Evening journal., 1898-02-08
LOCAL RAILWAY SOLD.
Robert Fox, OF Scranton, to
BE Superintendent.
PRESIDENT LEA WILL RETIRE

NEW SUPERINTENDENT SPENT
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND
LAST NIGHT AT THE MAIN Of
FICE OF THE CoMPANY-cHES-
TER AND WILMINGTON TO BID
UNITED.
AS foreshadowed by the Scranton
d.spatch In the Evening Journal yes
terday afternoon, a syndicate represent
ed by Il. w. Clark & Co., of Philadel-
phia, has secured control OF the cleo
trio railway systems of both Whining
ton and Chester and the two cities Will
soon be connected by trolley.
The deal was consummated late yes
terday afternoon and last night II was
officially announced by Preston Lea
and willard Salisbury, Jr., president
and vice-presldent respectively or
the Wilmington City Railway Com
pany.
Robert Fox, OF Scranton, the new SUI
perntendent OF both systems, reached
Wilmington yesterday afternoon and
spent several hours at the main office
acquanting himself with the work he
will have to do here when he assumes
charge.
1t is believed that the change Will
affect many Of the prominent officials
OF the road sooner or later. Presi-
dent Lea retires Immediately and Vice
| President Salisbury will do likewise.
Il Is expected Assistant General Man
ager II. b. Vandegrift and those inn
mediately under him will be retained,
some time, at least. None OF the men
on the cars seem to think that their
positions are endangered by the change
In management.
superintendent Fox says that ne
could not say how soon the connecting
link between Wilmington and Chester
would be constructed and put In oper-
alton He will not assume charge OF
the system here until after the board
OF directors reorganizee.
The deal carries with Il the Gordon
Heights and Elsmere lines, and may
finally embrace the Brandywint
Springs and New Castle lines, which
are at present independent.
The following is brief sketch OF the
history and expansion of the Whining
ton City Railway Company:
The nrst meeting OF the stockhold
ers was held on March IA, 1864 the di
! rectors then chosen being William
Tatnall, Joshua T. Head, william
| Wharton Jr., Clement B. Smythe
Daniel NJ Bates, Eli Garrett and Philil
Mcdowell The officers we're; Joshul
/. 1T. Head, president; Philip Mcdowell
vice president; Clement B. Smythe
\ secretary and treasurer. The compan
had been chartered on February @
that year, with capital stock Of 5000
y 600. with s. paid on each share. WI
!. liam Wharton, Jr., took the contrac
Y to build, and by June / tracks had bee
u laid from the p. W a. b. station
a what Is known as the Middle Depo
/. via Market street and Delaware ave
- nue., at cost OF $29. $50. The road wa
then extended TO Rising Sun, and o
June 29 1864, the first cars were ruI
the company having secured seven cal
and thlrty-fve horses. George W. fKe
o. sey was the first superintendent. tn
le business of the company was not {
" much account until after 1873, whe
= an increase in travel was noted. tn
y first rails laid lasted twenty-one year
The company, in 1887. expended $40
600 in improvements. AT difercr
times new lines were laid. The fir
electric road was the one to Rivervie,
from Tenth and Market streets, an
y cars began running on March 8, 1888
)l The Eighth street line was opened Q
December IA, 1889; Market stree
D. January 8, 1891; Delaware avenue, Az
n gust 16, 1891; West Fourth stree
December 10. 1891 Front street. a
=. quired from another company, Decen
Y Der 12, 1892. The Maryland avenue an
I. East Fourth street lines were opens
= later. The Riverview line was exten'
. ed % Shelipot. and the East Four
rs street line to Eden Park.
Ne The syndicate purchased $40
8, shares Of stock. that being the numb
Il, in the pool made up by the local ma
D. ayers. II is said that ample steps ha
been taken to protect the small loc
holders OF stock.
II Is rumored that Elkins and "
dener, Of Philadelphia, are back
IT, Clark & Co.. and that the syndica
III which wishes to build a trolley III
a from New York to Washington is ba
Of all Of them
Il