The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-07
TWO SYSTEMS UNITE.
The Dennys Buy Out CONSOLE
dated Electric Railway.
FURTHER COMBINE PROBABLE.
The Lines to BE Operated Jointly with
Third street System-Extensions
to BE Built

One OF the largest business deals ever cousum.
mated In this city was concluded yesterday BY
the transfer OF q controlling interest in the Con-
solidated Street Railway Company to D. T.
Denny and his sons, John B. Denny and d.
Thomas Denny. These gentlemen constitute
the Rainier Power 4 Railway Company, which
owns and operates the Third street electric rail-
way, and the object OF the purchase is TO conso,-
date the two systems this being the first step In
the direction of consolidating all the street rail.
way lines leading to the north part OF the city.
Several months ago representatives of the
Thomson Houston Electric Company, of Bos-
ton. came to this city and tried to secure the
controlling interest in ali the street rail-
ways Of the city II they could be CONSOLE
dated Owing to the price put by each
company upon its property no satisfactory
arrangements could be made and the idea
was abandoned for the time being Owing to
the construction Of new lines in all directions
the operation Of all Of them became compare
lively Improbable, and in seeking to improve
their business they began to intrude upon each
others territory, and . ruinous street railway
war became imminent A new board OF direct
ors for the consolidated company was chosen .
few weeks ago and H. 7. Blunck, q leading cap.
ttalist OF Davenport, Ia, and one Of the largest
stockholders in the company, was elected presi-
dent He at once set to work 20 improve the
tain serious competition. The Rainier Power
Railway Company, having just completed its
main line to Ravenna park, was also preparing
to build branch lines into the territory of the
consolidated company. By the deal now con-
summated this species OF warfare will cease
and only such branch lines built as will con.
meet the two systems and facilitate transfers
from one to the other.
The negotiations for the consolidation have
been pending tor several months. The Consol.
idated stockholders who disposed of their inter-
ests entirely are H. T. Blunck and l. H. Griffith,
who owned a controlling interest Besides
these gentlemen options were secured upon the
interests of other stockholders. and the deal
practically amounts to a sale OF the system, as
In addition to the stock transfer is made OF all
the outstanding bonds. The terms of the sale
are private. After.the two systems are consOlid.
ated, necessary branch lines built, the road beds
aud rolling stock put in irst-class condition and
the service generally improved a new issue of
bonds will be made and placed on the market,
arrangements for which have been made with
Boston capitalists. Before this is done, how
ever, . further consolidation may be effected
with the Front street cable and West street
electric roads, the leading spirits of which have
assisted to bring about the present deal.
John B. Denny, speaking Of the matter last
night, said:
+ The systems consolidated now embrace over
thirty miles of track, and new branches will be
extended in various directions. The roadbeds
will be ballasted and lined up and brought into
6rst-c ass shape, a. will also the rolling stock
The pubic service will be improved in every
way possible. The schedule running time will
be so arranged that cars On the parallel lines
will alternate with one another, practically
amounting to an increase of cars, an0 as fast as
they are needed new rolling stock will be
added. A system of transfers will also be az
ranged Tor the convenience of the public The
dominating idea OF this enterprise is to effect
economy in operation without impairing the
public service. and this economy will be at
tanned directly in three ways: First, by q prac-
tically free supply of fuel, as the power for both
sys n win De geherstea az our lumber mill on
there to generate power for two or three more
systems: second, by this central location of the
power station, which enables W to dis.
most economically; third. by the TACT that
the only expense OF obtaining pure water for
the boilers i. that of pumping it from the lake.
OF the branch lines which will be built in the
near future the consolidated company has a
franchise for one from Fremont TO Ballard; the
Rainier company has franchise for a cross.
town line near Lake Union. extending from
Albert ON Republican to Temperance street, aud
allowing passengers to cross between North Sc
ate and the LaSe Union district without bel ng
obliged to come down town to Pike street We
also have franchise for u line from Fremont to
Latona along the north shore Of Lake Union.
Then the Cedar street line will be extended
down Fifth street to q connection with the Lake
Union lines at Pike street.
d. T. Denny, the principal purchaser of the
consolidated system, il one of the earliest pio-
neers OF Seattle, having come here nearly forty
two years ago. He is one of the largest real e.
tate owners in the city, and pays more taxes in
this city and county than perhaps any other
individual. He owned at one time nearly all OF
what is now North Seattle, aud the entire east
err frontage along Lake Union to Lake WASH
ington He has always had great faith in the
future OF this city, and as most of his property
lies in the region through which the electric
roads run. it is to be inferred that they will be
operated to the best advantage of residents in
that section of the city. He was one OF the
original incorporators in 1883 of the Seattle
horse railway, which ran on Second street 70
North Seattle, at which time there was scarcely
house north of Bells hotel. Besides SUP.
scrioing to the stock OF this company, he con-
tributed large subsidy toward building the
line. In 1887. when electric cars were
first used, the West street, Lake Union and Park
Transit Company was incor porated for the pur-
pose OF building line on West street via Cedar
TO Lake Union and thence to Fremont The Sc
attic Electric railway succeeded to these two
companies in November, 1887, after which
Messrs. Bunch and Griffith purchased large in
terest from the seattle stock holders Mr. Denny
served as a director in the new company Tor five
years aud was for long time it's vice president
La 1880 the Seattle Consolidated Railway Com
pany WIS olsaulheu anu acquired the property
OF the Seattle electric railway the franchises of
L. II. Griffith and other extensions then in
course OF construction, which now passes into
the hands of Mr.. Denny aud his sons
John b. Denny, who successfully conducted
the negotiations for the consolidation, is q mem
Der of the law firm OF Lichtenberg, shepard,
Lyon & Denny. He has made special study of
the law relating to street railways and electric
companies, and has represented most OF the
other companies besides his own before the city
council
ID. Thomas Denny, the superintendent OF the
Third street line, Is an expert electrician aud
street railway manager, and will, no doubt, be
the general superintendent of both systemA
GREAT NORTHERN CONSTRUCTION.
Changing the Current OF the Skykomish
-Baliasting the Road.
The Sultan City Journal Of March has the
following notes:
There are now $50 men at work on the road
between sultan and the summit.
Z. Moriar;y general roadmas,er OF the Great