The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-01

The first car over the new electric
line to Olyphant was run at noon yes
terday. 1t left the city at 1890 and
vent by way of the Laurel Hill line
to Dunmore Corners" and along the
Ounmore road to Olyphant. The trip
was very satisfactory. On board the
car were: c. NJ. Clarke, of Philadel-
phia. vice president of the Scranton
Traction company; General Manager
Frank Silliman. jr, Superintendent
Robert F. Fox, Hon. Lemuel Amer
man, "A. b. Dunning, jr., p. S. Page,
Engineer Knight, Of Dunmore, Mr.
Law, Of Throop, and William Mahon
James Jordan and w. ]. Schubmehl
of Olyphant.
This is the last day under the fran
chise allowed the company to construct
the line. and get 1t in shape for oper-
alton. 1t is not necessary that cars
be In operation carrying passengers
from now on, only that the road must
be built by today and the wires up and
ready for car to run on 1t.
By this route the most If not the
entire traffic Of Olyphant will go, ex-
cept for people living on the west side
Of the river. The time from Scranton
to Olyphant can be made over this
route quicker than by way of Provi-
dence. The service on the Laurel Hill
line because Of the amount Of double
track on it will bring the cars to Dun
more from the central city sooner than
to Providence, and from Dunmore il
Is a direct line to Olyphant along a
level stretch Of road, with but few
twists and turns.
LAID TO WINTON.
The line is laid through to Winton
with the exception Of the crossings over
the Delaware and Hudson railroad al
Dunmore and Hudson streets in the
borough of; Olyphant. 1t was only to
the first Of these crossings that the
car ran yesterday.
a hearing with regard to the cross
ings on the injunction sought by the
railroad company to restrain the de-
PENDANTS from crossing at grade was
held in the morning and afternoon be-
fore Judge Gunster in chambers. L
H. Burns, Mr.. Amerman and NJ. j.
Martin represented the defendant, and
ex-Judge Jessup and w. H. Jessup, jr.
the plaintiff.
General Manager Silliman was on the
stand the most of the morning. Be-
fore coming to Scranton he said he was
a surveyor on the Atlantic avenue troll
ley line in Brooklyn. The Delaware
and Hudson has mapped out three
methods of overcoming the difficulty.
One way is to go under the railroad
tracks and the other two ways are to
go over them. None Of the three, Mr..
Silliman said, is practicable. BY going
over the tracks trestle forty feet
high would have to be built and this
would be unsafe, because Of its heigth
and the fact that there would have to
be a large curve on the trestle. which,
ever one would be built. Both routes
are adjacent to Dunmore street. To go
under the tracks would bring the car
around very sharp curves through a
narrow alley, and the line would be at
least eighteen inches and possibly four
and one-half feet below high water
mark on the Lackawanna river.
COULD NOT OPERATE ROAD.
In times Of rain and thaw it would be
difficult to operate the road. The con-
struction of a sea wall, Mr.. Sllliman
thought, would not remedy the case
much. A. B. Dunning. jr., who made
maps of the right of way and the
routes proposed by the Delaware and
Hudson, was on the stand explaining
why 1t would be next to an impossi-
bility to build the road on any Of the
three routes proposed by the company.
James ]. Cummings, advertising
manager of the Truth, has occasion to
use the street cars between Olyphant
and Scranton daily. In several places
the street car goes over railroad at
grade. Mr.. Cummings never saw any
great danger resulting from this. Other
witnesses testified in similar manner.
The hearing was adjourned until 9
o'clock this morning.
If Judge Gunster DEGREES that the
street car can cross the steam tracks
at grade, the defendants will have the
line carrying passengers from Winton
very quickly after the litigation is end
ed. Meanwhile, the action of the court
is awaited. The company that owns
the road is now negotiating with the
Traction company about the terms of
the lease,