The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-16
RICHMONDS' STREET CARS.
First Electric Line In the World OF Any
Consequence Established Here.
MECCA OF EXPERTS FOR MONTHS
As the Doubtful Experiment Was Pushed
by Sir. Frank sTrague to Ultimate Sue
cess-The Present Splendid sys-
TENS and Their Officers.

Richmond is the only city in virginia
operating a line OF street cars before the
war and the first city in the world 10 es-
tablish a successful electric street car
system.
Norfolk was the first city after the
war to build a street car line. II was
built in 1866. but ii was short and the
service was poor and for a long time the
road did not pay. The present line was
built In 1924. IL now operates twenty
miles OF track and is a fine property.
Portsmouths horsc-car line was punt
in 1857. The present line was buiit IN
1897 and electrified in September Of that
year. 1t has twelve miles OF track.
The Lynchburg line was built in 1850
and electrified in lSSS. The length OF
It's line IS five and one-half miles.
Petersburg had no street cars until lss3'
and the line was not electrified until lss2
The length Of the line IS three and one
half miles.
Charlottesville had cars in 1857. but II
was not until seven years later that cleo
tricity was used as a motive power.
The road at Danvlle was built IN 1876
and electricity was adopted a year or
two later.
The road az Roanoke was built in 1872
and operates eighteen and one-half miles.
The Stanton line was built In 1890 and
electrified in 1896.
There is also a fine system Of electric
road between Old Point. Hampton, and
Newport News.
THE RICHMOND LINES.
The history of the street railway ser
vice I'm Richmond is known 10 few per
sons and the development of electric tray
a here makes an interesting study.
Early in the hfties the city commence
ed to feel the want Of transportation ON
the streets from the east and west ends
and to meet this want line OF omnl-
buses similar 10 those which are used
by hotels az the present time was put
on Main street between Twenty-eighth
and Ninth streets.
Some time in 1858 or 1859 a line Of street
railroad was built from Twenty-eighth
street 10 Ninth street and up Ninth to
Broad. and from time to time this line
was extended bv the building OF a single
track ND Broad TO Adams, down Adams
TO Grace and out Grace to the state FAIR
Grounds. which was At that time located
al the present site Of Monroe Park.
During tho war this railroad was taken
I'D and the iron used in armoring the
gunboats and for other uses to meet the
needs Of the Confederate cause.
I'm 1s66 q Mr. Burroughs northern
man. re-cstatishcd the old Richmond
Railway con pany under an ORDINANCE
passed December II. 1865. and rebuilt inc
road on Main street from TVenty-elghth
10 Ninth. up Ninth to Broad. out Broad
10 Adams and up Adams 10 Grace as lt
was before the war. col. Jno 3. Rich
arlso, formerly commander Of a batta-
lion of The Young Guards. was super
intcndcnt at this time and for several
years thereafter.
IN the course of n year Or two the INES
were rcorganized: the track down Eighth
street was built. that on Grace street
west was taken up and line run from
Laurel street TO Hollywood.
THE FARE TEN CENTS.
During this time the road was by no
means successful. which was doubtless
partlv due 10 the fact that the fare
charged was ter cents and that the road
only extended as FAR as Twenty-eighth
and Main on the east Of the city.
At the death q Mr. Burroughs the line
passcd /. 10 the hands OF Mr. J Lawrence
Schoolcraft and was run under his ad-
ministration for several wears until ne
became "A member of the firm Of Camp
bell & CO.. who were then interested with
him in the read. Under this manage
ment General j. Lindsay Walker was
supcrlntendent and he was succeeded W
a Mr.. waterman who had been in the
| Chesareake and OhiO railroad oluc-s
here.
Through the Campbells. Major {. NJ.
Bolton. who married the daughter OF ME-
Parker Campbell became part owner
| I'm the lire. which was then extended 20
Fulton by "a single track and also 10 inc
new Reservoir by a single track.
This latter part of the line was used
AS a steam line and was not run in con-
ncction with the street railways. The
fare was reduced TO five cents aud MAJOR
Geo. Norton. formerly an oihcer IN the
First Virginia Regiment, was made sup
erintcndent
Under II Is management the street rail
way business seemed 10 prosper ana IL
was run successfully for several years
but never paid dividend.
In 1857 Mr. John +. Barry or Boston
came to Richmond and became impress
cd with the necessity for rapid com