Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-23
NEW RAILWAYS OPENED.
Cnrs Now Running Regularly to Cheste
and Brandywtne Springs.

-
Cars Now Running Regularly to Chester
ANA Brandywine Springs.
Yesterday marked an epoch in the his
tory OF Wilmington, two new trolley rail-
ways being put in regular operation.
The lines opened were those OF the Will
mington Il Chester Traction Co.. ex
tending from Front and French streets,
this city, to Seventh and Edgmont
avenue, Chester, and the Wilmington
~ Brandywine Springs Railway Co.,
extending from Fourth and Market
streets to Brandywine Springs. Not
withstanding the fact that there was
almost continuous downpour Of rain
during the morning, both lines carried
some passengers and the result was
gratifying to the management Of each.
On each end of each car is . yellow
sign lettered Darby" and, as they
run over the Riyerview line, will be
designated by red lights at night.
Each car is also lettered Wilmington,
Chester and Philadelphia, !" and as they
are so much different from cars running
on other lines in this city there will be
very little danger of people making
mistakes. The additional cars will
add to the Riverview service, and, con-
sequently, be beneficial TO the people
living in the upper end of the Ninth
ward.
Owing to the early start, no pas
sengers were carried on the first car
running north. but on each subsequent
trip there were people travelling and
the business feature of the undertaking
began to develop with the arrival of
business hours in Wilmington and
Chester. Had the weather been pleasant
it is likely that great many reorle
would have made the trip for the
pleasure to be derived therefrom, and
it is expected that many passengers
who are out for enjoyment will make
the trip each day. and as warm weather
approaches the ride will be favorite
outing in the evenings.
Superintendent Harvey B. Vande-
Grift. when spoken to about the be-
ginning OF operations, said he felt very
much encouraged. The 45-minute
schedule will be maintained until
business demands the addition OF more
cars. For the present the Wilmington
cars will run only to Seventh street and
Edgmopt avenue, in Chester, but as
soon as the car men, who are now being
trained on the Darby line, become
familiar with the route above Chester,
the cars will run through from Front
and French streets TO Darby, at which
place cars of the Peoples Traction Co.
can be boarded for any point on Chest
nut street in Philadelphia. The fare
from Darby to Philadelphia is FIVE
cents.
Wilmington people can board cars in
any part of the city and obtain trans
fers good on the Chester cars as far as
Gordon Heights, and after leaving the
Heights additional fares will be col
lected. Transfers obtained on the
Chester end will be good for any point
in Chester.
Cars on the Brandywine Springs road
were started at 6 o'clock and during
the morning number of people were
carried. Quite number of people
living along the line have business in
Wilmington every day and the road is
great accommodation to them. II
was opened several months ago, but
that was more in the nature of An ey.
pertinent and trips were abandoned
until the older portion of the road could
be in first class condition. 1t was
stated yesterday that it is the in
tention of the management to operate
1T permanently now, and it is expected
that as soon as warm weather arrives
it will be necessary to put on additional
cars. Cars now leave Fourth and
Market streets every 30 minutes. The
fare to Elsmere is five cents and from
Elsmere to the Springs five cents addi-
tiunal. Manager K. W. Crook is having
the park at the Springs put in first.
class condition and it is expected h a
it will be one of the leading attractions
in this part of the country next sum
mer. Electricity to operate the rail
way is now being furnished by the
Wilmington City Railway Co.
Several local merchants who were
spoken to about the opening of the rail
ways yesterday mads the prediction
that both will be beneficial to Whining
ton. They expect to derive some bust
ness from Chester which is now going
to Philadelphia and hope to have people
living between this city and Brandy
wine Springs visit the city oftener.
Many people living in Philadelphia,
Darby and Chester will take the trim
in summer time for the purpose OF
visiting the parks and other points OF
interest here, while it is expected n
large percentage will go on through TO
Brandywine Springs, as Manager Crook
proposes to make bid for business not
only from Wilmington, but also from
the cities north of the State line. It is
said that some of the residents of
Chester are so favorably impressed with
the efforts of tho City Railway Co. to
furnish amusement for people at Shell
pot Park that they will petition the
traction company to give them TO-
cent rate from Chester to the park,
which may be done later in the season