, and are
Crowded with People During the Trial.
Main Street Hill Clinbsd-An
Accident.

The first car was ruu over the portion Of
the line of the Wheeling Railway Company
extending from Tenth to Twenty-seyenth
streets, yesterday afternoon, and the event
attracted a, great deal Of attention. The
car, the Geraldine, " started from Twenty
seventh street about two o'clock, having
on board q number of the officers and
prominent stockholders in the Wheeling
Company, including among them Col. A.
J. Sweeney and Capt. John NJ. Sweeney.
Among the passengers were representatives
of the city press, Superintendent NJ. LOTUS,
of the Citizens Company, President William
Myles, Of the Board of Public Works, and
one or two members of Council. The power
had been turned on the wires running over
the line last Monday, and everything was
in order for the trip, as far as could be as
certained without an actusl trial. The
starting of the car attracted o great deal of
attention, lower Main street being crowd
ed with a god proportion Of the inhab-
itants Of that portion Of the city. The car
ran along smoothly up town until the
creek was reached, when a defect in a
switch caused it to leave the track. The
mishap was soon remedied, and the car
ran on north, rounding the sharp curve at
the north end of the stone bridge easily
and speeding on up Main street to Twelfth,
where stop was made. There the car,
which was crowded to its fullest capacity,
was at once surrounded by a dense throng,
among which were many ladies. No at
tempt was made during the day
to send the car farther up town
than Twelfth street, it being dis
covered that there was a defect in
the brakes which would not allow them to
clear the wheels, and the additional fric-
ton made a heavy increase in power neces-
sary to move the Car.
After remaining at Twelfth street for
some time, the Car made a return trip
down town, bearing as many people as
could comfortably crowd into it. On the
South Side several trips were made up and
down Main street, in the vicinity Of Twen-
ty-second and Twenty-third, and then
workmen were set to work to repair the
brakes, so as to relieve the pressure upon
the wheels. This was accomplished by six
O'Clock, aud after dark the electrical cur
rent was turned into the lamps, and the
car, brilliantly lighted up by the four in
candescent lights, was run up town again,
attracting fully as much attention as dur
ing the day. The car was halted at Twelfth
street, as before, and remained there until
midnight, attracting the notice of passerS-
by until that hour.
About midnight last night, the employees
of the company having charge Of the car,
under the SUPPLEMENTARY of Captain John
NJ. Sweeney, moved the car to the north
side of Twelfth street, and prepared to
climb the big hill to Eleventh street.
Even at that laie hour there were a great
many citizens present, and several ladies
took seats in the car with the gentlemen,
10 enjoy the novelty of q midnight ride by
electricity. The car took the steep grade
very well, and ran along to the top Of the
hill smoothly, and thence went to the
northern end OF the line at Tenth street.
Several trips were made during the ensu-
ing half hour, the car being subjected
to all manner of tests, being stopped
and started both going up and
down the hill. About ten minutes Of one
o'clock, when the car was going up, Just
north of where Eleventh street runs down
to the wharf, two or three irons pulled out
of the wall of bulldogs along the street,
letting the wires fall to the ground. One
of the car windows wss broken by a piece
of iron striking it, and the inter-
rupted electrical current lighted up
the street in a most brilliant
manner, but no other damage was
done. The line will be repaired this
morning, and cars will be running regu-
larly in a day or two. The test made yes
terday is regarded as a very successful one.
Capt. Sweeney is fully satisfied with the
results Of the day, and says the line will
be o great success.
During the trial trips yesterday after
noon and last evening the motor was OPP
Grated by the superintendent of the Com
pany, Mr.. Walter Shelf, an expert, who
comes TO the service of the Wheeling Com
papy from st. GATHERINGS, Canada, where
he put an electric road into operation.
The cars ran along very smoothly, cOnsid-
ering that both track and machinery were
new, and there was very little noise. Ev-
eryone taking advantage Of the oppOrtun-
ity to ride expressed the greatest satisfsc-
tiOn at the novel method Of transportation,
and the line is su, TO be popular, once it
gets in running order.
There are as yet but Two cara in town,
but the others were telegraphed for yester-
day, and will arrive within a short time.