The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-06
Originally st. Louis Cable and
Western, Operated From Sixth
and Locust Streets to Mar
row Gauge Depot.
NOW HAS SO MILES OF TRACK.
Work of demonstrating Entire
Roadbed Was Begun in 1902
and the Greater Portion
Is Now Completed.

The officers Of the company are: Presi-
dent. Mr.. Julius s. Walsh: vice president.
Mr.. Julius g. Walsh. Jr.; general superin-
tendent. Mr.. John Mahoney: secretary
treasurer. Mr.. E. P. Sommers.
The directors are Mr.. Julius 8. Walsh,
Mr.. s. NJ. Kennard. Mr.. Breckenridge
Jones. Mr.. Charles H. Huttig, Mr. Will
lam F. Nolker. Mr.. c. Marquard Forster.
Mr.. William D. Orthwein. Mr.. Harrison 1.
Drummond and Mr.. Ben Altheimer.
The St. Louis and Suburban Railway
system consists of over ninety-three miles
of track In the city and county. viz: The
st. Louis and Suburban main line. Union
avenue line. Florissant line. Ferguson line.
Kirkwood line from De Hodiamont to
Kirkwood via Clayton. the Forest Park
line. between Brentwood and Forest Park;
the Meramec line. from Fourth and Elm
streets TO Maplewood: the Meramec High
lands line. from Fourth and Elm streets
to the Meramec Highlands. and the North
Sarah street line, from Fourth and Elm
streets to o'Fallon Park.
The st. Louis and Suburban Railway
Company. originally the st. Louis Gable
and Western. was built and operated as a
cable road in 1886 At that time 1t ran
from Sixth and Locust streets to a point
known as the Narrow Gauge Depot, on
Morgan street just west Of vandeventer
avenue. In 1891 the cable road was aban-
doned and electricity substituted. The
main line was then extended west from
the Narrow Gauge Depot to Wellston over
the route previously known as the Narrow
Gauge Route. and later was extended to
its present terminus. the Suburban Gar
den, with extensions running west over
the Florissant and Ferguson line. Later
on the Meramec River line and other
branches of this system were built and
operated.
roadbed Of the Suburban main line was
begun in 1902 the greater portion Of It be-
ing completed in that year. and the re-
naming portion is now nearing compile
ton. The tracks Of the other divisions are
also undergoing general repairs, 10 that
within the very near future the tracks Of
the entire system will be in flrst-class con-
dition. This will include the improvements
already made in the remodeling Of the
curve at Duncan avenue and Sarah street.
which was completed some time ago. 1t
having been considered a very dangerous
curve. Several other similar Improvements
have been made recently. and It Is now
to abandon the old curve at
Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets and
Lucas avenue, which has been an eyesore
not only to the company, but to the gen.
eral public. for many years. The COM
pany has purchased in that vicinity, in
order to enable them to lay the tracks on
private right Of way, which. no doubt.
will be welcome news to sths patrons of
the line. as well as to the general public.
The president. Mr.. Julius S. Walsh, has
about completed arrangements to extend
the tracks on Union avenue over a private
to the main entrance Of the |
Fair grounds. and similar ex-
tension will be made from the Clayton line |
At the point where that line now passes |
the Administration building.
In February OF this year the old car
barn at De Hodiamont was destroyed by |
dre, and Is now being replaced by q first |
class f1re-proof building. The work on this |
building is now progressing very rapidly |
Ind the company expects to have the same
completed before January Is. 1904.
Tho company has now seventy-nve Of |
he most modern cars. with q seating ca
'acity OF fifty-two passengers. each car
'Quipped with four motors. These elegant
,ars were built by the st. Louis Car Com
,any. Tho remainder Of the rolling stock
5 being rebuilt as quickly as possible and
vhen completed will be practically new, as
hey arc equipped with new motors and all
modern appliances. Nearly all of the cars
re equipped with the latest improved air
'rakes.
In addition to the track and rolling
took. the company is also placing in the
nvor sfotInps r>;v aooinoo NAV, boVJoro
lew generators and other electrical appli-
noes, which they expect to have entirely
ompleted within sixty days. at which
lme they expect to have sufficient power
Or all emergencies.
At the present writing vast improve
tents are also being made in a general
'ay In and around the power-house at De
[odiamont. including the special work,
rading. etc. in front Of the company's
Noes and carhouse. improvements are
lso being made at Brentwood Station.
he building Of transformer stations along
10 county lines II also being contem- ,
lated. +,
The tracks are laid with 9-inch 1Oo-pound {
Ills. but In the extensions they are put
Nc in the eishty-pound T rails. same as I
, the steam railroads. The new car barn I
IS capacity Of 100 cars. The entire oper- I
ipE force consists Of 400 men. I
They have two large power plants; also r
ie Transforming plant at Sixteenth and
ash streets. The company does all It's 9
vn repairing and painting az De Hodia- .
ont. On May "a the old car barn was o
.stroyed by fire and seventy-hve cars (
ere consumed in the flames. n
The lost and found department plays an C
,portant part in the working economy. h
U articles are held for ninety days, and q