History of the Horse Railroad
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
THE ALTON - UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD
Planning began on the Alton – Upper Alton Horse Railroad
(streetcar) in 1865. The rail system, driven by horse-power,
would mostly benefit Upper Alton trade, and the citizens and
leaders there were highly motivated. W. T. Miller, Chairman of
the Exchange Committee, was appointed to explore the cost of the
railroad. In December 1866, a meeting was held to discuss the
plans for the railroad, and W. T. Miller reported the cost,
excluding grading which was already completed, would be from
$10,000 to $18,000 per mile. In March 1867, the recently
incorporated firm of the Alton and Upper Alton Horse Railway
Company met, and Cyrus Edwards was elected President, with James
N. Morgan, Secretary. Charles E. Hall, H. N. Kendall, and W. T.
Miller were appointed to have the charter published in the Alton
Telegraph. The charter would be void if the road was not
completed within two years. By April 1867, $6,000 had been
subscribed in Upper Alton for the cost of the railroad. An
office for the company was opened in the Alton City Hall, and it
was determined that the starting point of the road was on
Broadway, directly opposite the city hall at Broadway and Market
Streets.
The work on the horse railroad began in August
1867. The rails were ordered from a company in Pennsylvania, and
the ties from St. Louis. However, the rails were delayed, and
didn’t arrive until October 3, 1867. A force of between 75 and
100 hands were hired, with Captain Hall superintending the
construction. The railroad was completed by December 1867, and
the large festival and supper was held at the Alton House, in
honor of its completion. The festival was attended by citizens
from Alton and Upper Alton, and was presided by Cyrus Edwards.
Toasts were presented in honor of Mr. Edwards and Mr. Clawson,
who worked diligently to complete the railroad. The editors of
the Alton Telegraph took their first trip to Upper Alton on the
horse railroad on December 13, 1867. The long hill on Washington
Avenue was ascended without difficulty, and at the Upper Alton
station (at Broadway and Washington), they encountered a side
switch to enable cars to pass each other. The car stopped at
Hewit’s Store in Upper Alton, but track was being laid further
to the post office, which was the terminus of the road.
Returning to Alton, there was standing room only in the car.
The horse railroad system (also referred to as the
horse-drawn streetcar) continued to operate for about 25 years.
The Alton Improvement Association was then formed to furnish
transportation to those living in Middletown. They promoted a
car line, first using horse power, and then substituted a steam
“dummy” – a locomotive disguised as a streetcar, so it would not
frighten nervous horses. This line began at Broadway and Market,
and crossed Third Street, following a terrace the company
constructed, since a portion of Market Street was too narrow for
a car line. The line turned the corner at Sixth and Market, and
went to Alby, then to Twelfth Street, Henry, Fifteenth, Liberty,
Grove, and Central Avenue.
In 1893, Joseph F. Porter,
took over the Alton electric light and gas plant, naming his new
company the Alton Railway and Illuminating Company. He made
plans to increase the powerhouse to adequately serve Alton, and
invested all his money into the effort. Electric lines and rails
were installed, and the electric streetcar or trolley began
operations, supplying transportation between Alton, Upper Alton,
and North Alton. In 1896, Mr. Porter purchased grounds near
Upper Alton, and developed it into Rock Spring Park. He extended
his electric railway system from Middletown and Upper Alton into
the park, bringing in visitors from all over the surrounding
area.
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NEWSPAPER ARTICLES REGARDING THE ALTON - UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD:
UPPER ALTON – ALTON HORSE RAILROAD PROJECT
Source: Alton
Telegraph, December 7, 1866
The project for building a horse
railroad between Alton and Upper Alton is meeting with universal
favor. The many and great advantages which would accrue to both
places from the completion of such an enterprise are patent to
everyone. The project is already assuming shape, and there is
very little doubt of its being soon undertaken. Mr. W. T.
Miller, the chairman of the Exchange Committee, appointed to
make a report on the probable cost of such a road, has received
estimates from competent parties in St. Louis, who report that
the cost after the road was graded would be from $10,000 to
$18,000 per mile, in proportion to the weight of the rails used
in the construction. The roadbed is already graded, which would
thus bring the expense within very moderate limits. A public
meeting is to be held in Upper Alton on Monday evening next, to
consider the matter, at which time a committee will be appointed
to confer with the Exchange Committee on the subject. A meeting
of the two committees will be held on Tuesday morning at 9
o’clock, at the store of F. Hewit in Upper Alton. The committees
will go over the whole of the proposed route, accompanied by a
competent engineer, and make such surveys and observations as
may be considered necessary to make a complete and intelligent
report.
ALTON AND UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton
Telegraph, March 29, 1867
The corporators of the Alton and
Upper Alton Horse Railway Company met at the office of Miller &
Morgan on Saturday last, and accepted the charter. Subscription
books are to be opened in this city and in Upper Alton. We are
informed that the prospect for the successful carrying out of
this great and vital improvement is very encouraging. In Upper
Alton especially, the people are much interested in its success,
and will subscribe a large amount of stock. In Alton, there is
not as much interest manifested in the road as we could wish –
still, when our merchants realize the great advantage it will be
to their business, they will doubtless subscribe their due
proportion of stock with alacrity.
Cyrus Edwards was
elected President, James N. Morgan, Secretary. Charles E. Hall,
H. N. Kendall, and W. T. Miller were appointed to a committee to
have the charter published in the Alton Telegraph.
WORK ON HORSE RAILWAY TO BEGIN
Source: Alton Telegraph,
June 21, 1867
The directors of the Upper Alton horse railway
held a meeting this morning and received reports from their
committees appointed at a previous meeting, to locate the road,
get estimate of cost, etc. They have engaged our city engineer
to survey the route and estimate the cost of laying the track.
He will begin his work on Monday next. The cost of iron and ties
has been ascertained, and a call made upon the stockholders of
25 percent, monthly, which means that the work is to be
prosecuted as rapidly as possible.
HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, June 29, 1867
We understand that the directors of the Horse Railway Company
have decided to make the crossing on Second Street [Broadway],
directly opposite the City Hall, the starting point of the road
in this city. They also desire to secure a room in the City Hall
building as an office. Such arrangements would be entirely
satisfactory to our citizens, and would render the road much
more popular than making the starting point at Alby Street. The
directors design procuring the celebrated Birneyized ties for
the road, to be obtained in St. Louis, and they are negotiating
for the rails with parties in Pennsylvania.
HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, August 30, 1867
The work on the horse railroad is progressing favorably. The
rails are expected to arrive next week, when, the ties being
already here, the work of laying the track will be immediately
commenced. It is expected that the road will be in operation by
the first of October.
HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, September 20, 1867
Work upon the Alton and Upper Alton Horse Railroad has been
delayed for some days by the non-arrival of the rails from the
Fort Pitt Ironworks, Pittsburg. We are informed, however, by Mr.
Swift, engineer of the road, that letters have been received
from Pittsburg stating that the rails would be shipped from that
city today. As the grading of the roadbed is completed already,
but a short time will elapse after the arrival of the rails,
until the road will be finished and in running order.
HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, October 4, 1867
The long-expected rails for the horse railway arrived yesterday,
and the work laying the track commenced this morning at Alby
Street. The track will be laid for about the distance of three
blocks today. By Monday, a force of between 75 and 100 hands
will be employed. Captain Hall is superintending the work of
construction, which is a sufficient guarantee of its being put
through with the greatest possible dispatch.
HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, November 1, 1867
The track of the horse railroad is now laid as far as the summit
of the long hill [on Washington Avenuye] beyond “Bozzatown,”
which is certainly rapid progress. It is said that the advent of
railroad iron into Upper Alton, for the first time in its
history, is making a profound sensation among the inhabitants.
As an illustration of what such an enterprise as this will do
towards increasing the value of real estate in a town, we will
state that a prominent and well-posted citizen of Upper Alton
informed us this morning that since the horse railroad was
commenced, property in Upper Alton has advanced nearly one
hundred percent in value. In view of this fact, who will say
that investments in horse railways do not pay?
ALTON AND UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD NOW IN OPERATION
Source: Alton Telegraph, December 6, 1867
This morning, the
cars upon the Alton and Upper Alton Horse Railroad commenced
running. The first trip was made about nine o’clock. The cars in
use are light and elegant, as well as comfortable and
commodious. We will publish further particulars in regard to the
timetable, etc., as soon as they are furnished us by the
company.
Now that we have a horse railway in active
operation, we shall, of course, be called upon to assume
metropolitan aire. We, therefore, publish from an exchange the
following hints on streetcar etiquette, which we hope will be
faithfully observed.
Gentlemen should stand as thickly as
possible on the rear platform, even if there is plenty of room
inside. It leads strangers to think the cars are immensely
patronized, and makes it so pleasant to ladies getting on board.
Don’t put out your cigar, but get on the front platform with
it and stroke furiously, particularly if the doors are open and
a strong draft blowing through. A pipe strong and old is an
improvement on the cigar.
Crowd into a car that is full
to overflowing, and then complain loudly of the railroad company
for cramming their cars.
Look diligently out of the
window when a woman enters with a baby in her arms. Someone will
be weak enough to give her a seat. You aren’t.
Find fault
with the conductor if the track is obstructed by a stone or
wagon. Make him mad, and then threaten to report him if he talks
back.
Talk politics in a loud voice, the ladies like it
so much, and if any gentleman don’t, it is because he differs
with you, which is evidence enough that he is of no account.
Blow up the conductor if you are asleep or busy talking and
don’t hear him call the street. The conductor ought to know when
you want to get off, even if you do not yourself.
If a
conductor observes your signal and stops his car for you, don’t
hurry any, even if you are a square or more away. The other
passengers, whom you are delaying, will feel so pleasant towards
you.
Never have the change ready for a pack of tickets,
and abuse the conductor because he hasn’t. It teaches them their
positions.
Ladies desiring to take a streetcar should
wait for one that is most crowded. It draws attention to them,
and practices men in patience and reference to the sex.
If you are a lady, and in feeble health, don’t fail to extend
profoundest thanks to the hearty, strapping man who condescends
to yield his seat to you. If you don’t, he may cry about it and
be melancholy for days after.
By carefully observing the
above rules, streetcar traveling will be rendered vastly more
pleasant than at present.
HORSE RAILROAD FESTIVAL HELD AT THE ALTON HOUSE
Source:
Alton Telegraph, December 13, 1867
The supper and festival at
the Alton House last evening in honor of the completion of the
Alton & Upper Alton Horse Railroad [horse-drawn streetcar], was
largely attended by citizens of both places, and a most
delightful season was enjoyed. The gathering was select. Many
ladies, especially from Upper Alton, graced the occasion by
their presence. Hon. Cyrus Edwards presided with his usual
suavity, and Judge Billings acted as vice President. The banquet
is spoken of in enthusiastic terms. It comprised every delicacy,
in season and out of season, and was served in admirable style.
The host of the Alton House certainly added to his laurels as a
public caterer, on this occasion. The toasts proposed at the
table and the responses thereto were equally felicitous, and
added in no small degree to the pleasures and sociability of the
evening. The following is a list of the toasts offered, as
furnished us by the committee:
1. Motive and Locomotive
Power: In celebrating the event that calls us together, let due
credit be given to the gentlemen who exerted the motive power
that caused the Alton & Upper Alton Horse Railway to be built -
Messrs. Edwards and Clawson.
2. Horse Railway Carriages:
Coaches for the people - in which the poor as well as the rich
can ride at the same cost.
3. The Altons: May the union
by bands of iron lend to a more perfect union under one city
charter.
4. The Alton Sisters: Now unified by a cord of
iron; may it be bound as impolitic to sever this union as it
would the cord that connects the Siam brothers.
5.
Railing Between the Altons: May it be so profitable to both
places as to end all other unprofitable railing.
6. Our
Stockholders: May the upper and nether Alton railway - like the
upper and nether millstones - grind them out a good grist of
dividends.
7. Railroads and the Magnetic Telegraph: The
two greatest inventions for the increase of comfort and wealthy
in this century.
8. The New Viaduct Between the Altons:
The natural chasm having been spanned may the social one no
longer exist.
9. Alton and Upper Alton: Now that they are
united by a two-horse railway, let them no longer be named as
one-horse places.
10. To the Board of Directors of the
Alton and Upper Alton Horse Railroad: The citizens of both
places tender their most grateful thanks.
11. The Horse
Railway Charter: Let the "sp____" [unreadable] clause, which
provides for extending the web of rails over both Alton's not be
forgotten.
UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph,
December 13, 1867
We this morning took our first trip to
Upper Alton on the far-famed streetcars. As we rolled rapidly
along, we entirely forgot that Alton was a city of only some
15,000 inhabitants, and imagined that it had attained the
colossal proportions of its sister city St. Louis - so
metropolitan appearance was given to everything from a real
street car. The road-bed is as yet somewhat rough, but is daily
becoming smoother and more settled. At Upper Alton station there
is a side switch to enable cars to pass each other. The long
hill at this point, which many supposed would be an almost
insurmountable obstacle to the building of the road, is ascended
without difficulty - and without the need of an extra horse. The
cars stop at Hewit's store, but the track is being laid to the
Post Office, which will be the terminus of the road. We advise
any person who is skeptical in regard to the success of this
road to take a trip to our neighboring town, and he will be
convinced of his mistake. Two cars have been running all day. On
our up-trip, the car was only comfortably full, but on returning
there was hardly standing room for the passengers - there being
about forty-five persons aboard. We learn that on one trip
fifty-two persons were carried. The Upper Altonians have an
abiding faith in the road, and are sustaining it nobly. It is
certain to have an important influence in increasing the
prosperity of both places. It needs only a hasty survey of the
place to discern the rapid stride Upper Alton is making in
wealth and importance. During the past year a great number of
buildings have been erected - many of them being handsome and
substantial edifices. The whole aspect of the place, indeed, is
that of growth and prosperity. There was a large number of teams
on the streets, and the merchants seemed to be doing a
prosperous business, as doubtless is the case. Since the opening
of the year, College Avenue has undergone quite a transformation
- several new buildings having been erected upon it. The
completion of the street railway has undoubtedly had much to do
with this impetus to the growth ..... [unreadable] ...largely
increased value of its property.
HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, January 3, 1868
The streetcars now stop at the new terminus of the track
opposite the City Hall. The office of the company, we
understand, is in Mr. Gillespie’s Confectionery store, a
convenient location directly opposite the stopping place of the
cars.
ALTON - UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton
Telegraph, January 10, 1868
The new timetable on the Horse
Railroad, by which the cars leave for Upper Alton every three
quarters of an hour, instead of every hour as formerly, adds to
the convenience and popularity of the road. The cars now make
fifteen trips per day, each way.
ALTON AND UPPER ALTON HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton
Telegraph, January 17, 1868
It will be seen by reference to a
notice in another column, that the Directors of this company
have resolved that on and after Monday next, January 13, the
uniform rate of fare to all points on the road, will be ten
cents. We regard this as a very great blunder, and are satisfied
the Directors will find it out before they try it very long. It
may be true that their old rates were too low, we know nothing
about that, but admitting they were, it is still most manifest
that the Directors have acted very unwisely in charging the same
price for riding a square that they do for carrying passengers
two miles and a half. There is neither reason nor justice in any
such a course, and besides, we are satisfied it will prove a
most suicidal policy for the stock holders. The practical
working of the system will be that three-fourths of all the
persons heretofore riding from the business part of the city to
Bozzatown, or between these two points, will hereafter walk, and
of course, the change will not have the slightest tendency to
increase the number of through passengers, and the company,
therefore, will lose way passengers while adding nothing to
their revenue in any other way.
We feel no personal
interest in this matter, and do not feel disposed to interfere
with the management of the company in the slightest degree, but
still, it would give us great pleasure to have the road pay a
dividend to the stockholders, and at the same time, prove a
source of convenience to the public. But if those interested
directly in its management are satisfied with this obviously
unreasonable, and as we are satisfied, unprofitable change for
the stockholders, we shall not complain.
HORSE RAILROAD
Source: Alton Telegraph, January 31, 1868
The street cars are doing a good business, in spite of the
increased tariff in the city. The object of the directors is not
to charge anything more than living rates, and this rule will be
strictly adhered to. The cars are extremely well conducted in
every respect, and it is a pleasant, as well as a convenience to
patronize them.
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THE ALTON - UPPER ALTON - NORTH ALTON STREETCAR
NORTH ALTON - STATE STREET [TROLLEY] CAR LINE
Source:
Alton Telegraph, April 28, 1896
Work on the North Alton
electric line is being pushed vigorously by President Porter.
The men who struck are still working peaceably enough and are
making rapid progress with the work. To comply with the terms
upon which the bonus is given, the line must be in operation on
the first day of June. The completion of the road on time will
require fast work, but it is thought that cars will be running
by the specified time. President Porter stated yesterday every
rail will be spiked on the entire line to Fourth street by
Saturday night. Mr. Porter also stated that nothing had been
done in regard to changing the route from Third and Piasa
street, and that he expected to go along with the work on that
route. A force of men began setting the poles on Third street
this morning for the trolley wire.
ELECTRIC STREETCAR SHOCKING PASSENGERS
Source: Alton
Evening Telegraph, January 12, 1899
During the last few days,
an electric car on the Middletown system has developed shocking
propensities that made it quite a dangerous conveyance. In some
way a connection became established between the brass handle
used by passengers to assist them in mounting, and the trolley
wire above the car. A light shock was complained of by a number
of passengers as they took hold of the handle, but today the
full viciousness of the depraved car became apparent. As "Dad"
Scovell was mounting the steps with two buckets of sand in his
hands, he was shocked by the current that charged the iron steps
under him. He dropped the buckets and was almost thrown to the
ground. Other persons had similar experiences, and it was
decided that the car should be retired until an investigation
could be made and the fault corrected.