The San Francisco call., 1896-10-02
Great Demonstrations on State
Street as a Fair Girl
Guides the Motor.
AN IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT
Rapid Transit Required to Keep Up
With the March of Progress
at the City of Roses.

DAN a DAhoAhA, CAL., OCGs 1.-1u lis
has been a memorable day in the history
of Santa Barbara, marking as it does the
inauguration of the fine new electric
street railway system and the passing
away of the mule, which has so long
served as the diligent, patient and exas-
perating motor of the streetcar system in
the City of Roses. An initial run over the
road was notable for another reason. For
the first time in the history of this coast,
possibly for the first time in the history
of the country, woman was at the motor,
and the first electrician that glided along
State street, with its gay coat of carmine
and yellow decorations, was guided and
controlled by a woman. She who gained
such distinction to-day is Miss Hattie Mil
ler, the daughter of the president of the
road.
The power-house lies in that scantily
populated region locally known as across
the Estrero," region which easy transit
and swift connection with the town
proper will soon cover with little cottages.
Even this district turned out goodly
crowd to witness the start, as four cars
decked with flowers pulled out of the
power-house and shot swiftly up the line
in the direction of town. The first Of
these cars held the president, with officers
and stockholders of the road, together
with their families the second was occu.
pied by city and county officials, the third
by the press and Herr Schuy's band and
the fourth by the Board of Trade.
State street, the fine business avenue of
the city, was lined with throngs of people,
more than turned out to see the circus
last week and almost as many as the
flower festival musters. Business men
left desks and counters, the schools were
all dismissed and every farmer from the
surrounding country had come to town
with his family. Cheer after cheer went
up as the first car came in sight, gliding
over the rails. Cheer after cheer went up
as the crowd saw the slim, pretty, dark
eyed girl alone at the motor, her eyes in
tent on the track ahead, one small hand
on the controller, the other ready to put
on the brake at an instants notice should
some venturesome urchln stray too near
the rails. Beside her was superb st.
Bernard dog, Zeus by name, christened
after the King of the Gods. her insepara-
BILE companion. a noble fellow, occupying
his post of honor in silent dignity and
evidently feeling that upon him devolved
much of the responsibility of the occasion.
Car after car was cheered, but the crowd
screamed itself hoarse when it saw trailed
behind the press car, an open car, upon
which stood pair of sad-eyed mules gar
landed with flowers and altogether regard
ing the pageant and throngs of spectators
with looks of sore reproach. PhPnix is
quaint old white mule with stubs of ears
\. - \ L
his name indicates his unique expedience
in life.
Twelve years ago the stables of the mule
line were burned to the ground and
white mule was taken out dead from the
ashes. He was so very dead that a jury
sat upon him and pronounced him de-
funct, and ar insurance company paid
policy of SIS upon his remains. Having
accomplished this mastery financial
stroke for his owners the mule arose,
called for fodder and drink aud resumed
his place on the payroll of the company,
faithfully serving the public for ten years
more. So extraordinary a history and
such exceptional service certainly entitled
the animal to recognition. Hence it is
that Phoenix, quaint. garlanded with f1ow-
els and furnished with congenial CON-
panion, was to-day carried in state along
the line over which he has so many times
hauled the selfish public. And hence it is
that the Daily Independent tonight an
nounces that it has bought the faithful
public servant and will pension him for
life upon green pastures watered with liv-
ing springs. Precisely why the mules
were trailed behind the presscar was the
subject of anxious inquiry until one ready
wit averred that "the company wanted all
the kickers on the same train
Showers of roses fell on the first car as it
passed up the street and out of sight.
though the gentle girl at the motor had no
time to spare for gracious mods or re-
sponses to the ovation rendered her.
There were hundreds of horses on the
street which their owners had brought out
to accustom them to the unwonted sight,
hundreds of little children and dogs dart
ing back and forth across the rails. 1t
speaks much for the care and skill exer-
cised on all occasions that during all the
day not single accident has marked the
initiation of the new system. The nearest
approach to one was a break made by
pair of old mules. who will. for week to
come, pull cars along connecting branch,
and who jun ped the track at tue sight of
the first motor. dragging their own car
first to one gutter and then, as down
motor again Mortified them, plunging
across the street into another, describing a
great letter s on the pavement.
This has been gala day for the small
boy, for no fares have been collected, and
ali the afternoon the populace has been
enjoying free rides. The liberal spirit in
which the road has been planned and
equipped and opened has done much to
popularize the management. The rolling
stock of the road consists of com bina.ion
cars built by the Hammond Car Company
of San Francisco, and equipped with i'm
proved and up-to-date trucks made by
Dorner g. Dutton of Cleveland, Ohio, and
which do away with almost all vibration
and jarring.
The motors are manufactured by the
General Electric Company and are COM
pletely encased in an iron box to avoid
injury and dirt. There are two of
25-horsepower each to each car, thus pro-
viding an ample surplus of energy for sur
mounting grades. Each car is furnished
with seven 16-candlepower lamps and
headlights of 32- candlepower each. and in
addition they have oil tanks for emer-
gencies. A number of electric buttons
are conveniently located for passengers to
stop the cars by slight pressure, notify
ing the motorman by ringing bell. This
is a great improvement over the old
method of rising and pulling a strap, and
will doubtless be much appreciated. No
expense has been spared to have the
finest and safest cars on the coast. Con.