The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-11
CITY Fathers RIDE


lLG wire WIN greater IGQdCllN, Al
though only a week after one of the
most severe storms of the century, ev-
erything was spick and span along the
line, and ensconsed within the we'll
heated, comfortable cars of the new
road, the city fathers and the invited
guests Of the new company We're loath
to quit the companionship of their fell
lows after delightful days trip to the
busy town Of Clinton.
For an hour previous to the time an
nounced for the staut, the members of
the city government began to gather
in the private office Of the mayor at the
city hall. Each had been anticipating
an enjoyable excursion, under the man
agement Of Mr.. William IA. Tylee, the
contractor Of the road. 1t was upon
his invitation that Mayor Rufus 3.
Dodge, Jr., together with eX Mayor A.
g. r. Sprague, Aldermen Edward J.
RUSSELL Napoleon p. Huot Charles H.
Hildresh, I'd, Henry Brannon, Albert M.
Thompson, James Fl. Mellen, Superin-
tendent of Streets Wright S. Prior,
President Francis II. Dewey and John
n. Akarman of the Worcester Consoli-
dated Street Railway Company Parks
,
Stone, Colonel T. S. Johnson, O. Willis
Rugg, Jerome Marble, William James
Hogg, and George d. Webb, left the
city hall soon after II o'clock in a
special car over the Consolidated road,
bound for Adams square. 1t was jolly
party from the very start, with genial
Jim and jolly John the life of the
whole party,
AT Britain square, or Adams square,
,,.Ir-
party was augmented by the arrival
Of the selectmen of Shrewsbury
Messrs. J. A. Dean, f. J. Stone and Z.
B. Allen. The distance between the
termini of the two lines was traversed
in the piercing wind, and the members
of the city government present We're
convinced that the franchise asked for
by the Worcester and Clinton road
should be granted speedily. The cars
taken here are of the very latest type
electric heated and lighted, plush cush-
toned and vestibuled. They are, by
long odds. the handsomest cars ever
seen in this part of the country.
Superintendent John w. Ogden had
personal charge of the party, and, to-
gether with Mr.. Tylee, did everything
for the comfort and enjoyment of the
city fathers and their friends Cigars
were provided in abundance and at
the first stop at the farm of George A.
| Flaug, a half mile north of the Home
farm, sweet cider was added to the
supply of good things Without, all
was gloomy and barren, while within
was one round of merriment. For the
| first mile. the tracks We're somewhat
| rough owing to the accumulation of
sand and ice, but for the remainder of
the journey the cars glided along with
| the ease and rapidity of an old line.
| Remarks were frequent on what the
| scenery will be during the spring and
summer months and that the road will
| be o scenic success, goes without say
/ ing The car barn is situated just be
yOnd BOylston centre, and here the
cars were run into the barn and q stop
made to inspect the premises. Work
men were engaged in putting the fin
ishing touches to the handsome Vesti-
buled and open cars, and the president
of the road, Alexander S. Patton, OF
| Leominster, was showeFed with con-
! gratulations on the completeness of the
equipment Of the road.
The party arrived at this point al
noon and was met by a similar party
| from Clinton, consisting of II. l.
| Pierce, president of the Fitchburg and
! Suburban railroad; w. S. Read Select
man H. L. Richter of Clinton. Orrir
.
| Coakley, r. f. Richardson of the met
ropolitan survey, Harold Parker, Geo
r. Daniels, David II. Maynard, T. A
Clapp, Rev. r. J. Patterson of st
Johns Church. Boston, E. Vandersleet
| r. M. Pratt, w. c. Mcdonald, w. r
| Dame H. r. PartWell, w. q. Morris S
Ives Wallace. ]. F. Buttman, Edward
Blodgett. Horace A. Miller, w. f
! Dodge Charles Howe, A. Z. Whitney
and II. B. Merchant.
From the car house to the Lancaster
: mills bridge, the run was made in JUS
eighteen minutes, and after a shor
; stop to allow the Leomtnster car e
pass, the journey was continued
| through the town to the Clinton House
! Outside of several short stops, nothing
/ of moment occurred to mar the con
tinuity of the trip, which was mad
from the city hall in this city in abou
an hour and a half Superintendent
Akerman of the Consolidated road re
: marked that it was remarkably quicl
time for an initial trip, ana congratu
lated President Patton on the etficienc,
of the men in charge of the cars. H
estimates that when the road has beel
running and the newness of the gearin.
, has beeen lost, the trip will be mad
, between Clinton and this city within
the hour
The party arrived at the hotel a
12.45 o'clock, and the intervening tim
! before dinner was announced was con
sumed in sociability among the cit,
magnates in the parlors. The Dime
was served in the large dining hall a
o'clock The tables were arranged il
tiers and the members Of the pres
were provided with a separate table. !
tasty menu had been prepared for tn
occasion, containing cut in eolors o
e a. car in motion on the new line With
in was presented for consumption on
I of Landlord J. S. Russelrs eXcellen
, dinners, which have become famou
throughout the county. Through som
miscalculation at the time the arrange
ments were made for the spread tn
press. which was represented by seve
men, from the leading Worcester, BOs
l ton and county papers, We're not pro
4 vided for Otherwise they were treate
a with the utmost courtesy.
a The feature of the dinner was its lac
= of fornality, no set speeches being
= order. After the first part of the men
e had been served, President Patio
h rapped to order and, for the compan!
thanked those who honored it with thei
e presence on the occasion, He said tina
g he thought he might say without an
e eeoisln, that the opening had been
2, success. He facetiously remarked tina
n he trusted that all the cars iii the day
e TO come would be as completely file
n az had those on the opening trip. BIT
not with deadheads. He said that HI
road meant to do the right thing by tn
neople whom ii was to serve. He spok
q If fine difficulties that had beset til
> way of the company since the projet
: was first preached. The original cor
r tract made called for the completio
h and opening of the road on the flr: