The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-24
RICHMOND; 623 {. Broad St.

was for years known as the R1cnmond
Union Passenger Railway5(th Ciay-Street
line). and thus established in Richmond
the first electric railway in the United
States: The powcr-house was located on
Seventh Street below Cary, next TO the
Allen & GInter factory.
This road was indeed the first electric
road of any considerable length and any
real difficulty ever successful. estab-
I;eIel II, tha world. The combinations or
grades and curves around the lower por-
ton of tho Capitol Square was lesarded
as ina,,nerable. The average expert cleo
trician OF that day laughed in his sleeve
as the work progressed.
In fact. Richmond was the mecca for
months of electricians from all over na
country who for the most part. not only
came to scott" but scoffed, and went
away asserting in the most positive ter als
that the undertaking was toredo ::i.ed to
failure.
IN AN UNTRIED FIELD.
During this period of experimentation
Mr.. Sprague, the electrician in
charge, and his associates did an
immense amount of original wo-E III fields
hitherto unentered and along l;.,s hli:i-
erto untried. The inestimable result OF
their labors at Richmond vas to incorpo-
rate into the art many distinctive and
valua BILE features some of which had orl-
glnatcd with others, but which thus be-
ca me- crvstalized and uniform and stand
ara.
The road went into actual operation on
FEBRUARY Sd 1855 It was a matter OF
especial pride to Mr.. Sprague that for
four months not a. single one of his cars
was pulled a foot by animal power IL
the motors broke down, and this they did
more than frequently. the crippled car
hoped home on one leg or was butted
into secusion by one of its fellows on
May 4, 1855, just three months after the
start, no fewer than thirty cars were in
operation, ard more than all the conf
dence of capital had been secured for
enterprises of this character, not only in
Richmond hut in the cities of America
ard the world.
The electrical difficulties in time were
overcome, but the people had not yet
been educated to such aause of the street
car service as would render it CONNER
cla1ly profitable. and so the enterprise;
slarguished.
MR.. *FLYNc,s REGIME.
In 1883 Mr.. Maurice B. Flynn. who had
become associated with the Northern syn
dictate owning the Clay-Streety line, pur-
chased, in connection with several others.
from Major G: NJ. Bolton the stock ofzthe
Richmond City Railway Company, which
was operating the horse cars on Main.
Ninth and Broad Streets. MIR. Flynn then
recognized both companies. Mr. William
r. TrisG, then of the Richmond Locomo-
tive Works. was ma president: Colonel
John B. Purcell, Mr.. Ashton Starke. Mr..
II. Sale Watkins and other prominent cit
liens We're members of the Board of Di-1
rectors. Captain Andrew Pizziri. ~ r.,
was made secretary and treasurer of the
new company. Mr.. George w Burt was
general manager of the eectric5line. and
Major Charles Selden. who had been ssr-
pcrintendent under NlajorEsc. NJ. Bolton.
was. continued in his position on the horse
carsline until he resigned. and was sue
ceeded by Mr.. Alfred S. Armand.
Immediate preparations were made to
electrify the Main- Street line. which was
extended by a double track to Fulton
and a. double track the loop at Straw
berry and Main Streets During the spring
and. sunlmerEof 1859 the lines weresin con-
siderable difficulties. owing tosthe Illness
OF Mr.. Flynn. the moving spirit in both
companies. who was taken sick In Feb
rtary. During his illness Captain Andrew
sPizzini. Jr.. who was secretary andstreas-S
urer. ran the properties, and succeeded
By herculean efforts in 9eiectrifying the
Main Street line in time to preserve the
franchise rights Onathis lire electricity
was frstzused as a motive power. in july.
1859. sS5szsEz.
71LI2i. FISHER ARRIVES.
In sAus.st. 1859. Mr.. Flynn died. The
future OF Kichmond's electric railway
properties seemed gloomy, indeed. In
October. SO. Mr.. George e. Fisher came
to KicLn1cnd to represent the interests
Of AIR. ynn,s widow,=#with whom he
had been brought in touch by DR.. John
p. MUIR no was the family phssi-s
clan of the late jay Gould. and he had
attended Mr3522sFlynn in his last Illness.
Mr. Fisher found the properties IN bad
ssfype tracks. machinery and cars were
altogether. Inadequate and in bad order.
In j 500 the Richmond Railway and Elec-
trio Company was organized by the con-
sp'iti:,tlon of ,Sall the electric corpa MES
in@ the city including the Electric Light
and Power Company. DR.. John P. Mum
became pI+5:.lent; 81 Mr. r. J.s Craigie,
Secretary. aud Mr.. George e. Fisher,
tTeasl:er. Larger5 cars and motors were
purchased. During the. years which fol-
lowed. this company absorbed the follow
ing companies: Richmond and Alanches-.
ter Railway. Comp NJ Manchester Rail
! way and Improvement ornpany. fair-5
mount Ira ion Company sRiveryieWs Rail-
way Company, Seven Pines Railway COM
Ipany and Brook land Park Land and I'M
provement.G Company.
TIE TRACTION system: