The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-11-28
Street Cars
~WA wv
Twenty-Fifh
Anniversary


hardly possible that the modern
street railway system, one of the
greatest developments of this cleo
trical age, should be no older than
twenty-five years. Yet it was in Oc-
tober, 1888, that the first electric
street passenger car ever operated
in this country was sent on its initial
trip at Lynn, Mass, taking the pres
emit course of the Highland Circuit
route through several of the princi-
pal streets of the city. Trips for the
first few weeks were made with hors-
es and they continued to pull the cars
until the poles and wires were erect
ed for electric power. ,.
This was the first electrically equip
ped street passenger car ever run in
the United States. Why the High
land section of the city was selected
as an appropriate place for running
this car seems rather peculiar to the
present generation, but there was a
reason for this. Inventors of those
days were working zealously to pre-
sent self-propelled electric car. The
Highland district, with it's steep hill,
presented the best place for putting
the latest invention to a severe test.
Machinery for the car was con-
structed at the Lynn works of the
General Electric company, and, rath-
| er than 60 to the expense OF trying
the new invention out in some other
municipality, it was deemed wise to
put it to it's first test in the home
city. There was a sufficient number
of dwellings about the Highlands at
this time to guarantee paying ex-
penses providing the car was a sue
cess.
! Work of erecting the support poles
and overhead wires completed in less
than two months time, and about the
latter part of October, 1888, the car
was sent over the Highlands, for the
first time under it's own power. 1t
afforded the latest curiosity of the
time under is own powed. ETAONI
time and hundreds of citizens, to-
| gether with prominent electrical ex-
perts, turned out to witness the car
run up the hill under it's own power.
Electricity for operating this car was
supplied by a small power plant To-
Gated in the basement of the old
Lennox a building, corner TO MHret
street and Harrison court.
On Tuesday, September 4, 1888,
an article under the heading of
Highland Street Cars" appeared in
the Daily Evening Item, Lynn. as
follows: "A special car, with hors-
es attached, will be run over the
tracks of the Highland Electric rail-
way, this afternoon and Wednesday
the car will begin to run regular
trips, with horses, until electric
| wires ana poles are lal0.
Sure enough, the first electric car
was run over the Highlands on that
date, with horses attached. This
car was a boxed affair and was, only
a few years ago, taken off the High
land route and converted into a
double track car, and was run on the
Euclid avenue route up to few years
ago, when it was replaced by the
present modern conveyances on this
line. The first trip of tie car was
made with pair of gray horses.
These hauled the car as far as the
foot of Rockaway street, where a
pair of tow horses were added and
the car pulled up the hill.
i There was a large passenger list
aboard and everything went we'll un-
til the summit of the High Rock
street incline was reached. At this
place President Breed requested that
Mr.. Grover, who was on hand to SUI
pervise the running of this trip, take
the reins and run the car down the
hill. Taking his position on the
front platform Mr.. Grover set mis-
brake and signalled the horses to
start. The descent was made in PEI
iecL order. md, upon reaching City
hall, the car was sent back to My.t'e
street stables. from which place II
was h'.t eel: out.
On Wednesday, September 6. the
day on which the first regular trips
we're cmms ced on tn. Highlands,
an article under the heading Of
Loaded Cars" appeared in the Daily
EWING Item as follows 1.-THE High
land circuit horse cars carried large
loads this noon, and there is no ques-
tion but what large traffic will re-
ward the enterprise Of the L. & B. r.
R." On this same evening a display
of fireworks was given at the sum-
NIT Of Rockaway street incline, in
celebration of the opening Of this
IL 81 I. ~ II