The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-06


The people OF the United states were
celebrating the eishts-u''fo ann SAL
of the Declaration OF American lhdepend-
ence on the day that St. LOUIS Ilis'
street railway was put IN opefaooh- ihe
sss was July t. is's' ior'' -ioul seais as
SIX more Inc hhe was on oii'e s.'ee1
rom Fourth 10 i"eii'h s'fee.' anu ''ie
cars-'nsienihcant ooptaii ahairs-"ere
drawn by horses
That was the beginning OF street rail-
way system which. 1t is claimed and not
disputed. Is the most perfect from every
point OF view In nor only america OUT inc
world
forty years ago ST Louis was NOT mucn
of a city. Since the inauguration OF the
horse-car line on owe street ITS strides
rave been rapid and Its upbuilding has
neeh OIL a character 'hat mas placed i. IN
tne Ifoht RANK Oh the mos. suos'in'ia.
e'ues IN .he country. he'' ,he CROWN OIL
'he CITY mas not peen 50 notaoie' from
comparative STANDPOINT as tne CROWN o'
i,s street Runway sss'eiii' anu u,e sio"'n
"i 'he ia'.er mas iiao ihofu 10 oo 'o"ai"
'ie extension Vi tie ei'S hiiii's IMAM aN'
o.iiei one iae.oi.
II Is ooup'iui IL the average ei.izen ever
Stops long enough from MS oaiiy rou'iIie
10 cohsiuer s1ee' faii".ls s,a.'is'ics IN 81
Douis- ohiess ne ooes ne WIZ hefef iunS
up, .'ie MAJ te'ous mp eNe ne
.'ia. Aa'e 'oH'e s'i.e ''e .'o.. =. .ns
iiFs1 morse car aho the wohoertui aoaitioh
IN the CITY popuia1ion' oue' 10 great
extent TO those improvements 1t Is safe
10 assume 'hat no agency mas greater
i.ii'ueiiee upon uie oe'e.opi.iehe y, cry
as al PROSPERITY anu us 'ehuehcs 10
eNp .s.. man eie ii'eiiai 'iatispoi' a'ion
iaci'ines OF mat Guy.
fihsl STREET. RAILWAY.
Inc nrst street railway corporation IN
81 LOUIS was the missouri Raiifoad Com
Pahs. II JUL. anu ope.aleu .he oNe
'sieel h.e mere are au,iufeus o, -
PIE IN Oh LOUIS VINO 'iVioiy recall Tue
ssartlns Oh Inc nrst car. IL was MADE an
event in the city's history and was ceie-
brated in manner BETTING the occasion
The line was but eight blocks long when
cars nrst began running. Inc cars them
serves carried oul fourteen PASSENGERS anu
were operated only by driver. Later. a
larger car, with platform in front and be-
hind. was put in use and its capacity was
twenty persons. by tight squeezing. Near
ly all the cars in st Louis to-day seat
forty-eisht persons com1ortaoiy.
Eras1us Wels was the nfst president OF
the company ana ne super1ntended the
laying Of the tracks The Missouri Re-
publican Of July 8. 1859. described how.
amid countless difficulties, and almost
equal re5oicings. President Wells declared
the road open Tor trafnc ana drove the
nrst car rom END TO END OF the track
then laid. Among other things, the Re
publican said: In accordance with pre-
yfous arrangements and expectations, this
the nrst morse railroad In St Louis was
= Drought INTO pfacteal use Yesterday at
~ O'CLOCK oy running over us track the
first car. which arrived over the Ohio and
mississippi Railroad yesterday morning.
and was Immediately placed upon the
track at the Fourth street termination OF
the road, in the presence OF large num-
Der OF spectators congreSateo there TO
witness the somewhat novel sight OF a
horse car. It is beautiful vehicle, light,
elegant and commodious built with fifteen
others Of the same style for the Missouri
Railroad Company. by KimbaI Cor
ton, Philadelphia, at a cost Of $500. includ-
ing freight, etc.
PRESIDENT DRIVES CAR.
"At 10 o'clock few invited guests with
fhe directors of the road took their
seat. within the car and the horses were
attached to the pole, which can readily
be slipped to either end Of the car. Mr..
Wells. president of the road, then took
the reins. and after a jerk or two the
first car moved slowly but steadily up
the track. amidst loud shouts and cheers
from the crowd. Troops of urchins fol-
lowed in its wake, endeavoring to hang
on. and we fear unless this is prevented
in the future serious accidents may &C.
cnr
"rbe center of the track. or foot path
being macadamized and not sufficiently
settled. small pieces OF rock were constant
" being detached by the horses feet. and.
falling upon the track materially retarded
the progress of the car, in several cases
throwing it from the track. The switches,
or turn-outs, too. require some alteration.
as they do not answer entirely the pur-
poses for which they were intended. Sew
eral times the car failed to run upon the
track intended, and general backing out
was found necessary before the car could
proceed. But after the various delays of
this nature the car arrived at Tenth
street. the track having been cleared OF
stone only tnat distance. Inc horses were
then attached to the otner emu ana ene
return Trip progressed, ana AFTER OUT re"
decays, he track pelng mucn improved ny
the nrst Trip, the pioneer car arrived at
Fourth street, where 1t was again greeted
oy large crowd OF persons. eacn waiting
an opportunity TOT a Tree rue.
During the progress OF the car throush
the sreets. It's presence was greeted oy
hIInnrAnR