The Phoenix Trolley Museum

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.]

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.