More on the So-Called "Horse Railroad" that Once Ran from Bartow Station to City Island

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Recently I have documented here a great deal of the research I have conducted on the City Island Horse Railroad that once ran from Bartow Station to the end of City Island.  Examples of such postings appear at the end of today's posting.  Today's posting documents some additional research relevant to the end of the railroad companies that once oversaw the horse railroad that ran from Bartow Station.

In 1914, at the request of the President of Bronx and the Commissioner of Parks (Bronx), the Bureau of Franchise of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York conducted a number of inquiries and prepared a number of reports relating to the City Island Railroad Company (Pelham Park Railroad Company and Pelham Park & City Island Railway Company, Inc.). 

A series of reports were presented to the Bureau of Franchise on March 6, 1914, March 20, 1914, April 3, 1914 and October 30, 1914.  The subjects of these reports have been described as follows: 

"Status of old companies and their rights.  Removal of monorail tracks and temporary power house from Pelham Bay Park.  Action against Pelham Park Railroad Company for forfeiture of franchise.  Failure of reorganized Company to live up to agreement with Public Service Commission.  Operation of buses by Commissioner of Parks.  Application of reorganized Company for consent of City as a property owner to railway in Pelham Bay Park and for its approval of railway from Marshall's Corner to City Island."

[and]

"Acquirement of properties by Union Railway Company of New York City; temporary permit for operation on route to be fixed."

Source:  Report of the Bureau of Franchise of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York - 1914, p. 74 (NY, NY:  M.B. Brown Printing & Binding Co. 1915).

The reports recommended the following actions be taken by the Board:

"(For previous reports and action, see Annual Reports, 1911-1912-1913.)
January 23, 1914 -- Order of Public Service Commission extending time to April 1, 1914, for completion of construction and issue of capital stock by reorganized company, received and filed.

March 20, 1914 -- On Report of Bureau reciting failure of reorganized Company to comply with order of Public Service Commission and to apply to Board for necessary rights (presented March 6, 1914) resolution adopted requesting Commission to co-operate with Board to relieve situation and directing Commissioner of Parks to take steps to remove temporary power house from Pelham Bay Park and to issue no further permits for wire construction; Commissioner also authorized to establish and operate a temporary 'bus service at 5-cent fare.

April 3, 1914 -- Report of Bureau reciting commencement of 'bus service on March 21, 1914; also commencement of similar service by Interborough Rapid Transit Company.  Application of reorganized Company for consent and approval of City to new railway, referred to Committee on Transit.

April 17, 1914 -- Report of Commissioner of Parks re operation of 'bus service and removal by railway company of its property from Pelham Bay Park; also communication from City Island Board of Trade thanking Board for 'bus facilities to be sent Public Service Commission.  Order of Public Service Commission extending time to June 1, 1914, for completion of construction by reorganized Company, received and filed.

July 9, 1914 -- Presentment of Bronx County Grand Jury recommending grant of permit by City for operation in Pelham Bay Park and that Public Service Commission should thereafter require Company to construct and operate railway by electric system.  Referred to Committee on Transit.

July 10, 1914 -- It appearing that the Union Railway Company has acquired control of Company and was about to apply for franchise, resolution adopted authorizing Commissioner of Parks to issue temporary permit for railway through Park on Route to be fixed  by President of Bronx, Commissioner of Parks and Chief of Bureau of Franchises with usual stipulation to remove structure if no franchise obtained.

October 2, 1914 -- Order of Public Service Commission extending time to December 31, 1914, for completion of construction by reorganized Company, received and filed.

October 16, 1914 -- Request of Corporation Counsel for Board's attitude as to forfeiture proceedings already instituted against Pelham Park Railroad Company, referred to Bureau.

October 30, 1914 -- On report of Bureau reciting grant of temporary permit by Commissioner of Parks, Corporation Counsel directed to procure adjournments of forfeiture action pending application of Company for franchise."

Source:  Id., pp. 74-75.

For other postings reflecting research on the City Island horse railroad, see:

Fri., March 5, 2010:  Construction of the City Island Horse Railroad in 1887.

Thu., March 4, 2010:  Beginnings of Horse Railroad - News from Pelham and City Island Published in 1884.

Wed., March 3, 2010:  1879 Advertisement for Robert J. Vickery's City Island Stage Line, A Predecessor to the City Island Horse Railroad.

Tue., March 2, 2010:  1901 Report Indicated that The Flynn Syndicate Planned to Buy the Pelham Bay Park & City Island Horse Car Line.

Mon., March 1, 2010:  Flynn Syndicate Buys the City Island Horse Car Line in 1907 to Incorporate It Into Electric Trolley Line.

Fri., February 26, 2010:  1913 Decision of Public Service Commission to Allow Reorganization of City Island Horse Railroad for Electrification.

Thu., February 25, 2010:  Photograph of Patrick Byrnes and Article About His Retirement of the City Island Horse Car in 1914.

Wed., February 24, 2010:  Attempted Suicide of City Island's Long-Time Horse Car Driver

Wed., February 3, 2010:  Early Information Published in 1885 About the Organization of the "City Island Railroad", a Horse Railroad from Bartow Station to City Island

Tue., February 2, 2010:  Information About the Pelham Park Railroad at its Outset

Fri., January 22, 2010:  1884 Account of Early Origins of Horse Railroad Between Bartow Station and City Island

Tue., September 1, 2009:  Pelham News on February 29, 1884 Including Talk of Constructing a New Horse Railroad from Bartow to City Island

Wed., December 2, 2009:  Accident on Horse-Car of the Pelham Park Railroad Line in 1889

 Thu., December 31, 2009:  1887 Election of the Board of Directors of The City Island and Pelham Park Horse Railroad Company

Mon., January 4, 2010:  1888 Local News Account Describes Altercation on the Horse Railroad Running from Bartow Station to City Island

 Please Visit the Historic Pelham Web Site
Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.
Please Click Here for Index to All Blog Postings.