There is probably no question more obscure within the history of Canada's
street railways than the beginning, operation and abandonment of the horse car
street railway in Chatham, Ontario.
Indications from research show that the company was incorporated under Ontario
law, by Letters Patent, likely in late 1884 or 1885, by a group of local
businessmen headed by Chatham merchant tailor J.R. Reid. The few
sources that mention the operation usually suggest it began operation in 1885
but an article in an August 1887 newspaper identifies the company as 18 months
old (a reference to February 1886). Whether this specifically refers to
incorporation or start of service is unclear. (February in Canada wouldn't be
the most convenient time of the year to start an outdoor service.)
From
Three Chatham Street Railway horsecars. (Romantic Kent, by Victor Lauriston, p. 545).
When the newspaper record of events can be picked up, in the late spring of
1887, there
are already problems. Although the reference doesn't explain the nature of the
problem, it seems a remedy was unlikely owing to the financial situation of
the company.
Town Business
...
John Carpenter wanted to know what could be done with the street railway.
The mayor said that nothing could be done as he understood that even the rails
were mortgaged.
Mr. Carpenter thought there was some way to mend the matter. ([Chatham] Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 08 June 1887, p. 4.)
The tone of the news at the end of June 1887 is upbeat for the street railway.
The emergence of a service timetable could almost be taken as a resumption of
service after a prolonged closure, but there is no direct evidence of this.
Street Railway
A very neatly got up time table of the Street Railway, has been widely
distributed in Chatham. The card is headed by a time table of the
E. & H., and G.T.R., trains which is so abridged as to save the
Chathamite the labor of wading through a long time table. A street car
connecting with all trains on the E. & H., passes post office corner 18
minutes before departure of all trains North and South. One car will leave
the market, passing down King St., 15 minutes before the due time of all
G.T. trains. A car will pass up and down King St., every 15 minutes between
train times. ([Chatham] Tri-Weekly Planet,
Wednesday 29 June 1887, p. 4.)
The condition of the trackwork and surrounding paving was raised at a
meeting of council in August 1887. Was this the unnamed problem raised the previous June?
Midsummer Meeting
Light bill of fare at the Council Board Monday
...
Mr. Bogart enquired what the railway committee intended to do in
reference to the street railway. He said it was a very great nuisance, and
breaking wagons all over the town, and the town would be
mulcted* for costs if it were not attended to.
Mr. Malcomson said a good deal of improvement had been made to the track, but
he agreed with Mr. Bogart that it was still in a very unsatisfactory condition,
Mr. Reid had promised to fix it soon. He thought it would pay the town to
make the improvement itself rather than be subject to the inconvenience.
Of course, an injunction could be issued, but he doubted there would be much
gained by that. ([Chatham] Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 03 August
1887, p. 4.)
* Literally “fined” but in this context it could probably
be read as “held liable.”
The history of an unsuccessful commercial transit enterprise in a small town
is almost always predicated on insufficient ridership and corresponding
financial distress. In Chatham that becomes plainly obvious in the news
reported by the Planet in August of 1887.
Street Railway
The Street Railway Company, only eighteen months old, has more than doubled
its original record*
This enterprise if not more liberally patronised by the
townspeople must in future contract its operations, and the directors will
merely run cars in connexion with the various trains on the Erie & Huron
and the G.T.R. ([Chatham] Tri-Weekly Planet,
Wednesday 10 August 1887, p. 4.)
* more than doubled its original debt?
Financially troubled or not, Reid seemed interested in technological
advancement. A few days later he was contemplating battery-electric cars.
A New Street Car Motor.
Mr. J.R. Reid, President of the Chatham Street Railway, is in communication
with the Mead Electric Light Co., of Toronto, in regard to their new system
of electric lighting and motive power, whereby a dynamo is absolutely
dispensed with and a simple chemical battery substituted therefore. It is
said that it is the best and cheapest system of propelling street cars, and
if it can be proved satisfactory it will in all probability be introduced
as a motive power in Chatham. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet,
Friday 19 August 1887, p. 4.)
Had the company bought one at this point (fall of 1887) Chatham's street railway
might be remembered as the third electric operation in Canadian history, and the
only one to operate battery cars. Instead, it would has all but been forgotten,
as the only horsecar street railway to never operate by electric power.
Not all the news was about the financial woes of a small town company.
Accidents and big city crime were also in store.
Accidents
...
Stepping Off the Street Car
Mrs. Francis, Wallaceburg, was one of the witnesses required in a Police Court
case Thursday morning, and coming off the Erie & Huron morning train she took
the street car. While about opposite Burt's drug store she stepped off while
the car was in motion. Result—compound fracture of the right ankle, with
all the painful consequences which that implies. She was carried into the
drug store, when medical aid was
called. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 26 August 1887, p. 4.)
Burt's drug store was located at 18 King Street, near William. (Soutar,
op. cit.)
The Planet it seems couldn't resist a jibe at the financial fortunes of
the company while reporting another story at the end of August 1887.
Police Court
Before M. Houston, Esq., P.M.
Sam Scripps was arraigned by the President of the Street Car Company, on the
charge of breaking open the street car fare box and extracting there-from
the sum of $2.50. The case was postponed for one week. Street car
stock, in the meantime, is going up. Mr. O'Neill appeared for the
defence. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday 29 August 1887, p. 4.)
Mr. O'Neill must have been a good lawyer, since Scripps' prosecution
didn't get very far.
Police Court
Before M. Houston, Esq., P.M.
...
The case of Queen vs. Scripps, in which Scripps was prosecuted for alleged
pilfering of the street car fare box, was heard, but the evidence being
circumstantial was not sufficient to convict, and the magistrate dismissed
the charge against [the] defendant. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet,
Monday 05 September 1887, p. 4.)
Perhaps, as Mr. Scripps discovered, the company's fortunes were getting
slightly better since the company apparently found resources to address
one of the concerns previously expressed in town council.
Local Brevities
...
The Street Car Railway Co. are having their roadway levelled up with
gravel. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet,
Friday 16 September 1887, p. 4.)
It was usual practice for horsecar street railways to switch to sleighs
when the snow fell, creating too much trouble for track clearing.
The Chatham Street Railway seems to have followed this industry practice.
Local Brevities
...
Some sleighing Saturday, we noticed the street cars on runners, and comfortably
curtained in for the comfort of passengers. Might we suggest, in the most
profoundly deferential tone, to the President of the Street Car Co., the
propriety of painting the curtains some other color except black.
How would vermilion and pea green do! At present, a short sighted stranger,
not seeing the inscription “street car,” might avoid the vehicle, fearing
that he was getting into the Black Maria. (Chatham Tri-Weekly
Planet, Wednesday 04 January 1888, p. 4.)
There might be hope for the financial health of the company after all.
Carrying the mail saved many a railway from insolvency.
Local Brevities
...
The Street Car Railway Company has secured the contract for carrying the mail
between the Erie & Huron Railway and the Grand Trunk. (Chatham
Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 01 February 1888, p. 4.)
Still, the condition of the trackwork and paving continued to cause problems.
Timely Topics
Matters of General Local Interest Tersely Treated
...
Runaways
A runaway yesterday morning on Fifth street succeeded in demolishing two other
buggies besides his own, before he was caught. Another belonging to
Chrysler's livery stable, and driven by a young colored man, was turning off
Queen street when the wheel caught in the street car rail and tipped the
buggy over, throwing out the driver. The horse started up King street at a
good gait dragging the harness behind him, he was finally brought up in
front of his own stable. The buggy was much damaged. (Chatham
Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 04 May 1888, p. 4.)
A few days later the street railway was involved in another accident, though
this time it would appear the company wasn't at fault.
Local Brevities
...
Billy Gee, having only one eye, living at Darell, Chatham township, came on
crutches on the street cars, for treatment. An ox struck him with his foot,
crowded on him[,] put his foot on Gee's ankle and dislocated it, besides
breaking the small bone of his leg. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet,
Monday 07 May 1888, p. 4.)
The Wednesday paper reported on events of the
town council meeting of the previous Monday 07 May 1888.
The track condition problem couldn't be overlooked.
Chatham's Wise Ones
Minutes of their deliberations Monday night
A Lively Time over a Variety of Matters
Regular meeting of the council Monday night
Present — The Mayor, Messrs. Carpenter, Walker, Craddock, Bogart, Campbell,
Bedford, Northwood, Piggott and Christie.
...
Railways
Mr. Craddock reported on Street Railway, read a number of communications on
street car track. Committee had examined the track, and found it to be in the
worst possible condition, especially on Queen street, where deep holes had been
worn. He recommended the filling up of these cavities with some substance
that would resist the action of horses' feet, and that the company be ordered
to do the necessary repairs. The Queen street track ought to be filled in
with proper crossings. The town to furnish cedar blocks to pave that section
between King and Adelaide streets, but no more than that, the company to
furnish the labor.
It was stated in favor of the company, that when the line was laid, the
pavement was old and in bad repair, and that was the reason why the company
asked the town for blocks. The company was really insolvent and could not
meet its creditors to-morrow, if called upon to do so. The legal position
of the town with the company was very good, and could legally prevent
company running at all, but in consideration of the service rendered the
public by the company, they would not do this just now. The town stood in
constant danger of liability for accidents occurring through the bad condition
of the street car track.
The railway can be indicted as a nuisance if not giving satisfaction. The
town has this remedy, if it can be clearly shown that the company has not
complied with by-laws.
Mr. Walker thought some action should be taken immediately, as the
condition of the street railway was a disgrace to the town and laid [the]
town open to heavy liabilities from accidents, etc.
Mr. Piggott said that Mr. Reid had admitted to him at a committee meeting
that he had not a dollar to spare on the road. Mr. Piggott also said,
that while riding about the town with a gentleman from Albany, the latter
said that he did not think any other place would put up with such a street
railway service for one day, it was a danger to people on the street,
pedestrians as well as vehicles.
The motion to provide blocks was carried. (Chatham
Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 09 May 1888, p. 1.)
Council followed up on the matter two weeks later.
Midnight
When the Clock Struck the Hour for Retiring.
...
The chairman of the railway committee reported that the proposition of the
council had been communicated to the president of the street railway, granting
him five days for a reply and ten days in which to begin work. No reply had
been received, and the committee saw no evidence of their requests being
complied with. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 23 May 1888,
p. 1.)
While the concerns of the town council remained outstanding, the company was
working out ways to attract new customers.
Local Brevities
...
Chatham Street Railway has made advantageous arrangements with the Erie & Huron
railway, by which passengers will be conveyed to the cemetery and return for
the small sum of fifteen cents, commencing Tuesday next. Passengers will
catch the street cars in time to catch the Erie & Huron train leaving at 2:30,
and returning at 6:35. This will be continued every Tuesday and Friday
afternoons of each week, if the company find the runs are sufficiently
patronized to meet the additional outlay. The above includes street car and
railway fare. (Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 01 June 1888,
p. 4.)
The cemetery was south of the E & N station about a mile (1½ km).
This cooperative arrangement must have proved successful, since a week later
the Erie & Huron had an announcement.
Local Brevities
...
Trains will run every ten minutes on the 14th inst.[*], from the Erie & Huron
station to the cemetery, with street cars in connection.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 08 June 1888, p. 4)
* “of this month.”
It would be interesting to know what kind of equipment the E & H used to
conduct such a short-distance high frequency service.
Meanwhile, back at the town council...
A Warm Evening
The Little Pleasantries of the Council Room
...
Council meeting Monday night. All members present and a small, but appreciative
audience.
...
Mr. Craddock reported verbally for railway committee, that a writ had been
issued against the street railway company, immediately after last meeting,
but Mr. Reid had asked for blocks promised and action had been suspended until
these could be provided by the town. He [Craddock] thought this necessary,
although he had not much faith in Mr. Reid's putting them down.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 06 June 1888, p. 1)
Craddock's lack of faith in the Chatham Street Railway company might have been
well founded, but Reid appeared to be up to making an effort. Two weeks later,
as a summer heatwave hit its second week, there was news.
A Sultry Evening
For the Aldermanic Body of Chatham Town
...
Mr. Craddock reported for Railway committee that the Street Railway Co. had
undertaken repairs of the track on King St. What had been done was not quite
satisfactory, but instructions had been given.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 20 June 1888, p. 1)
A month later the patience of town council was near an end. The lawyers had
been called...
Council Column
The Matters Before the Fathers Monday Night
...
Council Monday night.
Present — The Mayor and Messrs. Piggott, Northwood, Bedford, Campbell,
Bogart, Craddock and Carpenter.
...
Mr. Craddock, for railways [committee], reported that the committee had
exhausted all resources towards getting the work done on street railway, and
had instructed solicitor to proceed.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 18 July 1888, p. 1)
The attentions of the council railways committee, and Chathamites generally,
was redirected through much of August to whether or not the Town would
subsidize Canadian Pacific to build it's London - Windsor line through
Chatham. Little more on the street railway's problems would make it into
the Planet's pages, but one tiny note late in the month
suggested progress was being made towards resolving Council — Company
friction.
The Street Railway Co. has ordered five carloads of gravel for the purpose
of filling up the track.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday 20 August 1888, p. 4)
On the other hand, perhaps not.
Council Galore
The Many Mixed Matters to be Considered
...
Council Monday night. All the members present, the Mayor in the chair.
...
Mr. Craddock reported that a suit had been entered against the Street Railway Co.,
and the matter would come up for trial in due time.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 12 September 1888, p. 1)
Town council was apparently not the only party suing the street railway
company.
The Fall Assizes[*]
...
France vs. Chatham St. Railway Co., dismissed.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday 01 October 1888, p. 1)
* Fall Superior Court.
The suit between the Town and the Company was heard beginning on Friday, 19 October 1888 and reported in the paper the
following Monday.
The Street Railway
The Case Tried in the Court of Chancery
The Plaintiff's Plea Upheld and an Order issued to Have Proper Repairs Proceeded With next May. Question of Costs Reserved.
The case of the town of Chatham vs the Chatham Street Railway company began in the Court of Chancery on Friday afternoon.
The counsel for the plaintiff, were Messrs. Wilson, Rankin & McKeough; for defence, W. Douglas, Q.C. The action was taken to
compel defendants to repair the track and the pavements between and for fifteen inches [38 cm] outside the rails on either side.
According to the evidence of Mr. Alfred Craddock, chairman of the railway committee of the town council, complaints had been
received as far back as April, of dangerous ruts beside the rails, inadequate crossings, etc. The council had used every means
in their power to get the company to attend to the necessary repairs, but without avail. The railway committee, Mr. Reid,
president and manager of the street railway, went over the road together. On Queen street there was a deep gutter between the
tracks and the crossings were either too narrow or missing altogether. On King street the general complaint was that the rails
were not level with the pavement and that ruts were allowed to exist endangering the wheels of vehicles.
J.C. McNabb, civil engineer, corroborated Mr. Craddock's statements regarding the condition of the track, and His Lordship said
there was no need of further witness for the plaintiffs, unless unless the defendants brought in something to upset what had
already been sworn to.
A. McDonald, for the defence, admitted the road was practically as the previous witness had said.
The defence claimed that owing to the fact that the town had allowed the roadway to get into a dilapidated condition it was
impossible, or at least extremely difficult to re-pave their portion, also alleging that the contract obliged the town to do all
the re-paving, but this His Lordship said was not borne out by a reading of the contract. A conference to settle on some
agreement was proposed, and the railway committee with the defendants and their respective counsel, spent several hours
endeavoring to come to some amicable arrangement.
For three hours the matter was discussed but without arriving at any satisfactory solution to the difficulty. The company offered
to put that portion of the track in repair from William street to the Erie & Huron station. The town asked to have the ruts
temporarily filled with broken stone or plank, and the track put in thorough repair next summer. But neither proposal was
accepted.
On Saturday morning, when the court re-assembled, His Lordship delivered judgement as follows: “I find upon the evidence that
the defendant's road is seriously out of repair, and not in the condition in which it should be, looking at the agreement and
charter. I think that under all the circumstances appearing, the defendants should be allowed a reasonable time to put their
road in proper condition. I do not think this can in reason be expected to be done at the present time, or during the
approaching winter. I am informed by the civil engineer called, and I believe that the period at which such works as to repairing
the road may reasonably be expected to be commenced will be about the first of May next, but that the material for the work can
be placed on the ground, or in a convenient position for use prior to that date, and that two months after that period will be
a reasonable time for doing the repairs to the roadway. The parties agree that Mr. McGregor is an engineer who is indifferent
between them. The order will, therefore, be that the defendants do the necessary repairs and put the roadway in proper condition,
according to the agreement and the charter, by the first of July, 1889; the work of repairs to be commenced by the first of July,
[May?] 1889, and earnestly prosecuted, and to be done and completed to the satisfaction of Mr. McGregor, C.E., and that
in default of the defendants so doing, that is to say, commencing and presenting and completing, as aforesaid, the plaintiffs to
be at liberty to apply on this action for such relief as they may be entitled to. The costs of this action will be reserved,
to be applied for at any time after the first day of July 1889, or upon any application that may be made pursuant to the leave
aforesaid. Judgement accordingly.”
Note. — This order seems to be satisfactory to both counsel, neither of them desiring that the defendant's work be now
declared, or be not declared, to be a nuisance.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday, 22 October 1888, p. 1)
The Town council was formally advised of the outcome of the suit at its
regular Monday evening meeting.
The Town Council
Transact Another Installment of Public Business
...
Reports
...
Councillor Craddock read a report re the suit against the street railway.
Report adopted.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 24 October 1888, p. 1)
The bylaw and agreement respecting the Town's $40,000 subsidization of the CPR
line through Chatham was brought to Town Council at the meeting of Monday
05 November 1888. Provisions in the agreement protected the street railway's
interests.
This Agreement
Made and entered into this 31st day of October, A.D. 1888
BETWEEN
The Ontario and Quebec Railway Company (hereinafter called the Company)
OF THE FIRST PART and
The Corporation of the Town of Chatham (hereinafter called the Town)
OF THE SECOND PART
...
7. The said Company will and does hereby grant permission to the said Town and to the Chatham Street Railway Company, and to such
other Companies or Corporations as the said Town may from time to time authorize, permit or empower to construct or run street
railways in Chatham, to lay the rails and make the road and run the street railway cars and vehicles of such Companies or
Corporations across and over the railway tracks and rails and way of the said Company thereto, but such permission shall not
extend (notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained) to more than four streets in all in said Town; and the
said Company hereto will make, arrange and keep their rails and tracks so as to make convenient crossings for the present
Street Railway, on King and Queen Streets.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 07 November 1888, p. 1)
Town council accepted a variety of ammendments to the agreement, including one affecting street railways.
Council Meeting
...
Mr. Craddock moved the reconsideration of the bonus by-law and read the first clause in the preamble and change proposed in the
agreement that had been intimated to the company.
...
Clause 7 was changed to provide that future street car crossings shall be made without expense to the company.
...
Mr. Craddock read the proposed changes which were adopted.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 07 November 1888, p. 1)
The Planet republished the text of the CPR subsidy bylaw
and the proposed agreement (including the street railway clause 7) on the
14th, 21st, and 28th of November. The ratification vote by the ratepayers of
Chatham was held Thursday 29 November 1888. It was passed.
The hazards of operating horsedrawn transportation were amply illustrated
in Chatham on the same day as the vote.
Timely Topics
Matters of General Local Interest Tersley Treated
...
A Street Car Episode
While the fire was in progress yesterday a street car came down Queen street,
and, of course, had to stop. When the hose was removed, the car proceeded,
but the horse did not like the looks of the engine, and ran away with the
car down the middle of the street, and in trying to get the car back on the
track, the driver managed to get the animal fairly on his back in the mud
with his feet in the air. It took some time to readjust matters.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 30 November 1888, p. 4)
Two more unfortunate events involving the railway were noted in the newspaper during the
fall of 1888.
Chas. Reid, eldest son of Mr. J.R. Reid, was crushed between a street car and
an electric light post about three o'clock this afternoon. The extent of his
injuries were not learned, but appear to be of a serious nature.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday 03 December 1888, p. 4)
and
Police Court
Before M. Houston, Esq., P.M.
Thursday, Dec 13
John Kelly, while trying to keep the street car tract [sic] clear of
mud yesterday, was annoyed by the drays driving on the trask [sic] and
assaulted Henry Diemer, a driver. He was fined $1 and costs. A second
charge was withdrawn on payment of costs.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 14 December 1888, p. 4)
At the very least it shows that as late as mid December the street railway had
not switched over to sleighs.
Charles Reid apparently recovered from his injuries, since he was noted again in
the paper eight months later.
Local and Otherwise
...
Charles Reid on the night of August 1st, sprained his right ankle very badly by
inadvertently stepping off the sidewalk.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday 05 August 1889, p. 4)
Another weather related accident finished out 1888.
Local and Otherwise
...
On Thursday afternoon one of the street car horses slipped and fell, and the
heavily laden car ran on to it, cutting a frightful gash in its shoulder.
Mr. Bogart, V.S., put several stitches.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 28 December 1888, p. 4)
The municipal elections of January 1889 unseated councillor Craddock, and at
his last council meeting 14 January 1889 he delivered a lengthly year-end
summary report of the railway committee's activities.
Clearing the Slate
Last Meeting of the Old Town Council
...
Railways
Mr. Craddock read the following interesting report:
To the Mayor and Municipal Council of the town of Chatham,
Gentlemen, — Your Committee on Railways in accordance with the rules and
regulations governing the proceedings of council, now beg to submit their
report on the several matters entrusted to their charge during the year:
1st Your committee has had the satisfaction, by means of the recent action
against the Street Railway Company, of placing matters in question between
the Company and Corporation in such shape that there will be no difficulty
in enforcing the proper repair of the Street Railway tracks before the first
day of July next in accordance with the terms of the judgement as stated in
the report of the committee dated 22nd October last and your committee
would recommend that the company be induced to proceed with such repairs
concurrently with any reparations to King street pavement that may be
undertaken by the town in the course of the coming year.
...
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 16 January 1889, p. 1)
The railway committee of council had been busy through 1888. Craddock's
report enumerated a total of 17 items!
It is well into 1889 before the street railway appears again in the
newspaper.
The Town Fathers
Meet and Get Through a Lot of Business
...
A communication from the solicitor, asking for instructions in the matter of the
Street railway and Erie & Huron suits, was referred to the Railway committee.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 13 February 1889, p. 1)
There were probably no instructions to give to the lawyers, since the court
decision didn't require the company to act until May, as would be pointed out
two months later.
The Town Council
...
The postponed meeting of the Town Council was held on Thursday night.
...
Coun. Flock said there was nothing to report on the street railway paving.
Mr. Reid had until the first of May to begin and until July to finish.
It was pointed out that he was to have the material on hand by the first
of May.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday, 26 April 1889, p. 1)
Among the stories of the disputes between the company the newspaper managed
to run another view of life on the Chatham Street Railway.
Local and Otherwise
...
It was on a street car going east yesterday afternoon. A woman dressed in black
was chatting gaily, and the male passengers on the other side of the car could
not but observe the beauty of her regular, gleaming white teeth. All at once
her little boy who had evidently been admiring the teeth with the other males,
spoke up: — “Mamma, I think your new teeth are so much prettier than your
old ones.” The deep and awful silence that settled down after that remark
was broken only by the hoarse chuckle of the driver on the platform who heard
the the remark.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 01 May 1889, p. 4)
The deadline for the company to repair it's road right-of-way had come.
Local and Otherwise
...
[A Q]uantity of rubble stone and gravel for paving the street car
track is piled up near the G.T.R. depot.
...
The Chatham Street Car Company is mending its ways by paving inside the
tracks and gravelling. This will be a great improvement. Now it is in order
for the town corporation to do its share.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 08 May 1889, p. 4)
The town council meeting of 17 July 1889 received and noted two items
pertaining to the street railway.
The Town Council
...
Coun. Northwood read a communication from J.R. Reid re the street railway
repairs. — Referred to the railway committee.
...
Coun. Northwood produced a diagram of the crossing of the street car track
on Queen street by the C.P.R. Mr. Reid wanted permission to remove his
switch [passing track?] a block north or south. Referred to railway
committee.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 19 June 1889, p. 1)
Accounts of council decisions don't contain the resulting decisions from
these two communications but apparently the go-ahead to move the street
railway siding was forthcoming.
Local and Otherwise
...
Mr. Reid, president off [sic] the Chatham Street R'y Company,
had a large force of men at work moving the siding on Queen street,
yesterday and today, and it did not take long to successfully place it
in position. Mr. Reid is displaying considerable activity in placing the
road bed in good condition, and the town will, doubtless, place no obstacle in the
way of furthering his effort to change the present condition of the road and
make it a profitable investment. Much has been said, and there has been
plenty of reason for it, but it now looks as if a different state of affairs
was going to exist. The president has certainly undertaken
a great deal of work, without so far, we imagine, getting any return.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 12 July 1889, p. 4)
While Reid worked to improve his company's public image (and fulfill a
court order), he found himself taking on one of the largest companies
in Canada.
Local and Otherwise
...
On Friday, Mr. J.R. Reid, who was dissatisfied with the way in which the
O. & Q crossing over his street car track on King Street, was fixed, stationed
a car with men at the point where Queen Street crossing was to be made and
refused to allow it to be done, unless the crossings were fixed so that his
cars would not continually jump the track. A compromise was quickly effected,
and everything was lovely.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday 15 July 1889, p. 4)
With Canadian Pacific suitable tamed, Reid next tackled an extension of
his street railway across the Grand Trunk on Queen street, south of
the C.P.R.
It is expected that the street railway will soon be allowed to cross the
G.T.R. track and run to the depot and the Fair Grounds.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 17 July 1889, p. 4)
All the changes had inconvenienced some, and the town council received a
complaint.
The Town Council
...
The regular meeting of the Town Council was held on Monday evening.
...
Enquiries
...
Mr. Flock wanted to know if Mr. Reid was to be allowed to go on tearing up the street railway track.
People could not drive into Harvey street from Queen St. It appeared from the explanations that
were given that if people would only wait and be patient both the C.S.C.Co, and the C.P.R. would
put things into proper shape.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Wednesday 31 July 1889, p. 1)
The street railway extension was major news, and a short note in the Friday edition of the
paper was followed by a long story on Monday.
Local and Otherwise
...
The G.T.R.R. and the street car line have practically arranged for a crossing of the former track by the latter, and a
spur to the G.T.R. platform. The former track will run to the fair ground, and a regular daily service will serve south
Queen St.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Friday 02 August 1889, p. 4)
and then
To Cross the Grand Trunk
The Street Cars to Run to the Station and Fair Ground.
A Conference with Mr. Stiff and a General Agreement as to the Proposed Extension — The Spur and the Electric Light.
On Friday a Conference was held between Mr. Chas. Stiff, Superintendent of the G.T.R., and Mr. J.R. Reid, President
of the Chatham Street Railway Company. Mr. Stiff showed a very accommodating disposition, and the substantial result
was the following agreement: The G.T. will give permission to the street car line to cross their track on the south side,
and run a spur to strike the platform about 61 feet [18½ m] east of the east end of the depot.
Signals will be provided at the expense of the Street Car Co. to avoid accident, and the street cars will come to a dead
stop either way before crossing. Two horses are to be employed, and the between-rail track cobble stone paved.
Cars will be run to Fall and Spring Fairs, and on south Queen St. regularly every day. At the conference there were also
Mr. C.E. Pegley, representing the Street Car Co., Mr. Marx, Mr. McLerie and a Planet reporter. President Reid is
to be congratulated on the success of his patient exertions in this matter.
Mr. Stiff said at the Conference, that he at first opposed the project in toto, but that the large and influential petition
of citizens had altered his mind. He read a letter from Mr. Joseph Hickson, General Manager, and gave a general idea of the
conditions which must be embodied in the agreement. For instance, the G.T. will not be responsible for any damage which
may accrue from crossing the track. This, as Mr. Pegley remarked, would cover the case of damage by collision. The privilege
to use the G.T. yard to gain access to the platform is during the pleasure of the G.T. Another clause to be embodied in the
agreement provides that the arrangements are to be subject to augmentation by the Railway Committee of the Privy Council,
should they for instance, at the request of Chathamites, make additional regulations as to crossing.
Mr. Marx threw out some valuable suggestions at the interview, and did a little interviewing on his own hook relative to the
spur.
Mr. Stiff was very frank in his replies, and said that his Company would make it just as soon as they got permission from the
Government, but that he thought that the matter, owing to certain changes, would have to be gone into to a certain extent
de novo and that (very properly) everything should be advertised anew. After the inside confab, an al fresco supplementary
Conference was held. Mr. Stiff stepped off the distance to the end of the proposed street car spur, and “woodman spare
that tree” was murmured, in reference to some of Mr. McLerie's arboreal pets which were standing like military sentinels,
west of the G.T. Queen st. gate. However, Mr. Reid re-assured the worthy station agent and told him that only two would
perish. A discussion followed as to the starting of the work, and Mr. Reid explained that it was necessary to continue the
line south of the track, in a straight line so far at least as the line of the sidewalk went. Then the electric light post came
in for review. Mr. McLerie said that the E.L. people had not consulted him as to its location, which was generally condemned.
It would have to be moved. Mr. Stiff was induced to enter the President's car, followed by the rest, and with the wily object
on the part of Mr. Reid of inducing the G.T. to allow a cut to be made in their rails at the crossing to admit the flanges of
the street cars. He showed Mr. Stiff the adoption of this plan on the C.P.R. crossing and explained that though it was true
on principle of a wire breaking at a file cut that such a cut would weaken the rail to a certain extent at that point, yet by
the strengthening by an additional fish plate, all could be secured. However, Mr. Stiff would not [??] ten to the
voice of the charmer, but conceded that if the absence of such a groove proved insuperable damage, it could be added
subsequently. He said that in London, Brantford and St. Thomas no such cut was made in the R.R. rails, and that by elevating
the street car rails the latter cars could cross the R.R. rails with an almost imperceptible jolt. Mr. Reid said that he
intended running back the grade sufficiently far back to elevate the rails at the crossing and that the between-rail track
was to be put in thorough order there with cobble stones.
(Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet, Monday 05 August 1889, p. 4)
In every other Canadian community where horse cars operated, an electric street
railway eventually operated. In every case except Belleville, Ontario, the
electric operation was a conversion or a competitor/successor to animal
power. In Belleville a fire destroyed the horse car system in November 1891,
and electric operation wasn't begun until nearly four years later, in August
1895. Transit enthusiasts' and historians' interest in the electric street
railway have usually led to some kind of documentation of the antecedent
horse car systems. Chatham's horse car-only history has exempted it from even
this cursory notice.
