ELECTRIC CARS RUNNING IN CORTLAND AND HOMER

Trolley cars in front of the Cortland House.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, January 24, 1895.

ELECTRIC CARS RUNNING.

JANUARY 23, A NOTABLE DAY FOR CORTLAND.

Streets Filled With People to Greet the First Car—Successful From Every Point of View.

   Horse cars in Cortland are a thing of the past. The streets now resound with the loud clang of the motor man's gong and the trolley car glides along with its invisible power of locomotion. One is reminded of the Chinaman's description: "No pushee, no pullee, runny like h—ee."

   The 3:20 o'clock horse car north yesterday afternoon was heavily loaded. Besides its accustomed load of passengers there were a number of the business men of Cortland, who were not accustomed to be away from their offices and stores at that time of day and every one seemed to be in the best of spirits. All of these got off at the car barns between the villages. The car from Homer which arrived a few minutes later was similarly loaded.

   The center of attraction was the elegant new trolley car which stood just inside the door of the car barns, which was soon to start out upon its trial trip with its load of invited guests. Many were the expressions of surprise and of gratification as the company inspected the new car and its companion which stood just behind it, both of which were built by the Cortland Omnibus & Cab Co. These are the first cars which this company have ever built, but it was the unanimous opinion of all that for beauty of lines, of finish and of decoration and for roominess and convenience they are not surpassed by any of the cars built by the well-known builders of many years of experience, and few cities can show upon their streets cars as handsome and as fine in every respect as are these. They are fitted with the necessary arrangements for brilliantly lighting and comfortably heating by electricity.

   It was just 4 o'clock when the invitation came to get on board. Mr. H. C. Maxwell, the expert electrician and the master mechanic of the road who has recently moved here from Ithaca, was in charge of the motor. Contractor S. M. [Olaz] grasped the trolley rope. Mr. Maxwell took a glance over his shoulder, saw that all was ready, gave a twist of the motor crank, and the first trolley car on the road glided smoothly out or the barns, turned upon the main track and started for Cortland. There was a hilarious shout from the crowd of men and boys standing about the doors and then all the youngsters started on a full run for Cortland, trying to keep ahead of the car and wasting much necessary and useful breath in their whoops of delight. But they needed all that wind if they were going to keep pace with the car and they soon relapsed into silence but kept up the race.

   Upon the car were the following persons: Messrs. H. Bergholtz, E. F. Van Vleet and I. C. Carpenter of Ithaca, C. H. Garrison of Troy, Robert Dunston, H. C. Maxwell, L. D. Garrison, J. E. Eggleston, H. L. Bronson, W. D. Tisdale, T. C. Scudder, F. J. Doubleday, Harry Swan, C. S, Bull, B. B. Jones, J. C. Seager, Harrison Wells, Arthur Holt, G. H. Garrison, John O'Connell, E. W. Phelps, S. M. [Olaz], F. P. Fuller, Jerry Hartnett, L. P. [Bine] and E. D. Blodgett of Cortland, H. L. Leet of Binghamton, E. J. Bockes, C. H. Danes, C. H. Wakefield, W. J. Watson, O. B. Andrews, E. W. Hyatt and C. S. Pomeroy of Homer.

   Inside the car congratulations upon the successful operation of the system were heard on every side.

   Mr. Bergholtz, who has superintended the construction from the beginning said little, but his quiet smile spoke volumes.

   C. H. Garrison said, "This is what I have been looking forward to for years, and if I could have had my way electric cars would have been running here years ago."

   Horace L. Bronson, who has been the local attorney for the Traction company and who has steered its affairs through all of the difficulties and hindrances rubbed his hands together as with a broad smile on his face he said, "I tell you, this is riding."

   Resident Engineer Robert Dunston's face wore a satisfied smile as he passed and repassed the box of choice cigars.

   H. L. Leet looked up at the wire work overhead which he had constructed and bore himself with an air of contentment, as the car moved on without a hitch.

   Michael Hassett, who was not present on the car, but who had supervised all the track work, came in for his share of praise.

   President Tisdale and the Cortland board of trustees nodded to each other as much as to say, "I guess the people, when they try this car, will appreciate the improved method of transit which we secured for them when we granted the franchise for the electric road."

   C. S. Bull cast his eyes with a look of pride over to the power house which he had built, as the car passed by it, and was evidently thinking that the electricity which was carrying the car along so smoothly was all generated there.

   L. D. Garrison moved back and forth through the car thinking of how he had had to bear the brunt of the grumbling and growling and kicking at the delays and the transfers and the inconveniences which could not possibly be avoided during the process of construction, and how that was all over, and perhaps he wondered if those people who had been loudest in their complaints would have a word of approval to say of the new system, so much more rapid and convenient.

   The Homer people upon the car gave numerous expressions of their delight at the improved manner of getting back and forth between the villages. They were probably thinking of how quickly they could get home nights from entertainments at the Cortland Opera House.

   Nearly every one had something to say and it was all in favor of the new.

   As the car hastened down to the village the streets became lined with people and in nearly every window there were from one to a half dozen faces. Hats were whirled, handkerchiefs waved and smiles were everywhere. It was curious to note the different way in which the horses received the new cars. It is only once in a very long time that a horse is found who is afraid of a horse car, but nearly every one looks with apprehension at this new arrangement of cars going of themselves. Some of them, however, paid no attention to the car, but passed by unmoved. At nearly every corner though there were anxious drivers hurrying their horses around to get out of the way. Several times men leaped from their sleighs to take the horses by the heads, and in one instance a man tried to unhitch his horse from the cutter, but almost before he had unfastened the first trace the car had passed by and the horse hadn't moved a muscle. In one case a horse stood it bravely until the car was abreast of him and then he bolted unceremoniously across the walk upon a lawn. No harm, however, was done, except the scaring of a lady nearly out of her wits, who chanced to be upon the sidewalk and who thought the horse was going straight at her. But he didn't come within a rod of her. However, the horses endured it much better than was anticipated and it will not be long before they will care no more for the trolley car than for the old horse car.

   At the E., C. & N. station there was a pause of a few minutes and then the car with its load started back to the car barns. It is a little over a mile and a half and the run was made in exactly seven minutes. There could be no attempt at speed either, for there was too much ice on the rails and besides the northbound horse car which had been met on the switch in front of the store of Warren, Tanner & Co., while the trolley car was on the way down, was overtaken soon after turning the corner by the hospital on North Main-st. and, though the driver was running his horses to keep out of the way, the electric car had to be slowed up to avoid running over it.

   When the barns were reached a large proportion of the guests accepted an invitation to go down and inspect the power house. They found Mr. C. N. Walsh, the polite and efficient agent of the Watertown Engine Co., in charge there superintending the running of the engines and that gentleman did all in his power to show them the interesting features of the place.

   Others who did not care to go there or who had visited it before returned to Cortland upon the car. On the way down Mr. Hugh Duffey's turnout was met. Mr. Duffey had been invited to join the party for the trial trip, but had not arrived in time. The car stopped and he came on board. He was accompanied by Mr. Geo. C. Preston of Kingston, Mr. G. J. Mager, another guest, and a director of the old road also came upon the car at this trip. The car ran back and forth until dark.

   To-day it is making regular trips from the E., C. & N. station to the D., L. & W. crossing between the villages. Horse cars are running on the north end, and the trolley car connects with them at the crossing. It will be but a few days before one of the cars will be run across the D., L. & W. upon a temporary track and then trolley cars will run on both ends of the road, though a transfer will be required for the present at the crossing.

  

THE LAST CARD

Has Been Played Without Success by Brooklyn Strikers.

   BROOKLYN, Jan. 24.—The beginning of the end of the great trolley strike was reached to-day. The strikers played their last card yesterday in ordering out the electrical workers on all the lines affected. They announced that the roads would be paralyzed to-day by the lack of men competent to repair trolley wires. Wholesale wire cutting took place during the night and many of the linemen obeyed the order to quit work. This gave the companies more trouble. Several lines which have been operated for several days were tied up for a time in the early morning. They were started when repairs had been made by new men, and by those who refused to go out. The companies started new lines to-day, and while normal traffic is not yet restored, cars are operated on all the main arteries of travel. Smaller branches to outlying districts and cross town lines are still idle. Green Point saw its first car for ten days and its protesting citizens who yesterday demanded the forfeiture of charters were somewhat mollified. Law and order is not yet established, even though cars are able to run with some degree of safety to their occupants. It is definitely decided that no more troops are needed however, and the troops now here are expected to restore order.

Lord Randolph Churchill.

Lord Churchill Dead.

   LONDON, Jan. 24.—Lord Randolph Churchill died at 6:15 o'clock this morning. His death was peaceful and painless. He had been unconscious for 30 hours. His wife and mother remained with him throughout the night. Early this morning he began sinking rapidly and at 6 o'clock Dr. Roose was summoned. Fifteen minutes later he died. The body will be buried at Woodstock.

BREVITIES.

   —The King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. A. M. Johnson, 34 N. Main-st,, Friday, Jan. 25, at 2:30 P. M.

   —The Fortnightly club met yesterday afternoon with Miss Martha McGraw, 6 James-st., and finished the study of Othello.

   —Don't fail to see the production of "Zarah's Sacrifice" by the Players' club for the benefit of the hospital, Jan. 29 and 30.

   —The large photograph of the C. A. A. tug-of-war team is on exhibition in G. F. Beaudry's south window. The lettering is very fine and was done by Mr. C. H. Drake.

   —The Little York Ice Co. have quite a gang of men at work cutting and shipping ice. A switch engine is kept busy at Little York and it is expected that eighty cars of ice will be shipped to-day and to-morrow to Binghamton, Corning and Cortland.

   —The Elmira Sun was a new paper which came into being about ten days ago and lasted just a week. The editors made a heavy investment in experience and got good returns. The financial investment, however, did not turn out so well. This is a bad time to start new papers.