The Phoenix Trolley Museum

Mr. H. L. Wharton returned yesterday from a two month’s trip to the east in connection with the construction of the electric street railway for which a franchise was granted him and others last March.

The arrangements for its construction have been completed and Chicago capitalists have deposited in Phoenix banks to Mr. Wharton’s credit $25,000 as an earnest of their intention to go on with the work.

The six months limit named in the ordinance granting the franchise will not expire until September 7 and long before that the working laying the tracks will have begun.

– The Arizona Republican, 1892-08-10, p. 1

County Franchises.

The board of supervisors yesterday granted two important franchises to G. W. Hoadley. One is to construct on streets and roads throughout the county outside of Phoenix twenty miles of electric railway. The other is to erect on such streets and roads poles and wires for electric lighting purposes.

W. J. Kingsbury was also given franchises to erect in Tempe electric light, telegraph and telephone poles and to lay pipe for water and gas.

Source: The Arizona Republican, 1893-02-07, p. 1

Bisbee daily review, 1902-09-12, p.8

S. F. Cochrane, formerly of the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix railway, has arrived in Douglas and will have charge of the construction on the Douglas street railway, which is expected to commence early in October. The grade has been finished and the steel and rolling stock is already on the road from the east.

—

Bisbee daily review, 1902-09-26, p.8

Douglas Street Railway in 90 Days

The street railroad at Douglas is expected to be in operation within the next ninety days. S. F. Meguire, secretary of the Douglas Improvement Company, informs the Review that the rolling stock and steel for the system is ready for shipment. The motive power for the present will be small engines, burning crude oil, which will be smokeless, and the engines are almost noiseless.

—

Bisbee daily review, 1902-11-09, p.4

Street Railway at Douglas

Our representative ascertained that the street railway in our neighboring city of Douglas is making good progress. The grading is practically completed and the company are only waiting for the ties and rails to put the neat little system in operation. It will be operated by steam dummy engines at first, and will doubtless be converted into an electric system later on. It runs well out into the country in every direction, as far as the Calumet and Arizona, on the northwest and and will be extended as rapidly as the extension of the booming little city requires it, which at the present rate of progress will be about once a week. In the course of a year it will doubtless reach the interesting suburbs known as Naco and Bisbee.

—

Bisbee daily review, 1903-05-20, p.8

Douglas Street Railway Time Table

In effect Sunday, May 10th, 1903.

Douglas Terminal E.P.&S.W. Passenger Station (Temporarily)

Leave Douglas, 6:40am, 8:00am, 10:00am, 11:30am, 1:15pm, 2:40pm, 5:10pm, 10:40pm
Leave Calument, 7:05am, 8;15am, 10:50am, 12:00am, 1:14pm, 3:05pm, 5:35pm, 11:05pm

—

Bisbee daily review, 1903-09-24, p.1

Don Luis Townsite and a Suburban Electric Road

Henry P. Barbour, of Los Angeles, of the firm Henry P. Barbour company, Dealer in Real Estate, has been in the city for the past two days on important real estate business, being nothing less than choosing the final details of the transfer of eighteen mining claims near Don Luis, and owned by Charles Hull, to a company of capitalists of which Mr. Barbour is the head and among whom are several prominent citizens of Los Angeles.

Fruther than this the company, which at present is in process of formation, has in contemplation the building of the street railway line about which we heard so much talk several weeks ago. In this enterprise will be local capital, as well as foreign, and it is stated on good authority that L.C. Shattuck, president of the Miners and Merchants bank of this city, will be one of the heaviest stockholders.

In converstation with Mr. Barbour, at the Copper Queen Hotel on Tuesday he briefly outlined the plan and purposes of his company.

“In a small way,” said Mr. Barbour, “we intend to follow the general idea of Colorado Springs. Not that we ever expect to have another Colorado Springs here, but our idea is to prepare at Don Luis a beautiful and healthy townsite that will serve as the residence portion of Bisbee and the surrounding camps, and as a further inducement we propose to connect Bisbee and these surrounding camps by an electric road.

“We have unbounded faith in the future of Bisbee and the surrounding mining districts, and as Bisbee grows in population and wealth we can foresee the building of a nice residence portion in the vicinity that we have selected for the building of the town.”

With Mr. Barbour from Los Angeles was Judge W.H. Barnes, of Tucson, who comes to Bisbee in the capacity of legal adviser to the new company and who at the same time will be heavily interested. Both gentlemen left for Douglas yesterday to look over the field at that point and will also visit Naco before they leave this section.

No doubt, the ultimate intention of the company is to connect Bisbee with Naco and Douglas by an electric line and run fifteen minute cars…

It is of some interest in connection with this enterprise to know that Judge Barnes, attorney for the company, and who is one of the very best corporation lawyers in the territory, holds that before the city can grant his company any kind of a franchise or privilege that the question must first be submitted to a vote of the people. The question of a street railway franchise will in all probability be presented to the people of Bisbee at the April election.

—

Bisbee daily review, 1903-10-28, p.4

Barbour Company Lets a Contract

Postoffice building soon to go up at Don Luis

Manager W.B. Thompson of the Henry P. Barbour company, reports that the sale of lots in the Hull tract of the Don Luis townsite yesterday was far in excess of any one day’s sale since the inception of the company, with the exception of one. Thirteen lots were disposed of yesterday by Mr. Thompson and his assistants, ranging in price from $300 to $500.

A contract was let to J.A. Hall for the excavation of ground for the foundation of a two-story brick and stone structure, 50 by 150, to be used as a postoffice and office building for the Henry P. Barbour company…

The Barbour corps of civil engineers will be here within a few days and will start work on laying out the proposed line of the street railway from Don Luis to the city limits of Bisbee.

—

Bisbee daily review, 1903-10-30

Another Franchise and No Returns

A regular meeting of the city council of Bisbee was held during this week. All the members of the council were not present, but a sufficient number were to constitute a legal meeting. At that meeting another franchise was granted. This time to the Bisbee and Don Luis Electric line of railway. While the Review has not a copy of the ordinance before it at this writing, it is presumed that the report of the proceedings of the council in the news columns are correct. The provisions of the franchise, according to these reports, are that the street railway line is granted the right to lay tracks in the city of Bisbee, and for twenty-five years are accorded the privilege of operating an electric railway on the streets of Bisbee within the city limits. They are to give a five-cent fare within those limits, and issue exchange tickets to any other part of the city from connecting lines…

A telegram to the Review from Mr. Henry P. Barbour states that he will leave Los Angeles Saturday next, and will arrive in Bisbee Monday accompanies by engineers and contractors, prepared to push the building of the electric line to Don Luis forward with the utmost dispatch. Mr. Barbour is a man of tremendous resources and a tireless worker. His arrival here will be another stimulation towards the building up of the new townsite. Nothing so far that he has promised or undertaken but what he has put through with a rush.

—

Bisbee daily review, 1903-11-12, p. 2

[Editorial]

Unlike the gas franchise, which never was a franchise, the people are to have something to say about what their streets are worth. Thousands of dollars can be had in case for such a franchise.

The people of Bisbee will keep in mind the voting on the franchise of a gift of their streets to corporations without some return. Read the history of New York, Chicago, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, and any other place on the subject of street railway franchises.

—

Bisbee daily review, 1903-12-24, p.8

New Accomodation.

The Douglas Street railway will soon have its line in operation to the International line, and when arrangements can be made for a right of way it will no doubt be extended to the business center of Agua Prieta.

A brief history of the company and its competitor line to the Phoenix Street Railway, taken from the files of the Electric Railway Journal. Thanks to J. Gale for finding these.

Electric Railway Journal Vol. XL No. 6, August 10, 1912, Page 234

Under “Track and Roadway”

Mesa, Arizona.—The W. K. Palmer Company, engineers, Kansas City, Mo., is actively engaged with the Salt River Valley Electric Railway, doing engineering work and making the necessary business arrangements for the construction of this line. Locations and surveys have been completed and the plans and specifications have been prepared for the direct line from Phoenix to Tempe and Tempe to Mesa and the Palmer company is now making surveys for a second line, known as the Southside line, to run from Phoenix to Tempe on the south side of the Salt River. The company hopes soon to announce definitely its construction program.

Electric Railway Journal Vol. XL No. 24, December 21, 1912, Page 1257

Under “Franchises”

Phoenix, Ariz.—The Salt River Valley Electric Railway, Phoenix, has asked the Council for a ninety-day extension of its franchise in which to begin the construction of its line in Phoenix. It will connect Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Alhambra, Glendale and Peoria. C. C. Lewis, president. [E. R. J., Aug. 10, '12.]

Electric Railway Journal Vol. XLI No. 1,  January 4, 1913, Page 51

Under “Franchises”

Phoenix, Ariz.—The Salt River Valley Electric Railway has received an extension of the time fixed in which to begin the construction of its line in Phoenix. It will connect Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Alhambra, Glendale and Peoria. S. C. Lewis, president. [E. R. J., Dec. 21, '12.]

Electric Railway Journal Vol. XLI No. 4, January 25, 1913, Page 175

Under “Franchises”

Phoenix, Ariz.—The Salt River Valley Electric Railway has asked the Board of Supervisors for a franchise for right-of-way over county roads between Phoenix and Mesa, via Tempe.

Electric Railway Journal Vol. XLIII No. 20, May 16, 1914, Page 1123

Under “Track and Roadway”

Salt River Valley Electric Railway, Phoenix, Ariz.—This company advises that it has no definite plans when work will be begun on its ’20-mile electric railway from Phoenix to Mesa. C. C. Lewis, Phoenix, president. [E. R. J., Nov. 1, '13.]

Electric Railway Journal Vol. XLIV No. 13, September 26, 1914, Page 594

Under “Track and Roadway”

Salt River Valley Electric Railway, Phoenix, Ariz.— All matters in temporary dispute between the city manager and this company have been satisfactorily adjusted and active work is being pushed on the construction of the line east on Monroe Street in Phoenix. The first line will be built from Phoenix to Scottsdale and probably extended south across the Salt River to Tempe, Mesa and Chandler. It is the purpose of the company to build its own bridge across the Salt River. C. C. Lewis, Phoenix, president. [E. R. J., May 16, '14.]

Electric Railway Journal Vol. XLV No. 11, March 13, 1915, Page 536

Under “Track and Roadway”

Salt River Valley Electric Railway, Phoenix, Ariz.—Surveys have been completed by this company between Phoenix and Mesa, 18 miles, and between Scotsdale [sic] and Phoenix, 12 miles. The company’s franchise for the line expired Dec. 21, 1914, and the project has been abandoned on account of financial conditions. C. C. Lewis, Phoenix, president. [E. R. J., Sept. 26, '14.]

Charges of Incompetence Brought Before Commissioners Results in Call for Hearing on the Matter

The Phoenix city charter commissioners met today and adopted a resolution as is provided in the city charter when a movement is on foot to remove the city manager, fixing February 11th as a day on which the city manager in this case Ad Farish may appear and answer to charges which have been filed…

…Of the specific charges which the commission will demand that he answer, one is his failure to require from the White Line Street Railway company a bond that they would leave in good condition the streets over which they had been given a franchise to build their right of way. The White Line Company failed financially and as a result a great many city blocks which had been dug up preparatory to laying track were left in such condition that the cost to the city in fixing them was a good many hundred dollars…

Bisbee daily review, 1915-01-26, p. 3

N. L. Amster, of Boston, Secures Concession from Gila County Supervisers to Towns in Globe District; Cleve W. Van Dyke Raised Objections

GLOBE, Nov. 22 – The Board of Supervisors yesterday passed the resolution granting to Nathan L. Amster of Boston, Mass., a right of way for an electric street railway from the town of Globe to and through the town of Miami to Live Oak.

The supervisors’ office was crowded during the day with attorneys, citizens and others interested in the passage of the franchise.

Before passing the franchise a resolution was passed by the board defining the method of handling the initiative and referendum in the matter should it be submitted.

Mr. Cleve W. Van Dyke of behalf of the people of Miami made a protest during the morning against the passage of the resolution as well as the franchise. In the afternoon he was represented by attorney F. C. Jacobs.

The franchise was taken up section by section and discussed. Mr. Van Dyke asked that the franchise be amended to read from Globe to Live Oak instead of from Globe to Miami. He stated that this contention was only fair to the people of Miami so that they could get the benefit of the traffic from Live Oak. Messrs. Rawlins and Little argued that inasmuch as the railway had to be completed within a certain time they might forfeit their franchise by agreeing to such a provision for the reason that Mr. Van Dyke would tie the road up in litigation when it reached Miami. It was finally agreed to insert that “provided the right of way from Miami to Live Oak can be obtained without litigation or expense for right of way.”

The next clause that created discussion and met opposition from Mr. Van Dyke was the provision relative to cost of commutation tickets. The rate established in the franchise is $7.50 from Globe to Live Oak and return once a day for thirty days. The rate from Miami to Live Oak and return for thirty days was spoken of as being $3.00. Mr. Van Dyke argued that the rate from Miami to Live Oak as compared to the rate from Globe to Miami was too high and an unequal ratio. He stated that the proper rate would be 90 cents and asked for the establishment of this rate in the franchise. It was argued by Messrs. Rawlins and Little and others that if the rate was not equitable it was the duty of the State Corporation to revise it after it became operative and after length argument the amendment was rejected.

– The Bisbee daily review, 1912-11-23, p. 3

Suburban Cars Will Connect Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, and Glendale.

Work Being Pushed Phoenix, April 20. “All aboard for Scottsdale, Ingleside, Tempe, and Mesa.”

Ground was broken this morning at the corner of First and Madison streets for the construction of the “White Line,” officially known as the “Salt River Valley Electric railroad.”

By nightfall Contractor Lewis had the street torn up as far as Third street, and in a couple of days he will be at Seventh street. This is the first actual manifestation the people of Phoenix have had of the actual construction of the line, and the work of grading was watched throughout the day by interested crowds.

It is announced by Secretary Lewis that the company has in its possession, in addition to franchises through the streets of Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, private rights of way for thirty-two of thirty-five miles to be traversed by the new line.

Contracts have been closed, Lewis says, for a large quantity of ties, and the work will be pushed forward rapidly. No serious engineering difficulties are to be encountered until the Salt River, at Tempe, is reached. Here a costly bridge must be built.

– The Bisbee daily review, 1912-04-21, p. 7

Yesterday’s Phoenix Democrat contains the following:

Late this afternoon it was learned that the Southern Pacific railroad has purchased from General Moses H. Sherman, of Los Angeles, the entire holdings of the Phoenix City Railroad company.

The belief is entertained in inner circles that the purpose of the Southern Pacific is to give Phoenix a first-class trolley system like that which was begun in Los Angeles by H. E. Huntington twenty years ago, and which was lately taken over by the Espee.

The move of Southern Pacific is also regarded as a recogniztion of the future tremendous possibilites of Phoenix, not only as a great distributing center of the Southwest, but as a rival transcontinental winter resort to Los Angeles.

The movement is deeply significant, following so closely as it does the announcement of the Rock Island to push its road immediately to Tucson and then in all probability to Phoenix.

The holdings of the company include franchises for a hundred miles of lines in and adjacent to Phoenix.

– The Bisbee daily review, 1911-08-04, p. 4

Ready for Franchise

Company Will Build Interurban Car Line. To Incorporate Today.

Valley Towns Will Have Hourly Service. — Phoenix the Center of the System. Franchise Asked From City Council.

Local capitalists are reported to be embarking upon one of the greatest and most important financial adventures ever undertaken in the valley. It was learned yesterday that a body of responsible business men of this city propose to incorporate a company which will build and operate an interurban electric railway between Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, Ingleside¹, and Scottsdale.

Application will be made to the city today for a franchise authorizing the company to lay tracks through the streets of Phoenix…

The new line, as at present planned will be divided into two long arms, which will come together at Chicago Avenue², near Desert Inn³. From this junction point a single line will be run through Phoenix to the Capitol, running from Chicago Avenue west on Roosevelt to Fourth Street, south on Fourteenth to Van Buren and west on Van Buren to the capitol.

One arm of the project will end in Mesa, running from that point through Tempe, past the Hole-in-the Rock⁴, and onto Chicago Avenue. The other arm, will be constructed from the junction to Scottsdale [via] Ingleside…

From the Arizona Republican, July 26, 1911.

The Salt River Valley Electric Railway Company incorporated on that date, and is listed in the 1912 through 1914 Phoenix City Directory, but not in the 1915 or later editions. The Company lists as its officers president C. C. Lewis, secretary A. B. Baker, treasurer Jason M Sweatman; and the address Fleming Building, #315-316.  (The Fleming Building was at the northwest corner of Washington Street and 1st Avenue.)

Source: Jim McAllister’s Arizona Central (Arizona Republic) blog

Further Progress on Inter-Urban Line

Articles of Incorporation Filed

…The aims and progress of the company were described last night by Mr. [F. M.] Winter, the principal promoter, who said that the work of construction is expected to be begun early in September…

As has bene stated it is the purpose to ask the council for a franchise along Van Buren Street, whence the road will run to Hole-in-the-Rock, at which point it will branch, one line running to Scottsdale via Ingleside, and the other to Tempe, Mesa, and south to Chandler.

Westward the road will run to Alhambra, Glendale and Peoria. A thorough canvass has been made of the territory proposed and everywhere the most earnest support has been encountered…

It is proposed to levy assessments on the acreage and practically every property owner along the proposed route has been interviewed. Mr. Winter said that in no case had a refusal been encountered. The company has offered to give stock for the amount of the assessments so that the line will be essentially a people’s line.

It is proposed to handle beside passenger traffic, freight, express and mail… It will be a rapid transit line equipped with the latest models of cars used for interurban traffic.

The profits have been figured by Mr. Winter who has had extensive experience in such matters and he believes that a divident of twenty-five per cent on the stock will be realized…

Though in the present plans of the company the matter has not yet figured, Mr. Winter said that in all probability there would be an extension of the road into the Buckeye country, as petitions covering a large stretch in that direction have been received…

– Arizona Republican, 27 July 1911, page 6.

NOTES:

1. Ingleside, Arizona was located in what is today a neighborhood of Scottsdale, around the site of the Ingleside Inn, which was at what is now 61st Street and Indian School Road.  Here is a history of the Inn.
2. Chicago Avenue was renamed 44th Street in 1956.
3. Desert Inn was a sanatorium located at “Clayson’s Ranch” according to the 1909 Phoenix City Directory.
4. Hole-In-The-Rock is located in today’s Papago Park on McDowell Road west of 68th Street.

ref The Coconino sun, 1905-10-21, p. 2

“At the request of the Arizona Fair association, the board of supervisors Monday granted the Phoenix Railway company a 38-year franchise for an electric line out Grand avenue from the city limits to the fair grounds.”