The herald., 1897-04-02
THE LINE
is OPENED
Main Street Electric Cars
Now Running
HISTORY OF THE ROAD
Been in Operation for Twenty
Three Years
AN EXPENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
MODERN ROLLING STOCK AND A
PERFECT ROAD BED
The Organizers of the Road and the
Present Officials-A Quarter of
a Million Spent in I'M
provements
Been in Operation for Twenty
Three Years
AN EXPENSIVE IMPROVEMENT 7
MODERN ROLLING STOCK AND A
PERFECT ROAD BED

Yesterday morning saw the inaugur'
alton of another magnificent, progressive
movement in the interest of Los Angeles
development. The new Main-street anc
Agricultural Park Electric Railway
company then opened regular service
upon it's recently completed line, ano
the first car under the new regime be-
gan it's initial trip at 6:15 o'clock. The
opening up of this great system OF street
railway development has been hailed
with delight by thousands of our citi-
zens. Those who reside along its route
find presented to them the means OF
rapid communication between theii
homes and the business center of the
city, the property owners along the lin.
recognize in it's establishment the strong
est impetus to the increase of real es-
tate values, and the people generally
welcome the change from the bob-tai
car, with its slow locomotion and incon-
venient accommodations, TO the comfort
able and elegant surroundings of the
most improved and beautifully con-
structed electrical conveyance.
THE ORIGINAL LINE
The old horse car line, which the new
organization supersedes. was organized
November 10, 1874, by T. d. Mott. e. III.
Workman, Thomas Gates, 1. w. He'll
man, John G. Downey, w. ]. Broderick,
o. w. Childs and other prominent prop
erty owners either interested in prop
erty along its route or living in the i'm
mediate vicinity. When these gentle
men projected the old line its failure
as a financial investment was widely
predicted To those to whom the great de-
velopment of this city seemed to be
among the possibilities, the originating
of a scheme of transportation so elab-
crate as that was deemed TO be, at that
time, created criticism upon the finan-
cial judgment of its projectors. The gen.
tlemen, however, who stood behind the
proposition. had not only faith in it, but
complete faith in the city of its origin.
To their business judgment the future
promised substantial results, and their
foresight was clear and without mis-
take.
REBUILDING THE ROAD
The old system proved for many years
a paying investment, but with the lapse
of time it became apparent, not only to
the judgment of those originally inter-
ested, but to many others whose inter-
est became likewise affected, that the
rapid growth OF Los Angeles demanded
more improved service, and out OF
that condition grew the Los Angeles
cable line system. The change from the
cable system 10 electricity came later,
and the Los Angeles Consolidated Rail
way company was eventually organized
acquiring the control of what today is
urquestionably one of the finest, most
successful and best equipped street rail-
way systems in this country. Not to be
behind the times, the Main-street and
Agricultural Park company decided to
improve their road and bring it to the
highest standard condition. The open
ing of that line yesterday morning
marks the era of the successful culmina-
ton of this enterprise. No expense has
been spared in the perfecting and equip
ping of this system. The best ability
in this country in railway lines has been
enlisted, and If there be any failures in
the enterprise it is not because money
and talent have not been combined to
produce the desired result.
F.W. Wood. the consulting engineer, has
had entire charge of the rebuilding and
electrizing OF the road. Not only in the
inception of the enterprise, but at every
successive stage of its development IL
has been his determination to make the
construction first-cass in every feature
and every idea looking to the most per-
feet consideration and development has
been carefully canvassed, and out of such
canvass the best results adopted Among
the many excellent features which have
been suggested and approved by the
management is a new 60-foot T rail, {
inches in depth and so feet long The
standard length of rail is 80 feet, but
those upon the new line being double that
length, make less cut joints and over
come the usual jolting incident to short
rails. and greatly enhance the comfort
of those riding upon the conveyances
passing over these lines Main street
has recently been paved from Ninth
street to Jefferson.and in that part Of the
work done by the company 1t has been
completed in the most substantial man
ner and made solid ard smooth.
NEW ROLLING STOCK.
The rolling stock upon the new system
was made by special contract with the
st. Louis Car company, after designs
furnished by the management OF the
road Itself and with the Requirement:
that everything should be completely
up to date both in design and construc-
tion. Climatic conditions cut very i'm
portant figure In the construction of the
street railway rolling stock, and this els-
ment was most carefully considered
and the best ideas upon it submitted
after long and thorough investigation
and experimenting. The new cars are al
equipped with double trucks with closed
and open compartments and furnishe 4
throughout with latest improvements
4 trip upon these magnificent coaches
will convince the most skeptical tina:
comfort and pleasure have been sought
and are combined in the new company
equipment. Each car has a seating ca
paclty for sixty people, and the number
or them in operation affords complete
guarantee that the most rigid demands
of the public will be at all times prompt
ly met.
IMPROVED APPLIANCES.
Westinghouse electrical appliances
are upon them all. The rails
for the roadbed were made up
on the Pacific coast and repre- :