The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-17
TROLLEYS IN WEST
This Road Carries Freight
and Passengers.
OPERATION VERY SUCCESSFUL
Aurora, EIRin, and Chicago Type of
What Electrical Systems Are Like
Express Matter-Has GondoIa Car
Eauipment-LightinE Plant.

An interesting type Of the interurban
electric railway Is the Aurora. Elgin and
Chicago Railroad Company This COM
pany not only does a passenger business.
but has considerable freight traffic IN car
lots a line OF business which COMPARE
lively few electric railways have as yet
developed
The company has a special equipment
OF express and freight cars, including a
number Of recently purchased gondola
cars. For the year ended June 50. 1875.
the president OF the company states that
both the express and freight business
showed a gratifying increase over the
previous year With the provision Of new
freight equipment the car-Iot freight traf-
hc is expected 10 show continual in
cresses.
With the possibilities OF remunerativs
business IN this direction thus exempli-
fed. It IS reasonable TO expect a general
development OF electric railway freight
business and competition with steam
roads for Northumberland business.
Has I55 Miles of Track.
The Aurora. Eigin and Chicago Rail-
road Company has a total mileage OF I55.
Of which the lines connecting the cities
Of Aurora, Elgin. and Batavia with Chi
cago. operated by the third-rau system.
are the largest part. or S51z miles. This
division is constructed on private right Of
way Of an average width OF 50 feet. The
trolley interurban division. consisting OF
IS miles, is also largely constructed on
private right Of way.
This fact IS also illustrative OF a fen
dency toward a sound development Of in
terurban business, as it does away with
the necessity OF obtaining a franchise 20
use public highway which IS liable 10
De upset and also avoids the necessity
OF obtaining new concessions as The b1lSi-
ness increases The remaining divisions
OF the company are the city street rail-
way division (Elgin and Aurora}. @ miles.
and the Mount Carmel Cemetery division.
~ miles.
Electric Lighting Plant.
Besides engaging in a street railway
and interurban business. the company
does the electric lighting Of the CITY Of
Elgin. Its gross earnings from this source
in the year ended June 30. 1905, were 81
So and its net earnings 1851 All Of the
power is generated at the Batavia DOW
er-house, located on the bank Of the Fox
River, william unfailing water supply.
The power house contains four units Of
2.00e horsepower each-SOe0 horsepower
The company also has eight substatio1s
and three car shops and car barns. the
latter at Wheaton, Aurora, and FIgin
The property OF the company also in
cludes new substation at Elgin which
is ample in size to allow for future
growth in the lighting business in that
city.
The Aurora, Elgin and Chicago Railroad
Company is a consolidation Of the Au-
rora. Eigin and Chicago Railway Com
pany, the Elgin, Aurora and Southern
Traction Company. and the Cook County
and Southern Railway Company. char
tered IN March. 1906. Its capital stock
consists Of $4,000 common and So
10000 5 per cent cumulative preferred.
becoming S per cent in 1909, authorized
and Issued Its bonded debt consists Of
100000 Aurora. Elgin and Chicago Rail-
way first mortgage IS. due 1871; 5000. 600
Elgin, Aurora and Southern Traction
Consolidated first mortgage IS, due 1916;
SIS, 10000 Aurora. Elgin and Chicago Rail-
road first and refunding mortgage IS, OF
which 81 loo COO ara outstanding