Work will begin on construction of extension in the near future.
International-American, Douglas, Arizona. Nacozari, Aug. 3. — You may announce that arrangements have been completed for beginning work on the extension of the Douglas street car line in accordance with previous announcement, just as soon as the necessary franchise can be secured from the city council. — J. S. Douglas
The above positive announcement that work ins now ready to begin on the electric street car line for Douglas will be received with much satisfaction by the people of this city, as it marks another important step in the progress of this city, which has already attracted the attention of the southwest.
When Mr. Douglas was in Douglas on Monday of this week he was interviewed and gave some information concerning the enterprise in hand, but at that time there were some incompleted arrangements in connection with the enterprise that made it desirable that nothing be said then concerning it.
Route Adopted.
The immediate work to be undertaken and pushed hurriedly to completion is practically as heretofore announced, with the addition of a track on Tenth street from G avenue to B avenue and the indecision to the present time as to whether the north line from B avenue to G avenue will be on Fifteenth street as has been planned, or whether it will be changed to either Fourteenth or Sixteenth street. The streets to be covered by the electric line, in addition to the trackage to the Copper Queen and Calumet smelters, will be G avenue from the northern limit of the city to Fourth street, from G avenue to on Fourth street to B avenue, and on B avenue north to either Fourteenth, Fifteenth, or Sixteenth streets, thence west to G avenue. In all the system will have about eight miles of track.
The Equipment.
The line is to be operated by electricity and the power will be of five hundred voltage. For the present the electricity is to be obtained from the Copper Queen Mining company and will be supplied from the electric plant at the smelters in this city. Every tie and pole used in the construction of the line is to be of the very best quality and chemically treated to preserve them against the elements. The cars will be of the latest design and in all respects the Douglas electric car system will be the equal of that of any city in the southwest.
The Service.
It is the intention to keep the cars constantly going after the service has been put in operation and it is expected that a thirty minute service will be provided, except when the trips are being made to the smelters.
Improvement Necessary.
This improvement for the street car service will come none too soon, as the present service to the smelters is becoming very uncertain on account of the failing of the oil dummy engine which has been pulling the cars since the line was built. During the past week numbers of trips has been missed on account of the disabled engine. This has resulted in the employees of the smelters being compelled to walk to the smelters or hire a private conveyance.
The Franchise.
Before work can be started on the grade or setting the poles in the streets it will be necessary to secure a franchise from the city government. This will require some time, but in the meantime all the material necessary is to be ordered so that it will be on the ground ready to start construction work at the earliest possible time.
Hereford & Hazzard, the well known Tucson law firm, are now preparing the ordinance granting the franchise and it is expected that they will have it ready to present to the city council by the middle of the present month. After the ordinance is submitted and passed on by the city council, if it receives the favorable consideration of that body, it will be necessary to advertise for thirty days the calling of a special election for the purpose of voting on the question of granting the franchise asked. It is not known just what will be asked for in the franchise but it is understood that the company will guarantee to complete the proposed line within one year from the date of the franchise.
– Bisbee daily review, 1905-08-06, p.3
