The herald., 1893-10-10
The Present Immense and Per-
feet System.
What the Electric Company Has
Done For this City.
A Bit of History About the Great En-.
terprise-Extent OF the Lines-im-
provements Contemplated
The Oficers.

cident more than any outlined plan at
Its inception. During the early part OF
the year the Electric Rapid Transit
Railway company in this city secured
o loan from Mr.. Sherman, representing,
through its officers, who are prominent
gentlemen OF this city, that it was to be
used in putting on the finishing touches,
and that the Electric Rapid Transit
company's lines would be Immediately
operated. Later on it developed that
much more money was needed, and,
upon investigation, there appeared to
be O number of doubtful transaetions.
This company, which was organized
and incorporated under the Laws OF Kan.
sas by several prominent gentlemen OF
Topeka, Kan., and Los Angeles, found
themselves in such financial straits that
they endeavored to unload their prep
erty. To secure himself Mr.. Sherman
concluded to take the property off their
hands, and, with the advice and counsel
OF friends and associates in San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles, was induced to
enlarge the scope of the undertaking by
asking from the city council franchises
to build on certain other streets, and to
secure an entrance 10 the center OF the
business portion CT the city.
Just about this time il was understood
that the Pacific Rolling Mill company Of
San Francisco, had taken a contract OF
20. Wilmer and Others to build 9
cable line over the hills on Second street
towards the west city limits. There was
already shipped large quantity ofcable
road material and the work of fulfilling
their contract had actually begun, they
having secured by purchase, a half in
terest in the Pacific Railway company's
line on Spring street from Fifth to Sec
ond.
This contract with Wilmer and others
was such that it was necee sary to build,
and as the Pacific Rolling Mill company
had agreed to take in payment on their
contract oRe-fourth cash and three
fourths bonds, the prospect of pushing
it forward was very favorab abls. Before
this had proceeded any further than the
shipment OF about $4,000 worth Of
material there was made trade with
the Pacific Rolling Mill company to
abandon the cable proposition and con-
vert the contemplated cable line into an
electric road; arrangements were per-
fected and the transfer was made OF all
the franchises and rights of the con-
templated cable road TO the new electric
company, by their paying for all material
already shipped.
Under the new contract with the elec.
tric railway company the Pacific Rolling
Mill company were to be paid one-third
cash and two-thirds bonds; as soon as
negotiations leading up to this point bad
been perfected active operations in con-
struction of the electric lines commenced.
There had been planned out the dis
bursement of over a million dollars in
our city for the development and i'm
provement of fsections of the city without
the conveniences of travel and over
streets that were not occupied with any
street car lines.
Just at this time there developed q
very determined opposition from an un-
expected quarter, and its determined
and vigorous methods to block every
move to secure an entrance TO the city
was quite marked.
However, the work of construction of
the electric road was prosecuted quietly
and steadily until the first section, being
that commencing at the Arcade depot,
thence to Second street and Spring street,
thence west over the hills TO Westlake
park, was nearly ready to operate, when
there suddenly appeared in the papers
OF San Francisco great deal Of gratuit-
GUS advertising intended to do up the
enterprise, and particularly Mr.. Sherman
and his associates.
This style Of guerrilla warfare was kept
up constantly for weeks, and still the
road continued to grow. The principle
that seemed to prevail with the manage
ment was say nothing, but ''get there"
1t has been conceded by those familiar
with the history of the road and its con.
etruction, and OF all the circumstances
SURF ounding it, that the difficulties and
hindrances that have been overcome are
without parallel in the history of any
similar enterprise. Even runs on banks
supposed to be friendly, instigated by
those who were accustomed to that eort
of thing, internal convulsions of the
Pacific Rolling Mill company, followed
by an attempt to fly their contract, with
every conceivable obstacle they could
impose to hinder the completion in an
economical manner, stopping all work
before the extensions were completed
leaving everything in an unfinished con-
dition, and even large portion of that
constructed had to be rebuilt at an en-
would stagger the bravest.
The first division WAS put in operation
July l, 1891; the second, or university
division, was completed about November
%, 1891, cars making regular trips on
that date; the East Los Angeles division
stopped short off before reaching the
river; the Maple avenue, Pico street
and Vernon divisions were all put in
successful operation.
THE LINES.
They have now in actual operation 43
miles OF electric railway. The first line
constructed was the Westlake park di-
vision, commencing at their power
house, corner of Central avenue and
Wilde street, running by the Arcade
Southern Pacific depot, thence up Fifth !
and Fourth streets to Spring street. and !
on Spring to Second; thence westerly
over the hills by First street, and around |
to Westlake park, distance OF nearly
i've miles, overcoming grades of from 5 |
per cent to 10 per cent, This line passes
1Eer what is known as the hill section,
shich ie now and will be for all time to |
Some, most delightful residence por-
ion OF Los Angeles. 1t was held back |
Dy the fact OF its inacceasibility, but |
lince the advent OF the electric road the I
improvements have progressed rapidly.
rhe fret line was started up and the |
irst cars were run over the line on the
st day of July, 1891, and has continued
n successful operation every day since
The Univereity division, commencing