Evening star., 1916-12-04
EARLY CAR LINES
IN CAPITAL CITY
"reminiscences of William N.
De NeaIe, One of the Vet
erans of Service.
EXPERIMENTS THAT FAILED

propelling the cars that were tried out
here. are told by William N. De Neale,
veteran employe of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. now
etxty-nine years old. He has been in
the street railway service in Washing
ton since 1874. and is still active as a
special agent
These "reminiscences include anec-
dotes Of floods and strikes, and, besides
giving chronological history of the
street railway service in the National
Capital. tell interestingly of the
strenuous days Of the early employees
Recalling the days of the one-horse
car. and carrying his narrative through
to the development Of the present sys-
tenn. Mr. De Neale says:
First Two-Horse Car.
"The first two-horse car was run
from Georgetown, down sth street to
the navy yard gate in 1862 Previous
to that time stage coaches ran from
the navy yard to 9Th street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue, connecting with coaches for
Georgetown called .the Vanderwerken
line.
The Georgetown line ran cars
through the Capitol grounds, going to
the navy yard; The Capitol grounds
were inclosed by a high iron fence.
The Georgetown line also ran cars
1om 1a1h a4th III a, and New York avenue to
being very infrequent.
Ihe Georgetown line was proposed
IN 1884. but objected to by citizens,
who said it would cut up the street.
though Pennsylvania avenue at that
time was only rough. rutty roadway.
Stock was subscribed for in 1858 to the
amount of 100000
In 1859 stock was subscribed for to
the necessary amount of 100000. The
1862.
"At I'd and Pennsylvania avenue the
what was called 'Tiber creek. which
ran through the Botanic garden.
emptyfng into the old canal The 7th
street line was first constructed about
l. 1890.
Other Lines Chartered.
THE Metropolitan railroad was or
ganized on July 1. 1854.
The Columbia line was chartered
May "a, 1871.
THE Anacostia line received its
charter March 9, 1872, with William
Guinan a grocer merchant on the Navy
yard. as president
The Capitol. North 0 and South
Washington line. later the belt line
was organized in March, 1875.
The lexington and Soldiers Home
Electric line started operation July 10.
THE Georgetown and Tennallytown
line was organized in 1888.
The Brightwood line was organized
on October Is. 1888.
The Rock Creek line was organ
lied in 1888,
'The North Capitol Street line was
constructed in 1891.
structed in 1864. aid ran two-horse
cars from 18th street and New York
avenue to Delaware avenue and B street
northeast. near the Capitol. The presi-
Brown. John w. Thompson was presi-
dent from 1855 to 1884. Capt w. w.
Moore was secretary and treasurer
from 1865 to 1887.
structed.
II remember getting on a one-horse car
on street in 1870 and depositing my
fare in a 'siawson' box. This style Of
about 1894 on the F street and 9th
street lines. when a few two-horse cars
with both driver and conductor were
started. Commencing about 1888 the
two-horse cars were added from time
to time, replacing the one-horse cars
entirely about 1894.
Started as a Driver.
John W. Thompson was president
and E. D. Griffith general superintend-
ent, when / started in as a driver in
1874. The stables and offices were at
18th street and New York avenue. The
change being handled by the driver,
put up in small envelopes.
Transfers were issued by the agents
stationed at 9Th and F streets. The
transfers were of different colored
oasteboard and dated at odd dates so
that persons could not kno" "nat date
would be issued.
New offices and stables across the P
Street bridge on p street. all wooden
structures, Were occupied ABOUT .s'o.
Cars after leaving the barn at New
York avenue ran up 18th street, turned
into H street and ran to 9th and East
Capitol streets, shifted around on an
old wooden turntable for the west
bound trip. Cars ran INTO the Capltoi
grounds just north of street and
shifted around on an old wooden turn
table for return west-hcund trip to b
street. where they turned around on
another wooden turntable- Wooden
turntables predominated at that time.
Some time after that shuttle car
was run from Dupont Circle to street
canitoI cars ran to the + street stables.
Cars were sent from the New York
avenue barn to 9th and F streets on
market DAYS, shifted on a wooden turn
ia BILE. and sent either north or south
hound on 9th street. a wooden turn
table at Rhode Island avenue was used
as short route to Missouri avenue
near 6th street where a wooden turn
tahI. was located This service was to
accorn,odate the market traffic.
Crowds Gave Drivers Trouble.
"During 1874 the new Schuetzen Park
Was opened The Schuetzen Society had
regular picnics. lasting several days.
cara used to be sent from the New
yorL avenue barn to accommodate the
,r,fsc from the 7th street barn to the
nark ON the ending Of the picnic or
feast the crowds were generally very
noisv and boisterous, giving the drivers
. graat amount of trouble Men were
detailed to collect fares on cars for a
certain distance, then return to other
cars leaving the park
"The rough element often mounted
the roof of cars and we pulled them off
with difficulty. The run to the park
was only about ten minutes Cars often
iumped the track, but never stopped
until they got back on the track or
reached the wooden turntable at the
park. ~
Schuetzen feast times once year.
when there was barbecue with roast
bullock.
to what was called Rock Creek ceme-
roy,, uoack'S