New-York tribune., 1902-02-18
TROLLEY LINES N CONNECTICUT.
PURCHASE WHICH PARALLELS THE STEAM
ROUTE THROUGH HEART OF
NEW-ENGLAND

New-Haven, Conn, Feb. 1.-THE announcement
on Friday of the purchase by the Connecticut Rail
way and Lighting Company of the Meriden. South
lnston and Compounce Railroad the final link in
long negotiated trolley connection between New
Haven and Springfield. Mass. is the most i'm
portant piece Of electric railway news that has
come out in this State since two years ago when
the trolley syndicate making rapid inroads
The latest addition completes a parallel to the
New-York. New-Haven and Hartford Railroad
Company for a distance Of nearly one hundred and
fifty miles through the heart Of New-England.
The purchase of holdings in this State by the
trolley trust dates back 1897, and originated in
the efforts of A. NJ. Young. of Waterbury to start
an electric road combination IN Waterbury and
Bridgeport. The company formed under the egis-
latuIe of 1896 by Mr- Young was called the Con-
necticut Lighting and Power Company, and had
considerable powers such the purchase of all
other companies. either traction heating or light
ing and the right TO build great electric power
plant the Housatonic River south OF Water
bury. damming the river In 1897 the Young trust
financed by New-York and Philadelphia cap
italists. and then taken by the United
Gas Improvement Company its Southern New
England agent Since then the Connecticut Rail-
way and Lighting Company. its name became
by order OF the Superior Court. has been buying
up gas. electric light and traction companies all
through this State, and controls almost all Of
the important trolley companies and a large num-
Der Of illuminating concerns. Since 1897 its bust
ness has been managed by A. NJ. Young. Of New
York, Allan ". Paige. of Bridgeport, and George
Z. Terry. OF Waterbury.
The plan Of paralleling the New-York. New
Haven and Hartford read early ambition of
the trolley trust. II took over the properties in
Stamford, Norwalk, Greenwich. Bridgeport, Derby.
Ansonia. Waterbury and Bristol. built extensions
and connections between all OF its properties and
applied TO the legislature for new charters. The
companies that now belong to the syndicate, and
that all under the management Of the Con-
necticut Railway and Lighting Company are the
Bridgeport Traction Company, with trackage Of
hfty-two miles, running from the Milford line TO
South Norwalk: Bristol and Plainville Tranway
Company. seven miles; Central Railway and Elec-
trio Company. Of NewBritain. sixteen miles: Derby
Street Railway, eight miles: Enfield and Long
meadow seven miles: Norwalk Street RAILWAY
ten miles, Norwalk TramWay, seventeen miles
shelton Street Railway three miles: Southington
twelve miles Westport and Saugatuck, five miles
With the addition to this list OF the Meriden South
plete control of a through connected trolley sys-
TEN beginning at Stamford. running east along the
ford, and then north from Bridgeport TO Derby,
sonia and Shelton. beginning again at Naugatuck
Southington road the syndicate then extends east
70 Meriden. where it Joins the through Hartford
MES. thus connecting with the Central Mssss chu-
setts lines 10 Boston.
controls the entire street railway system OF South
ern and Central Connecticut with the exception OF
the Stamford road, which is owned by the New
Haven and Hartford company
The plans OF the United Gas Improvement Com
pany. which controls these electric interests also
include practical monopoly of the gas and electric
ing concerns are owned by the trust: The Green
wich Gas and Electric Company. the Housatonic
the Norwaik and South Norwalk Electric Light
ing Company and the Waterbury Electric Liz bt
the Stamford Gas Company, the New-Haven EIec-
trio Light Company and the Bridgeport Electric
charter OF the United Illuminating Company. the
Milford Electric Light Company, the Stamford Gas