Selected Oregonian Articles, 1889 - 1892

These are bits and pieces selected from David L Stearns (DLS) transcription of Oregonian articles regarding the Metropolitan Railway Co, mainly pertaining to the construction of lines, trestles, the powerhouse, water supply, delivery of equipment and cars. It was tempting to include mentions of accidents, vandalism and fares, but I stuck to the aforementioned topics. … — John Miller, May 2023.

A full list of DLS entries from the same timeframe is on this page [LINK] -JEM

Metropolitan Railway Company Timeline

Jan 27, 1889: Salem 1/26 - Articles of incorporation were filed today in the Secretary of State's office by the Metropolitan Railway Company

May 2, 1889 AN ELECTRIC ROAD - The Metropolitan Railway Company has had a force of engineers in the field running lines and locating its road for some weeks past. The company proposes to build and put in operation about four miles of road before the summer months are ended.

May 30, 1889 ... At the end of Corbett street a force of men are clearing the right of way and a pile of lumber is on the ground for bridging the gulch. At other points on the line where bridges are needed lumber is piled ready for work...

June 5, 1889 The Northwestern Electric Company has the contract for building the road - that is, putting in the power house, putting up the wires and getting everything running.

June 8, 1889: The work of raising the trestle over the gulch at the end of Corbett street on the electric motor line of the Metropolitan Railway Company -was begun yesterday.

June 30, 1889: The Metropolitan Street Railway Company yesterday ordered the steel rails for its electric road to Fulton Park. The machinery for its power station will be shipped from Erie, Pa., today. The road will be running in 90 days.

July 19, 1889: The Metropolitan Railway Company are just now busy pushing their road out to Fulton Park. Trestle number one, at the end of Corbett street, is already completed and much of the grading of the roadbed is finished. At Fulton Park a large force of men is at work getting the ground ready for the power house and machine station, the machinery for which is now en route from the East.

August 20, 1889: The grading for the Metropolitan Electric Motor line is completed, except for the last trestle (of four major trestles), and the machinery will arrive in ten days. The power house will be located in Fulton Park. It will be 100 x 36 feet. The cars will be run into the upper part on grade, and the machinery will be in the lower story (with) room for a duplicate plant. Work will be begun on the electrical construction this week and it will be pushed with all possible speed.

August 25, 1889: The roadbed from the city limits to Fulton Park is practically completed, and the iron, motors, cars, etc., are on their way from the East.

September 6, 1889:
Rails for over two miles of the Fulton Park Electric Motor Line have arrived, also a carload of bolts and fishplates. The dynamos are on the way and will soon be here.

September 9, 1889:
Teams were at work yesterday stringing steel rails along Second street for the proposed electric motor line..

October 8, 1889: Men were put to work yesterday laying the second track for the electric motor line on Second street.

October 9, 1889: The Metropolitan are taking up the track laid by their predecessors, the Traction Company, between Washington and Alder and are putting in a switch or turnout. The Metropolitan company have their track laid from G(lisan) street to Grant, and from Fulton Park toward the city two miles, and are erecting the poles as fast as the track progresses. They will reach the city limits by the end of the week, and the track will be connected up by the end of next week. The power house at Fulton Park is up, the floor laid and part of the machinery in.

October 13, 1889: The line is now laid down Second street as far as G(lisan), and for the entire distance between the terminus in this city and Fulton Park the road is practically completed. The company yesterday shipped two carloads of machinery over the 'West Side' (to) their southern terminus. This shipment included the boilers, engines and dynamos for the new power station at Fulton Park.

November 20, 1889: "Work goes on quietly but rapidly on the Electric motor line on Second street. The poles are set and painted all the way from Fulton Park down into the heart of the city and. are strung along the street clear down to the end of the line at G(lisan) street. A single track is laid the whole length of the line and the iron is going ahead for the second track. The machinery is being set up in the power house at Fulton Park, and two cars are standing on the track awaiting the animating touch of the electric current to put them in motion. Wires are strung along the poles away into the city, and cross wires to support the overhead wires are in position a good part of the way. It will not be long now until cars are running up and down Second street if nothing happens."

November 28, 1889: "Two electric motor cars for the Second street line are on flat cars at the terminal grounds (of the transcontinental lines, obviously).

December 1, 1889: Two elegant vestibuled cars for the Metropolitan Company's Second street electric line arrived over the Union Pacific yesterday evening. ... All told, the company will have eight cars, six of these are supplied with motors, while the other two have none.

December 3, 1889: The two handsome Pullman vestibule cars for the Metropolitan electric motor line were on exhibition on the track at the corner of Second and Morrison and Second and Washington yesterday and were much admired.

December 7, 1889: The copper wire which is to carry the electric current for running the cars on Second street, is strung the entire length of the line. ... The power house is about ready for operation, and as the cars are on the track and the wires strung, things are coming to a focus, and the cars will be running sometime within ten days.

December 20, 1889: ... Metropolitan Street Railway Company are contemplating starting cars on Second street tomorrow. They have been finishing up things at the power house, Fulton Park, and getting in a hydraulic ram to furnish a supply of water for their engines.

December 27, 1889: The cars will begin to make regular trips on the line of the Metropolitan Railway Company on January 1.

January 1, 1890: Full page article LIGHTNING IN HARNESS appeared this day. There are excerpts.

At 20 minutes to 3 o'clock the cars started and speeded merrily, up the street, people coming to the windows and the sidewalk being lined with persons desirous of seeing how the electric cars worked.

...

Turning down Grant street, Front was soon reached, and the cars bowled across the high bridges to Gibbs street, down which they went to Corbett, and soon reached the city limits. Beyond this (the present S.W. Hamilton street) the road runs down a grade and through a deep cut into the timber, and then across a high trestle and through many more heavy cuts, and up a long grade, and finally out on the brow of the hill, along which it follows a little below the O&C line, to the power house in Futon Park. For the last mile or so there is a beautiful view of the gardens along the White House road, the town of Fulton, the Willamette river and country beyond, extending to the Cascades, with Mt. Hood looming grandly in the distance.

"The power house is 120x36 feet. On the second floor is the car house in which were four handsome cars, two of them being open at the sides, a construction car and some cars for hauling dirt, to be used in widening the cuts.

On the floor above this are three fine sleeping rooms lighted by electricity and warmed by steam as in the building throughout.

In the basement is the boiler room containing two large boilers and the engine, and dynamos.

Mr. R. Thomas, formerly of the Willamette iron works, has charge of the engine. It is a Ball engine of 150 horse power, and capable of running at 226 revolutions per minute. It is a beautiful piece of machinery, and was much admired for the steady and noiseless manner in which it runs.

There are two Edison dynamos of seventy horse power each, and the wall near is covered with indicators, switches, and other electrical apparatus, which Mr. E. L. Fuller, the superintendent of the company, explained to those who comprehend them. The base of the dynamos when they are running becomes a very powerful magnet, and a large iron wrench when placed against one of them required a strong pull to get it away.

The ground in the vicinity of the power house has been cleared and several handsome cottages built thereon, and more buildings are going up. There is fine view from the park and plenty of beautiful places for building, which, now that the motor line is completed, will speedily be utilized.

At 4 o'clock the party started on their return much pleased with the trip. The excursionists were astonished at the amount of work done on the road, and spoke in very complimentary terms of the energy and enterprise of Messrs James and George Steel, who have given Portland her first electric road.

...

thence on to Fulton Park. At the latter place the company's car station and power house is located, where all the power is generated. The building is most ample for all necessary purposes, costing alone about $10,000. In the lower portion, or basement of the building is placed all the machinery, whilst the upper portion, on grade with the road, is used for office, etc., there being three tracks on the floor, with capacity for 15 cars. Under each track pits are arranged, so that motors can most easily be cleaned after the day's run. Above the floor are three commodious and convenient rooms for employees, and a water tank of 5000 gallons is also placed here, where, in conjunction with a large well in the basement, an ample supply of water can be retained for emergencies.

"The company commence operations with six motor cars for passengers, and one for construction purposes, each of which is fitted and propelled by two 15 horse power Motors. The cars have sufficient power for their own propulsion as well as trailing additional ones, which it is their intention to add as business demands."

January 11, 1890: After a while the cars came humming along all right, and it was found that the trouble was caused by a scarcity of water, which necessitated the stoppage of the engine at the power house. This scarcity of water seems almost incredible in Oregon, but it is probably to be attributed to the freeze-up.

January 12, 1890: Owing to an insufficient supply of water, caused by freezing weather; the Second street electric car line was compelled to stop running their cars yesterday. The company are now putting in a steam pump, which will furnish an abundant supply for all purposes at their power house. Pending the putting of the pump in place, no cars will be run over the road today.

January 30, 1890: "Washington street near Second, where the bituminous rock pavement was broken up in removing a switch of the Metropolitan Street railway and putting in a second track, is in very rough condition. The company will, it is supposed, put everything to rights as soon as the weather permits."

ibid., loc. sit.: STILL NO SECOND STREET CARS - The electric cars are not yet running on Second street and it will be a day or two, perhaps longer before they will be seen spinning up and down that thoroughfare. The taking of the cars out to the power house at Fulton Park, was a great mistake and misfortune for the company. During Saturday night the banks of a cut caved on the track, and, before this could be cleared away, the storm came on and other landslides followed. The cars were brought past one obstruction, and ties and rails were sent out to build a temporary track over the worst obstruction, but, before they reached their destination, the road was blocked by another slide.

February 11, 1890: "STREET RAILWAY NOTES - The Metropolitan Street Railway Company expect to have the obstructions on their line removed and the cars running to Fulton park in two weeks."

February 22, 1890: "It is expected that the work of clearing out the cuts on the (Metropolitan) Company's electric motor line will be completed by Wednesday and that the cars will then run out to Fulton Park.

March 1, 1890: "The line of the Metropolitan Railway Company has been cleared and the-electric cars will run out to Fulton Park from 9 AM to 6 PM on Sunday.

March 17, 1890: "Yesterday afternoon as the 2 o'clock motor car was coming in from Fulton Park, it jumped the track just this side of the curve, at the head of Front street. Luckily no one was seriously injured. One lady was thrown from the car and fell on her face, which was bruised by striking the aide of the car as she fell. A young man had his wrist sprained, and several others were badly shaken up and frightened. The conductor in charge of that car should be careful in passing through the cuts on his route, as there is danger of caving banks or other obstructions."

April 9, 1890: "The Metropolitan Street Railway Company have completed the laying of their second track from G(lisan) street up to Oak, and by connecting with the switch a short distance above will have the track completed to way above Yamhill. Before anyone thinks of it, they will have a double track to the city limits and will then be able to run cars more frequently."

April 10, 1890: "The Metropolitan Street Railway Company expect to have their second tract completed to the city limits by May 1 or at the latest by May 10. They have six very elegant open cars now being shipped by the Pullman company, and the motors for these are already here."

May 22, 1890: "The Metropolitan Street Railway Company yesterday received the six open cars which they have been expecting for some time. They are very handsome cars and will form a welcome addition to the accommodations the company have been affording the public. The double track and wire of the company will soon be completed to the city limits, and then the cars will be put in service and the time 'between drinks' will not be so long thereafter on that road."

May 22, 1890: "The new engine and dynamo for the Fulton Park power house of the Second street electric line are on the ground and will be put in place at once. Concrete foundations five feet in depth have been prepared for their reception. The new 200 horse power boiler was taken out several days ago, so that now everything is ready to be set up. The company expects to have the plant in operation within a few days, The double track is also nearly completed and soon twelve cars will be put on the road. Then runs to the park will be made every fifteen minutes."

June 1, 1890: "GO OUT TO FULTON PARK - The company has now received their elegant new cars direct from the Pullman shops, and there will be no difficulty today in handling the immense crowds. ..

"The double track on the Second-street electric motor line to Fulton Park is nearly completed, and in a few more days cars will be running on the new schedule. This will obviate the inconvenience and annoyance of making transfers, and the public will be able to enjoy the travel on this line with more comfort. The new engine and dynamo are already in the power house, and in a short time they, too, will be in operation. The large water tank is completed, and work on the artesian well [!] will be commenced at once."

June 6, 1890: "The double track on the Metropolitan electric line was finished to Fulton Park (sic) yesterday, and, beginning today, there will be no more long delays at the switches, and the big cars will make seven minute trips. President Steel says that in a week or so, when the, additional motive power is in working order, the cars will make five minute trips."

August 31, 1890: (A reporter) refers to a change of cars in each direction, which indicates cars still did not operate through from downtown to Fulton Park, and that the transfer point still was at Abernethy street.

September 1, 1890: "The Metropolitan Street Railway Company (Second street line) will today commence work on taking down the banks on the Fulton Park division ... It is necessary to take down the steep banks along the track before wet weather in order to prevent landslides that may impede travel altogether. ... Work on the double track will in all probability be commenced in the early spring, ..."

January 1, 1891: (from the special "progress section") "TO WILD EXTENSIONS THIS YEAR "No line started under more unfavorable auspices than the Second street electric system, built by the Metropolitan street. railway company (sic; no caps). It opened for business January 1, 1890, and shortly after the storms and floods blocked the line and compelled it to shut down for a while. When the fine weather came the company had made many improvements, double tracking the line in the city and purchasing new cars, since which time it has been run successfully.

"The line, from G(lisan) street to Fulton Park, is four miles long (NOTE that in another place in this article on street railways, the line is described as seven miles in length.), and cost 4300,000. In all there are seven miles of single track. The rolling stock comprises over twenty cars. During the past month there have been added a number of combination open-and-closed cars, which may be opened and closed as the weather suits. "In the spring the system will be extended southward from Fulton Park;. so that it will pass through all the cemeteries on the west side of the river. This extension will be one and one half miles long."

March 20, 1891: "A party of surveyors are (sic) at work locating a southerly extension of the Metropolitan Railway Company's electric motor line from Fulton Park out through Palatine Hill addition and Kilpatrick Bros. & Collins' tract to the cemeteries, with Oswego and Oregon City in prospect.

March 21, 1891: "The connection of Mr. Charles N. Stewart with the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, as superintendent has been severed, and the duties of the office will be attended to for the present by Mr. George A. Steel. The company will at once begin the work of extending its line from Fulton Park to the cemeteries. In fact, lumber is now being delivered for the trestle just south of the power house. This is to be rather an extensive affair, being 900 feet long, 90 feet high at the center, and 24 feet in width, with sidewalks. The road will pass the Jewish (Beth Israel) and Masonic (Greenwood) cemeteries and run to River View cemetery. There are thousands of people who will visit the cemeteries after this line is built, who cannot get out there now, and when people go out there in numbers frequently the cemeteries will all be improved and made more ornamental.." [Built Extra wide for double tracking. -jm]

April 13, 1891: "Work on the trestles just beyond the south city limits at. Fulton Park (sic) for the extension of the motor line to the cemeteries, is progressing rapidly. The first about 400 feet long, is completed; and the second, which is about 1000 feet, is well under way. It is only about half a mile from the power house to Riverview (sic) cemetery in a direct line, but by the way the road must go to reach all the cemeteries, it will be about one and one half miles."

May 25, 1891: "The trestle (s) and grading of the extension of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company's line from Fulton Park to the cemeteries is about completed and the work of laying the rails will be begun today. By next Saturday it is expected that passengers can be carried to the cemeteries. The line ends at the Western boundary of Riverview (sic) cemetery."

May 30, 1891 - Memorial Day: "The-track of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company has been extended out to the Hebrew Cemetery and the cars will be running out there today for the accommodation of persons wishing to visit the cemeteries. They will land passengers within a stone's throw of the Masonic cemetery and only a short distance from the western boundary of Riverview (sic), and persons going out this way will be saved the long walk up the hill in the cemetery."

Monday, June 1, 1891: "The Second-street electric line is now extended to a point about three blocks this side of the Masonic cemetery. Cars have been running out as far as this since Saturday, making trips every fifteen minutes. A large force of men are at work building the road out to Riverview (sic) cemetery, and. in three or four days the line will be completed. Cars will be run to the cemetery on the same time as they now run to Fulton Park."

Tuesday, July 14, 1891: The Metropolitan Street Railway Company has decided to make the fare on its road from this city to the cemeteries ten cents. It was at first intended to charge fifteen cents as the company could not see its way clear to build and operate the road from Fulton Park to the Cemeteries for nothing, but finally decided to carry passengers clear through to the cemeteries for ten cents. The fare to Second avenue (Bancroft) sill be five cents, and from there or any point beyond to the cemeteries, five cents more. This is a cheap rate for a long and very pleasant ride."

Thursday, August 27, 1891: "AN OUTRAGE - Some contemptible scoundrel yesterday disabled the motors of the funeral car of the Second-street line by placing stones inside the casing around the commutator, thus causing a delay in starting the funeral of (Capt) Ward S. Stevens. It is supposed that someone entered the Station and did this rascally trick while the employees were at luncheon. As soon as the crushed stones were removed, the-car proceeded all right. The officials of the company are deeply grieved and annoyed by this outrage, and have offered a reward of $250 for the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator." (NOTE: In the account of the funeral itself, it states that the car was pushed to the cemetery by another car.)

April 11, 1892: "Heretofore the Second-street Railway Company has furnished power from its powerhouse at Fulton Park to run the electric cars across the Madison street bridge, and on this account has sometimes not had so much power for its own cars as was desirable. Now the new powerhouse for the Madison street line, near Inmah and Poulson's (sic) sawmill, has been completed, and power is furnished from there for running the cars on Second street from Glisan up to Grant street. This is a gteat relief to the powerhouse at Fulton Park, and will enable the company to put more cars on the line between Second avenue (still Bancroft Street!) and the cemeteries, and also to make better time on the whole line."

Then a few articles about buyouts / mergers consolidations.

May, 1893 From STREET RAILWAY JOURNAL, May, 1893, pp. 301-302: " . . . One funeral car complete (s) the equipment. The funeral car is arranged with a space in front, in which the coffin is placed, and with seats for forty People. (More details in the DLS transcripts)