Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-03-22
sPRINGFIELD VISITED.


street railway system at Spring.
ield-A Pleasant Day Enjoyed by
All.
A jolly party it was that occupied a
oecial car on the Hos express from this
lty for Springfield yesterday morning,
onpisting of our city fathers in force
be mayor, the board of aldermen, the
GARD of councilman and many others. The
bject of this exodus Of the city govern
aent waste visit Springfield in order to
bserve the working of the Thomson
Iouston electric car system in that city |
nd: the trip was at the invitation of the
'Rcials Of the West Haven Horse Railroad
who are desirous of putting the
'lectric system on tn cir line.
The party amused themselves during the
Journey up with cards, ETC., while Director
Stevens of the West Haven road furnished
IN abundance of cigars Arrived at Spring
Held the party proceeded Immediately to
The Cooley house, where dinner was served
10 the party,
: At 2:30 p. IA. two. special cars arrived
in front of the Cooley house to give the
New Haven visitors a practical demon
stration Of the claimed superiority of the
electric road to the old horse car system
and also to show to them some of the city
Of Springfield. And it is safe to say that
they were more than pleased. The ease
and rapidity of the movement, the facility
with which steep grades we're climbed,
both astonished and pleased the observers.
The party were first taken about three
miles out to- Forest park, which indeed
looks dresr enough in the winter, but is
the most popular resort of the Springfield
people in the summer. 1t is said the
heights, on which the park is To-
Gated and which are now dotted
were less than three years ago completely
covered with woods, not house in sight,
but that with the advent of the electric
system property rose in value miraculous
ly. An incident was told by one of the
Springfield gentlemen of young clerk
who had invested 81 500 in property near
thereswhich he sold three months after
wards for $15, 900. It was also inciden-
tally remarked that if one wanted to make
. fortune. just get track of new electric
system about two months before 1t is
announced. The great advantage claimed
ia that it empties the crowded city tene-
ments and let's people have more of the
advantages of suburban residence, while
w
fore in point of time.
After leaving Forest park, the party
were taken up the Maple avenue hill to
one of the factories of the United States
arsenal The steepest grade of the entire
road is on this line and far exceeds any
grade that would have to be overcome in
putting the system in at New Haven.
The facility with which the cars swiftly
mounted up this grade was certainly a
satisfactory test to all the visitors as far
as it's practical workings here are con-
cerned. The cars were stopped and started
at the middle of the hill, showing that they
! were under perfect control.
The company from this city were taken
up past the main buildings of the arsenal,
| the high school building and several of the
| principal churches and had got well started
| toward the neighboring village of Chicopee
when the party decided that they were
convinced of the good qualities of the road
and expressed desire to see something of
the plant where the electricity is gener-
| ated.
Before going to the electric plant, how.
| ever, the party made visit to the city
| hall and called on Mayor Sibley
They were shown through the al
dermen's room (where it was noted
there were only eight desks against
New Ravens ffteen), the councilmen''
rooms, also the large public hall in th'
second story, which far exceeds in siz.
anything of this kind in New Haven
The hall is now being prepared for one o.
the musical festivals, which occur foul
times esch year at Springfield.
Next in order after the city hall was
the electric light plant, which also fur
nishes the power for the street railways
The plant furnishes from $50 to $50 horse
power to the road per day and they hav'
the most ample facilities for furnishing al
that can be required of them. The power
here generated is conveyed tt
the cars by wires stretched from
trolleys overhead to the cars, thence to
After visiting the electric light plant tn
company broke up in groups of three O.
four who stro1led around the street TO
half an hour remarking on the vigor ant
enterprise Of the city and its prosperou
condition generally. One of the principa
buildings noted was the new opera hous
block which is now in course of construc
ton Mr. Gilmore proprietor of the Gilmore
opera house, is the builder. At 5:45 tn
party again assembled at the Cooley hous
for supper. A song by Mr.. Criddle of tn
Morning News was pleasant feature o
the repast.
l al O:fU LILO special cAr 1oIt 4Or NOV
Haven, arriving here at 9 O'Clock bearing
crowd well pleased with the hospitality o
the West Haven road and apparently Ger
tainly in favorable mood for casting thei
votes for the electric car system.
Considerable merriment was caused OF
the way up by the absence Of Alderman A
Maxcy Hitler, and from Hartford the fol
lowing dispatch was sent to him:
HARTFORD, March 81.
Please act as mayor in the absence of Pres
dent Connor and myself. Do call OF
IT, B. SARGENT.
From Springfield the following was son
! by the board of aldermen:
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, March 81.
To A. Maxcy Hitler, New Haven, Conn:
Republican commissioners send congratul'
tions and hope to be aldermen under yonr az
l ministration.
He was not forgotten by the councilme
either:
To A. Maxcy Hitler, New Haven. Conn:
We send congratulations to the acting mayo
efforts. DON'T allow the Winchester road
open up Chapel street during our absence.
It was noted that Assistant City Cler
Martins new silk hat captivated the fa
ones of Springfield in most surprisin
manner. Where did he get such an a
: tractive hat! was frequent question.
Much credit is also due to Superinte,
dent Reed of the Springfield road, VIII
during all the long ride around the eli
answered apparently about fifty question
D per minute and showed the utmost desil
Q to make the visit of the New Haven poop
both pleasant and instructive.
The party consisted of Israel A. Kelse
Z president of the West Haven road; S.
r Stevens, secretary and treasurer; w. v
8 Ward, superintendent; Mayor Sargen
! Assistant City Clerk James B. Mar tin CIT
Sheriff James F. Brannigan, Aide
men johnson, Champion, Chatfel
= Newton, Blakeslee, Sonnenberg, Como
n Gilhuly, Prince, Lowe; Councilmen Cahl
Y We'll, Helm, Regan, Mcneil, Widma
.. Guernsey, Parsons, Atwater, Peck, Sha,
I Everett; Commissioner of Public Worl
d w. J. Atwater, who is director of Il
q State street and Whitney avenue hor
= railroads and is interested in having Gle
tricity become the motive power of the
lines also; Joseph Criddle Of the News,
n S. Vorhis of the JOURNAL AND CoUR1E
= Among the Springfield gentlemen wi
dined with the party were Mayor Sible
r John Olmstead, James D. Gill and Geor
!, M. Hoadlsy, who also, with the except,
# of the mayor, accompanied the party
their circuit of the town.
Fire in Derby.
DERBY, March 21.-A carriage and Sc
- building belonging to D. K. Crofut "
u burned to-day. Loss not given.
t.