Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-24

have been extended TO Augusta IL the rails
had not heen too much oessructed with dirt
a,d gravel.
On Wednesday. the sSi inst. motor car
No 10 lef, Hslioyell en- route for Augusta
With the following party on board Messrs,
A y. Gerald, II G. Staples, Geo +. Ma
com her, Supt, Day and several employees
Of the road. together With several cidscns
of Augusta. With Messrs. +. 4, Robin
son and his assistant. l. c. johnson, both
| of the Thompson- Houston Co, in charge.
the ear started for Augusta. Everything
ran remarkably smoothly for the tirst trip,
many people along the route waved a
hearty welcome as the stranger passed. and
soon the State House was reached. Quite
a number we're assembled at the gate and
extended cordial greeting,
From ,hs, point on, earth upon the rails
caused delay, so there vas nothing to do
bat wait till il could be removed. which
was done by willing hands ss expeiitiously
AS possible. Meantime the following gentle
men from the State House got aboard
Ajj't Gen Spraaae, Sap't Of Schools n
Luce, Pension Agent y +. Purinton.
Capt CLARK. Clerk A. d, Russell, Deputy
Sec'y Of State II. J. Chsdhournc, and
o'her citizens. When the car reached
Grove street SO much obstruction remained
in advance TO be removed that it WAS de
cided to return to Hallo~ell and thence
proceed to Gardiner.
First Round Trip.
A party of about thirty five, including
owners. officials, employees and visitors
were soon in their seats and Gardiner,
ilo !" was the word. on they vent, and
op they went, not an unlocked for jar or
movement taking place The car moved As
smoothly as buggy. much less jar and
tremble being perceptble than anticipated.
The roadbed is in perfect condition already
Along the levels, we whizEed, down the
hills We went AS slowly as we pleased, the
brakes easily stopping the car at will. and
up the steep grades We went with ease and
comfort. Notwithstanding the fact that the
feed wire is "cut in" at but one place, and
the current was necessarily weak at the
extreme ends Of the circuit.
Everywhere along the line. the party |
was greeted with happy congratulations.
waving of handkerchiefs and other indics-
tions of pleasure at the successful open
ing Of the road. Hallowell turned ou,
big crowd, though they had watched the
car before.
Loulon hill that steepest of all the
grades next appeared With loaded car,
we mounted it without apparent eXer,ion,
though with the expected sackening of
speed. Then the worse was over, and besides
stop ping to pick up passengers and to clear
rails, we had clean and pretty run
through Farmingdale to Gardiner, where
Depot square was crowded with teams and
people, And right here is a good place to
speak of the effect Of the cars appearance
on horses. Amost without exception, the
drivers, both men and women, were far
more frightened than the animals, which,
as rule, seem to regard the car only as
they would any new object, and in many
cases did not appear to notice It, The
electricians who are here getting the road
in running order, say there is far le's trou
BILE with horses than they have ever found.
This we attribute to the superiority
and widely renowned qualities of our
Maine horses, of course. At any rate, but
little excitement was made among them,
and no trouble at all.
After brief stop at Gardiner, ,hort
ride was given all those who could mount
the car. after which the Augusta parry took
their seats and started for home. bss-
ket of delicious grapes were passed around
by the generosity of Mr.. Gerald, for which
the party renders thanks
A smooth run home was the next and
il was smooth indeed. Up and down the
steep grades withouta hitch, speeding along
when it pleased us and stopping here and
there for passengers, we glided along.
everyone pleased with the successful first
round trip on the road. The car was run
as far a. Wlnthrop .greet where a large
gathering greeted us. II was a delightful
trip and everyone was full Of praise for
the road, its cars and management. The
Journal man extends his thanks for his
trip.
Fares will be tsk m upon the electric |
road beginning Saturday morning, July 2G |
They will be } cents from Augusta to Hal
lowell. 10 cents from Augusta to Gardiner,
and . cents from Hsllowell to Gardiner.
Following are names Of the working |
force:
Conduc,ors-E. NJ, Boynton, Harry wes-
ton, W. +. Turner, A. +. McCurdy, Kuel
Mariner and c. NJ Guild.
Motor men-r. NJ. Brown, lward Ks'
loch, l.. T. Taylor, Tony McCsusland,
Chas. Stevens and 1. T. Murch.
Frank Spear is to have charge Of the car
house at night and George l. Walker will
occupy the same position during the day.
A car will leave the post Office on the
even hour every day from six in the morn
ing till ten at night. Another car will
leave Gardiner at the same time, meeting
the former at the turnout below the factory
in Hallowell, also car will leave here for
Hailowell every half h,ur.