Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1904-04-13
TROLLEY SEEMS ASSURED
FOR SMYRNA AND CLAYTON
W. S. LEATHERBURY OF PENINSULA RAIL.
WAY COMPANY" MAKES PROPOSITION
ASKS Permission 10 Maintain and Operate a
Line on Main and Commerce Streets, Work
to Be Completed By May LIST, 1905.

!
The prospect of trolley to Smyrna
and Clayton connecting with Middle
town aud Odessa seems more assur-
ing than ever. Options have been Sc
cured along the route from Middle
town through Townsend and Black
bird to Smyrna, and Monday the sur
VeyOrs began their work. 1t is ex-
pected that ground will be broken the
last OF this week. Friday evening
Walter 5. Leatherbury, one of the
directors and managers of the new
concern, met with the Smyrna Town
Council and stated his proposition.
Every member of the Council was
present to hear his statement and
while there was nothing definitely de-
clded upon, the members were deeply
impressed with his plans and it is
more than likely that his requests
will be granted, with but few restric.
lions at the adjourned meeting to be
held next Friday evening. Ore of
the restrictions will be that part of
their charter where they propose 'tc
make house connections from their
electric conductors, " for the purpose
OF manufacturing, furnishing, selling
and supplying light. This would be
putting the concern in direct COM
petition with our Electric Light
Plant, a proposition the Council
would not hear to. They may, how
ever, since there is no day current at
our plant, allow the trolley company
to furnish and sell their power to
manufactures and other places, where
1t Is to be used directly as power and
not for lighting purposes.
Incorporated peninsula Railway Company"
The corporate name of the trolley
concern will be known as "The PEN
lnsula Railway Company" and thew
ask permission ''to maintain and
operate a single track railroad in the
town of Smyrna, on which both pas
senger and freight cars shall be pro-
PEELED or hauled by electricity, the
the whole length of Main street run
ming north and south, and the whole
length OF Commerce street running
east and west, to lay, construct, and
maintain such sidiugs, turnouts.
curves, switches. powerhouse, car
barns, freight house and depot, as
may be necessary for the proper main
tenance and operation of such rail
road, subject to and under the super
vision and approval of the President
OF the Smyrna Town Council" Sew
eral articles of the charter which thew
wished adopted by the Council deals
infinitely with the motors, overhead
wires, pole construction, &C. Re-
ferring to the roadbed they say sit
shall be placed in the center of the
streets upon which the tracks are to
be laid, and shall be constructed so
as to conform with the present grade
of the Streets, the side tracks to be
level with the bed of the streets and
the said company shall keep the
streets between the tracks and two
feet on either side of the same in good
repair, and in such condition as to
permit the public travel conveniently
and safely in wagons, carriages or
other vehicles, over and upon such
road bed and Streets" The work of
construction shall proceed "without
interfering with public travel for a
distance greater than two hundred
and fifty yards. The Company
agrees to have the railroad con-
structed and in running order within
the limits of the town, on or before
the first of May, 1905, and if it should
fail for the space of six months after
this date to run its cars regularly, it
shall be regarded as abandoned and |
the Council upon ten days written
notice can have the tracks taken up |
and the streets restored to their former
condi ton"
Hope to Have Trolley Line BY October.
This proposition is presented to the
Council in legal form, but outside of
this, Mr.. Leatherbury assures the
Council that the Company is a bona
fde concern, fully capitalized and
will live up to their agreement to the
letter. They promise to operate a
first class line. He says the COM
pany will give special attention to the
branch between Smyrna and Clayton
and will give the people a good SER
vice with cars running at frequent in
tervals. The time limit as mentioned
in their proposition is fixed for May
LIST, 1905, but Mr.. Leatherbury says
they hope to push the work along
with quickness of dispatch and have
the line completed as far as Smyrna
and Clayton and in operation by
October.