Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-02-24
WILL BEeIN RUNNING SOON.

Cars ON the State and Ferry streets |
Line VIII Begin Running Probably |
Next Week-The Power HOuse-A
Brief Resume or the History of the
Road.
The electric cars on the State and Ferry
streets electric car line will, 1t is expected,
begin running during the latter part of
next week. The cars will bs run 60 that
passengers will be able to start from the
green and 60 to the Morris Cove line by
way of Lombard and Ferry streets. 1t had
been expected that trial car would have
been run yesterday, but the tracks on Lom-
bard and Ferry streets were SO imbedded
with Ice and 80 for long distance 80 that
1t was impracticable to remove 1t, and in
consequence they were unable to operate
cars over the road.
The power house Ia now completed In
nearly every detail. It is an immense
structure and IL capable of furnishing
power for half dczsn lines. But If the
policy of extension, which the present d.
/ rectors are adopting, shonld be continued
It is very possible that 1T will be taxed to
Its utmost.
The lines which will be operated are the
State street line, including the cross-over
| through Lombard and Ferry streets, the
Morris Cove road, the Whitney avenue line
| and the new Lake Saltonstall road, which
| is to be built in the spring. When the
| new .egime goes in the motormen and con-
ductors, instead of working sixteen hours
| az the drivers and conductors are obliged
| to now, will be divided into two gangs to
relieve each other, the day gang working
ten hours and the night gang eight hours.
1t might be seasonable at this time to
give brief resume of the history and de-
velqpment of the road. Twenty-four
years ago q coserie Of gentlemen started
what has now developed into an cleo
trio railroad. OF course in those days j.
way, and there was strong chance OF
failure in an enterprise of the kind.
The men who led In tie begt ming OF
of this enterprise were O. A. Warren, who
was president of the road twenty yesrs
the late Pierpont B Foster, who was 9
brother of the late Judge E. K. Poster; the
late 8. N. Blatchley. whose son Charles
was the fret president of the road, and
whose other son, 8. L Blatchley, has bser
president during recentyear Associated
also in the enterprise were w. j. Atwater
the late Major Sidney NJ. Stone, Franco:
Donnelly and others.
Mr. Warren and the late DR.. T. Beer
| Townsend owned fifty acres of land a
Cedar Hill, which was known al
"The Pines," or "Seat of Happiness" ant
/ which at that time was great resort fol
picnics. They sold large share of THU
land to the elder Mr.. Blstchley. Whe1
the street railroad was built this land wa
brought into the market, and since thel
$50 houses have been built on the trac
and $500. 600 worth of taxable propert,
added to the grand list.
| The line was run at a lose, however, TO
about dozen years, and the directors hat
to put their hands down into their pocket
to keep things going. The capital wa
I$24, 900.
| When fret built 1t only came to wher
Kellogg's gun store now is, corner of Elm
and State streets. The urgent need of
l terminus nearer the business center of tn
city was soon perceived by the directors
however, and the struggle for the right O
way up Elm and down Church strseta t.
the town pump began. Some of the oil
residents along the proposed line oppose
it strongly, "a such thing was desmsd q
; innovation in those days. The right @
way was at length secnred from the le9is
latuIe, however, and the remainder of tn
road was built When in time the roa
grew and developed theae very people VIII
hsd opposed the road before came forwsr
and acknowledged that 1t was publ
benefit and accommodation and espresso
3 themselves as glad that it had been bull
The road began with the little one hort
> bobtail ear, like what are at present In III
l in Bridgeport. After time the two-horl
cars were put on with a conductor and
driver to operate each car.
+ This is in brief the history of the roa
n up to the time that it was merged in tt
! New Haven Street railway system. No
. the road will be amply equipped with tt
J modern electric cars of the most approve
designs, the contrast with the old bobts
q cars being marked one.