Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-24
NUMBER ONE.
The First Section of the New
Cables Laid.
AN INTERESTING AFFAIR.
The Seventh Street and Plaza Line
Will Soon be Ready for
Business.

at IL O'Clock last night the task of lay
ing the first of the new cables of the Los
Angeles system of street railways wal
commenced. 1t is many months now
since the first shovelful of dirt wa,
turned to make the trenches, and many
grievous delays have cropped up to ma
the big undertaking. Even now th,
troubles are by no means at an end. fo
the bridge complications make it impos
sible to close up any of the linel
that are to stretch over to the Eas
Side. There being no reason, though
why the section between Seventh stree
and the Plaza, as the terminus is named
although the pit ends at the Baker Block
1t was decided some six weeks ago to pu
it in operation as soon as possible. The
labors of last night crown the achieve
ment, and all that is necessary now is tc
set the engines going and start up the
line.
Those who have never witnessed the
laying of a big cable cannot conceive
what gigantic task it is. The steel rope
is coiled on a huge reel, which SLOWLY
revolves as its load is dragged away.
When, as was the case last night, there
are $4,000 feet of cable to be
stretched, weighing two and one
half pounds to the foot, a
good deal of force has to be applied, and
the twenty strong horses, which at few
minutes before IL were hitched on to the
grip car connecting with the cable had a
huge task before them. The animals
were OF the finest of the city, being sup.
piled by the Citizens Transfer Com pany,
represented by Mr.. Jesurun. The grip
car was well.laden down, for the affair
having got wind, large number of per-
sons were present to participate liz the
event. Vice-President ]. G. Robinson
stood at the head of the car fanked by
Mr.. Douglass, the theatrical manager, Mai
Duncan, Mr.. G. E. Thompson, Mr.. II. L.
Dockweiler, Mr.. A. Harvey, Mr.. Reed
and a sprinkling of newspaper men. The
signal "let her go' was given, the team
sters shouted, the horses settled down tc
work and the start was made. 1t was an
auspicious one. Everything went as
smoothly as could be desired until the
turning on to Fort street was reached
and here the first of the series of diff
culties that always happen on such occa-
sions occurred. 1t was soon overcome
however, being simply little catch in
the reel, aud the horses were soon swing
ing at a lively pace down town. When
at Fifth street, the whole thing came te
an abrupt halt, and inspection showing
that nothing was wrong about the car, il
was decided perforce that the trouble
must be in the engine-house. A courier
was at once dispatched to see what had
happened and returned shortly with the
ill news that the cable had jumped the
reel. The stakes which had been placed
on either eide to prevent such an occur
renee had not proved high enough, and
the rope was lying bent without the bar
rlers. Strong arms soon had things
righted, but it was past o'clock when
the Second street crossing was reached,
where another delay occurred, owing to
the wheel, which had to be surmounted.
At O'Clock this morning the work was
not qnite half done, and it was estimated
that, even without any serious trouble,
it would be quite 6 O'Clock before the
circuit would be completed.
Then will come the splicing of the
rope, difficult and tedious task, which
will probably entail several days labor.
To test the engines and run trial trip
will be all that will then be nece ssary
before the line is publicly opened, which
will probably be about the 1st of June.