Editing Pensacola streetcar system
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Origins=== | ===Origins=== | ||
− | The streetcar system in Pensacola can be traced to [[Conrad Kupfrian]], a German immigrant who was reportedly inspired by the horsecars he saw in St. Louis on a business trip. He formed a partnership, the [[Pensacola Streetcar Company]], with [[ | + | The streetcar system in Pensacola can be traced to [[Conrad Kupfrian]], a German immigrant who was reportedly inspired by the horsecars he saw in St. Louis on a business trip. He formed a partnership, the [[Pensacola Streetcar Company]], with [[John Pfeiffer]] and [[John Cosgrove]]. The men raised $50,000 in capital for the project and, on [[November 15]], [[1882]], convinced the [[Pensacola City Council]] to pass an ordinance allowing steel track to be placed in the roadways. The first streetcars, which went operational in [[1884]], ran from [[Pensacola Bay]] north along [[Palafox Street]] to [[Wright Street]], then east to the [[Union Depot]], then south along [[Alcaniz Street|Alcaniz]] to [[Gregory Street|Gregory]] and west to [[DeVilliers Street]]. A north-south link at DeVilliers went south to [[Government Street]] and east again to Palafox. A general fare cost five cents, and cars passed about every ten minutes during high-traffic periods. The company addressed the issue of low ridership after business hours by creating an amusement park destination, called [[Kupfrian's Park]], in the [[North Hill]] neighborhood, extending the line west from DeVilliers on [[La Rua Street|La Rua]] and north on [[J Street]]. |
===First reorganization=== | ===First reorganization=== | ||
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<blockquote>It was in 1906 that the Stone & Webster organization took charge of the traction and electric lighting systems of Pensacola, both of which it has improved. At that time there was a line seven and one-half miles along the shore to Fort Barancas (sic) — is, to the government reservation, where the navy yard is located, and where a good-sized colony exists. This line was electrified for only about a third of the distance, steam being employed over the balance. Today, electricity is the sole power. The city lines of the old company were in inadequate condition, but the situation in this respect has since been much improved. All told, the street railway company now operates 20.39 miles of track. Its equipment consists of 26 passenger cars, with 9 trailers, together with one express car and 11 miscellaneous cars. Power for both the street railway and lighting is supplied from a brick power station, with a capacity for 700 Kw. for lighting and 800 Kw. for traction purposes. The equipment includes a new 300 Kw. Parson's steam turbine, and a new direct connected 500 Kw. railway generator. A brick repair shop, a car barn and several parcels of land in the city are owned by the company. The distributing system of the lighting plant is in excellent condition, having recently been overhauled and thoroughly rebuilt. The electric light franchise is perpetual, having been granted by special act of the legislature. The railway franchise expires in 1933. That part of the line running to the government military reservation is operated under authority granted by the Secretary of War, the grant on the naval reservation being by special act of Congress.</blockquote> | <blockquote>It was in 1906 that the Stone & Webster organization took charge of the traction and electric lighting systems of Pensacola, both of which it has improved. At that time there was a line seven and one-half miles along the shore to Fort Barancas (sic) — is, to the government reservation, where the navy yard is located, and where a good-sized colony exists. This line was electrified for only about a third of the distance, steam being employed over the balance. Today, electricity is the sole power. The city lines of the old company were in inadequate condition, but the situation in this respect has since been much improved. All told, the street railway company now operates 20.39 miles of track. Its equipment consists of 26 passenger cars, with 9 trailers, together with one express car and 11 miscellaneous cars. Power for both the street railway and lighting is supplied from a brick power station, with a capacity for 700 Kw. for lighting and 800 Kw. for traction purposes. The equipment includes a new 300 Kw. Parson's steam turbine, and a new direct connected 500 Kw. railway generator. A brick repair shop, a car barn and several parcels of land in the city are owned by the company. The distributing system of the lighting plant is in excellent condition, having recently been overhauled and thoroughly rebuilt. The electric light franchise is perpetual, having been granted by special act of the legislature. The railway franchise expires in 1933. That part of the line running to the government military reservation is operated under authority granted by the Secretary of War, the grant on the naval reservation being by special act of Congress.</blockquote> | ||
− | + | At its peak, a total of 30 trolley cars carried four million passengers per year (1920).<ref>[http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/historicdotphotos/rail/pentrolley.htm MyFlorida.com]</ref> Partially covered tracks and barely concealed right-of way are clearly visible in various places along the former routes, including on West [[Gadsden Street]], West [[DeSoto Street]],<ref>[http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=30.422958,-87.220094&spn=0.01286,0.019312&z=16&layer=c&cbll=30.422841,-87.219968&panoid=DKB9xa_j9I6kFEHTAn8nmg&cbp=12,259.17608183457696,,0,14.54100241579118 Google Maps Street View]</ref> and East [[Jackson Street]].<ref>[http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=30.418702,-87.209151&spn=0.01286,0.019312&z=16&layer=c&cbll=30.422921,-87.196446&panoid=ynzkZ_-A2Lj1l73a8mwYUw&cbp=12,76.9141215041957,,0,3.1568518060403385 Google Maps Street View]</ref> The trolley was discontinued six years after Pensacola Electric Company's [[1932]] merger with [[Gulf Power]]. | |
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− | At its peak, a total of 30 trolley cars carried four million passengers per year (1920).<ref>[http://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/historicdotphotos/rail/pentrolley.htm MyFlorida.com]</ref> Partially covered tracks and barely concealed right-of way are clearly visible in various places along the former routes, including on West [[Gadsden Street]], West [[DeSoto Street]],<ref>[http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=30.422958,-87.220094&spn=0.01286,0.019312&z=16&layer=c&cbll=30.422841,-87.219968&panoid=DKB9xa_j9I6kFEHTAn8nmg&cbp=12,259.17608183457696,,0,14.54100241579118 Google Maps Street View]</ref> and East [[Jackson Street]].<ref>[http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=30.418702,-87.209151&spn=0.01286,0.019312&z=16&layer=c&cbll=30.422921,-87.196446&panoid=ynzkZ_-A2Lj1l73a8mwYUw&cbp=12,76.9141215041957,,0,3.1568518060403385 Google Maps Street View]</ref> | ||
==Segregation== | ==Segregation== | ||
− | [[Segregation]] of the streetcar system came in [[1905]] via a state law authored by Pensacola representative [[John Campbell Avery]]. | + | [[Segregation]] of the streetcar system came in [[1905]] via a state law authored by Pensacola representative [[John Campbell Avery]]. However, it was declared unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court a month later. The [[Pensacola City Council]] responded with an ordinance that was |
− | + | <blockquote>somewhat similar to the state law which was declared unconstitutional. It was drawn however, in such shape that it will hardly be declared unconstitutional if any attempt is made to carry it to the Supreme Court. The street railway company will divide the cars as it did during the time that the state law was being complied with, except that cards will be posted designaling the white and colored parts of a car. The colored population seems to be satisfied and it is not expected that the cars will be boycotted as was the case when the state law bc- operative.<ref>"Jim Crow Law Effective To-Day." ''Pensacola Journal'', October 13, 1905.</ref></blockquote> | |
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− | <blockquote>somewhat similar to the state law which was declared unconstitutional. It was drawn however, in such shape that it will hardly be declared unconstitutional if any attempt is made to carry it to the Supreme Court. The street railway company will divide the cars as it did during the time that the state law was being complied with, except that cards will be posted designaling the white and colored parts of a car. The colored population seems to be satisfied and it is not expected that the cars will be boycotted as was the case when the state law | ||
Despite being vetoed by [[Pensacola Mayor|Mayor]] [[Charles H. Bliss]], the ordinance was passed by the council and went into effect on [[October 13]], 1905. | Despite being vetoed by [[Pensacola Mayor|Mayor]] [[Charles H. Bliss]], the ordinance was passed by the council and went into effect on [[October 13]], 1905. | ||
{{sectstub}} | {{sectstub}} | ||
==Streetcar lines== | ==Streetcar lines== | ||
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===East Hill Line=== | ===East Hill Line=== | ||
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===North Hill Line=== | ===North Hill Line=== | ||
===Belt Line=== | ===Belt Line=== |