Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-02-29

for embezzlement. He was tried on one
charge and convicted, but his popularity
and great financial backing secured his
pardon. The remaining charges were never
tried.
When the great Chicago fire came, Mr..
Yerkes found himself pretty well loaded
with stocks which that calamity rendered
worthless. But he wasn't dismayed. He
kept "hustling," and when Jay Cooke &
Co. failed in 1873, Mr.. Yerkes saw his
chance, and sold stocks short for future de-
livery. a maneuver by which he regained
his lost lucre. 1t was in 1915 that he entered
the street-car business. Philadelphia was
preparing for the Centennial, and another
street railway out to Fairmount Park
where the Centennial buildings were, was
needed. Mr.. Yerkes organized the Cont
mental Passenger Railway Company, and
was given from the fall of 1875 until the 10th
Of May, 1876, to lay his tracks and get cars
to running. He went to work with his char
acteristic energy and dash, and had the
road in operation fifteen days before the
time specified The road was good one,
and was likewise the only street railway
in the city that paid dividends from the
first.
After several years active connection
with the railway, Mr.. Yerlzes came to Chi
cago and opened brokers' Office, and soon
gained the confidence of capitalists. He
evidently had his eye on the North-side
street railway, for he quietly organized
syndicate, and about two years ago gained
control of the property. The change was
hailed with delight by North siders, for the
street-car service in that section was the
worst in the city. The cars were rattle
boxes that didn't keep out the wet in sum-
mer or the cold in the winter, and were
slow Through the newspapers, the people
| had heard of Yerkes, and they thought he
he would bring new life and blood into Sae
company, and that improvements would be
made He did, or will do, aboKt all that
was expected. He projected cable sys-
tenn of improved pattern, agreed to build
| two bridges across the river for the city n
case it would give him the use Of the La
Sale street tunnel. and upon receiving
franchises, began the work last spring.
1t was carried forward with his usual
spirit. Large forces of men worked on the
main streets by electric lights at night, so
as to impede business as little as possible
! Immense engines were erected at the old
barns. on North Clark street, ,and other power
! stations put in where necessary. Already
fifteen miles of track have been laid and a
| downtown loop formed, and by the return
Of the flowers superb cable cars will be car
| ryiEg the North Side residents rapidly to
and from the business center. The cable is
now laid on Clark street to the city limits,
and will also extend out State street and
| the main streets in the northwestern part
Of the city. The company now oper-
ates about seventy miles of track, not In
cluding the two West division lines, re-
Gently acquired. In the West division sys-
tenn there are about ninety-six miles OF
track in operation 1t requires 900 horses
to run the cars, and there are $500 en-
ployes- The lines spread all over the West
Division. and enable all the people 70 ride
| down town, il they have time enough 70
l make the journey.
Il requires from twenty i've to thirty i've
pess center. and thouzh The cars ere fairiY