The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-01-29
FIRST TROLLEY CAR
Makes Its Initial Trip in Greater
Oskaloosa.


other date that will make mile stone
in the history Of Greater oskaloosa.
AT that time the first electric car ever
operated in the city, made its initial
trip over the tracks of the uskaloosa
Traction and Light Company. The
innovation was greeted all along the
line with hearty cheers by those
who have labored long for the acquisl-
ton of this institution and who have
faith in the future Of the town. The
Inauguration of the traffic was with
out difficulty or hitch of any kind
and was indeed most auspicious and
entirely satisfactory. The car left the
power plant and was run over the sew
eral lines of the system, making sew
eral trips upon some of the tracks.
The test of the property that was thus
made could not have been more salts
factory. The operation OF the car
was as smooth as though the line and
the trolley had been used for a num-
Der of months. All parts Of the line
tested were found to be in perfect con-
dition and the representatives of the
company and those citizens who were
permitted to ride upon the first car
expressed themselves as more than
pleased.
The hour for the starting of the cars
was set at nine o'clock and at this
hour the great Westinghouse engine
that turns the railway generator was
given steam and the generator was
soon In motion. The current was
thrown onto the line few minutes af-
ter nine o'clock. The current was
turned into car No. 2, selected for the
trip and it moved out of the barn as
easily as though the feat had been ac-
complished agian and again.
Mayor Wray, who was to be one of
the party to make the initial trip, was
somewhat delayed in his appearance
on the scene and hence the start of
the car was postponed until his ar
rival.
The car was in charge of President
Harry E. O'Neil of the o. T. & l.. Co,
and G. A. Wallace, one of the oldest
and best experienced motormen of the
Ottumwa lines, was in charge of the
controller. The others who made the
initial trip on the car were as follows:
The city administration was represent
ed by Mayor William Wray and Coun-
cilmen Harry Sewers, DR.. Cole, Bart
Sinclair, James OHearn, Charles
Ralston, and police officer Bert Mastin.
Employees of the company were John
Gum, M. d. Burket, George Grooms,
Wesley Garner, E. A. Farnsworth, Viii
Oldham, Chas. Nray, A. B. Joslin, A.
B. Anderson, T. J. Franklin. Charles
Broughton, Harry Reemer and o. @. G..
Phillips
The press of the city was represent
ed by Richard Burke and ]. e. Flew
yelling of the Times-J ournal, Roy
Robinson and Will Duboc Of the Her
aid.
Citizens A. P. Spencer, w. A. Seey-
ers, Art Oppenheimer and Christ Win
ter were picked up during the trip
and were given place in the car.
The occasion was also graced by the
presence of ladies. Miss Eva Sewers
and Miss Kybi Lummis, of Des Moines,
who have been in the city visiting
were in the eastern part of the city
and the conductor responded. The
ladies were thus honored by being the
first to occupy seats in an operated
Oskaloosa car.
The motorman, Mr.. Wallace, was
careful in making the initial trip and
the several curves were made with
caution, but everyone of them was as
smooth as though it had been in use.
The car proceeded north on Market
street, made the turns to High avenue
and went west to B street and North
ito Penn college avenue. The track
was found to be in excellent condition
and on the return on the B street line
the car was speeded a bit. 1t answer
ed the additional current in way that
left no doubt in the minds of all the
passengers as to the ability of the cars
to speed a bit On High avenue again
the car was sent to the east end OF me
Boulevard, the residence OF j. II.
Pickett. The same excellent condi-
IlOIIb JudL ntu plSNdllOo Oh ShO 0NhSA
parts of the line passed over were
noted on this trip. On returning the
car went to the B. & w. station and
then on the B street line again. Anotn-
er trip on High avenue east was made
and then having occupied about an
hour and fifteen minutes in its work
about the city the car was taken back
to the barns Of the power plant on
Sixth avenue and it moved into the
shelter with self-satisfied air of
having behaved most excellently.
The starting of the first car was a
most auspieious occasion for the city
of Oskaloosa as we'll as for the Oska-
loosa Traction and Light Company.
The event marks an epoch in the his
tory Of Greater Oskaloosa.
Mr.. O'Neil and his associates are to
be congratulated upon the successful
elimination of their plans. Oskaloosa
has found the company thoroughly in
earnest in its determination to give
tbn n;tv q Iiohf nIant and an electric