Efforts to Reorganize the Operators of the City Island Horse Railroad and Monorail in 1914

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

By 1914, City Islanders were fed up with the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railway Company.  They believed that the horse railroad service and the monorail service that for years had transported them from Bartow Station to the tip of City Island had been dilapidated and inadequate.  They felt that the monorail "experiment" had been an unmitigated disaster.  They wanted construction of a modern, overhead electric trolley line.  As part of the process, regulatory authorities approved the reorganization of the two companies in 1914.  The decision of the Public Service Commission describes the hardship of travel on the line as follows:

"In the early years of the commission, the line leading from Bartow to City Island bridge, known as the Pelham Park Railroad, was a narrow-gauged horse railway in a most dilapidated condition, and the City Island Railroad began where the other line stopped and continued across City Island bridge and through Main street down within a few blocks of Belden's Point and there terminated. This was also a narrow-gauged railway in the same condition as the other. Complaints were numerous of the conditions of their equipment. Actual observations taken on various complaints showed that the cars were so dilapidated that often in rainy weather they were absolutely non-waterproof. The horses and harnesses were little better. After much effort we got them to put in some other second-hand cars that were somewhat better, but in every effort to mend the condition of affairs, we were met with the statement that the companies were not paying operating expenses, and an examination of their financial condition proved that to be the case."

"In the Matter of the Approval of the Plan and Agreement for the Reorganization of the Pelham Park Railroad Company, and the Proposed Issue of Securities in Accordance Therewith.

Case No. 1655.

In the Matter of the Approval of the Plan and Agreement for the Reorganization of the City Island Railroad Company, and the Proposed Issue of Securities in Accordance Therewith.

Case No. 1656.

In the Matter of the Application of the Pelham Park And City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, for Authority to Issue Its Corporate Stock and to Effect Changes of Motive Power and Gauge, and for Other Purposes Incident to the Reorganization of the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railroad Company.

Cases Nos. 1655 and 1656.
(Public Service Commission, First District, May 27, 1913.)

Issuance of stock and bonds — amount of securities issuable — street railroad corporation — securities in pursuance of reorganization plan.

Transfers of stock — street railroad corporation — acquisition by one railroad corporation of all of stock issue.

Franchises — purchase and transfer — street railroad corporations.

Certificate of permission and approval — construction and operation of street surface railroad — public necessity and convenience — rate of fare.

Under the circumstances stated in the opinion, the Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, should be authorized to [Page 189 / Page 190] issue $117,000, par value, of its common capital stock, for the purposes set out in the order entered.

Under the circumstances stated in the opinion, the Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, should be authorized to issue and sell to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company all of the $117,000, par value, of stock to be issued by the former, and the Interborough Rapid Transit Company should be authorized to purchase, acquire, take and hold all such stock.

The sale, assignment and transfer of the franchises, rights and property of the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railroad Company to the Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, should, under the circumstances stated in the opinion, be approved and authorized.

It appearing that the construction, maintenance and operation of the railroads and railroad routes formerly belonging to the Pelham Park and City Island Railroad Company and the City Island Railroad Company, as a single, standard-gauge railroad operated by overhead current of electricity, from Bartow to Belden's Point, in the city of New York, for a single fare of five cents from one end of the line to the other, is necessary and convenient for the public service, the application of the Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company for permission and approval for such construction, maintenance and operation of the said railroad should be granted.

*

The facts as to the proceedings before the commission in these cases appear in the opinion adopted.
The order entered, in Cases Nos. 1655 and 1656, on May 27, 1913, in pursuance of the opinion on that date adopted, provided, in full, as follows:

Section 1.  Application having been made to the public service commission for the first district by the Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, under provisions of the Public Service Commissions Law, for the consent of the commission to the issuance by said company of its capital stock to the amount of $117,000, par value, and a hearing having been duly held upon said application before the commission, Honorable John E. Eustis, commissioner, presiding; and it appearing to the commission that none of the authorized capital stock of the said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, has been issued; and it being now the opinion of the commission:

(1) That the money to be procured by the issue of the stock desired is reasonably required for the acquisition of property and the construction, completion, extension and improvement of its facilities, and, particularly for the purposes which are hereinafter stated in this order;

(2) That said purposes are not in whole or in part reasonably chargeable to operating expenses or to income;
Section 2. It is ordered, that the Pelham Park and the City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, be and hereby is authorized to issue its capital [Page 190 / Page 191] stock to the amount of $117,000, par value; that all the stock hereby authorized shall be common stock of said company to be issued at par for money, and that the proceeds thereof shall be applied only to the following purposes, that is to say:

(1) For acquisition of property described as follows:

Reconstructed tracks in City Island Road….$44,941.08
Four cars at $1,200 each…………………....4, 800.00

(2) For the construction, completion, extension and improvement of its facilities, including the proposed standard gauge track on that part of said route now unconstructed, proposed cost of paving, proposed overhead construction, and proposed car house, substation and substation machinery….67.258.94

Total……………………………………$117.000.00

Section 3. It is ordered, that said issue of stock is authorized upon the conditions following and not otherwise, to-wit:

First. That said company shall keep separate, true and accurate accounts showing the receipt and application in detail of the proceeds of the sale or disposal of the stock hereby authorized to be issued, and on or before the tenth day of each month the company shall make verified reports to the commission stating the sale or sales of said stock during the previous month, the terms and conditions of sale, the moneys realized therefrom and the use and application of such moneys; and said accounts, vouchers and records shall be open to audit and may be audited from time to time by accountants and examiners designated for such purpose by the commission.

Second.  That none of the proceeds of the aforementioned stocks hereby authorized for the purposes specified in section 2 of this order shall be expended by the said company for the purposes specified therein until a properly itemized bill for each proposed expenditure shall have been submitted to the commission by the company with the certificate of one of the officers that such expenditure represents a real increase in its fixed capital as defined in the accounting rules of the commission, and not a replacement of any part of such fixed capital or a substitution for wasted capital or other loss properly chargeable to income, and until such bill shall have been approved by the commission.

Third.  That the authority hereby given to issue such stock shall apply only to stock issued by the said company on or before the 31st day of December, 1913.

Section 4. And application having been made to the commission by said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, under provisions of the Public Service Commissions Law for an order of the commission authorizing said company to issue and sell said stock at par to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, and authorizing said Interborough Rapid Transit Company to purchase, acquire, take and hold the stock so to be issued and sold; and a hearing having been duly held upon said application before the commission, Honorable John E. Eustis, commissioner, pre- [Page 191 / Page 192] siding; and it appearing to the commission that said application should be granted,

Section 5. It is ordered, that said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, be and it hereby is authorized to issue and sell at par to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company all the stock authorized to he issued under the foregoing provisions of this order, and that said Interborough Rapid Transit Company be and it hereby is authorized to purchase, acquire, take and hold all such stock.

Section 6. And application having been made to this commission by said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, under provisions of the Public Service Commissions Law, for authority to purchase and acquire all the franchises, rights and property of the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railroad Company, and to have the same assigned and transferred to said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated; and a hearing having been duly held upon said application before the commission, Honorable John E. Eustis, commissioner, presiding; and it appearing to the commission that such purchase, assignment and transfer should be approved and authorized by the commission,

Section 7. It is ordered, that said purchase, assignment and transfer be and the same hereby is approved and authorized.

Section 8. And application having been made to the commission by said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, under provisions of the Railroad Law and of the Public Service Commissions Law for an order of the commission authorizing, consenting to, permitting and approving the construction, maintenance and operation of the railroads and railroad routes formerly belonging to the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railroad Company, as a single railroad from Bartow to Belden's Point in the city of New York, said railroad to be constructed, maintained and operated as a railroad of standard gauge on which the motive power shall be overhead current of electricity, and on which transportation shall be afforded from one end of the line to the other at a single fare of five cents; and a hearing having been duly held upon said application before the commission. Honorable John E. Eustis, commissioner, presiding; and it appearing to the commission that the construction, maintenance and operation of said railroad in the manner and with the rate of fare mentioned is necessary and convenient for the public service, and that said application should be granted.

Section 9. It is ordered, that the construction, maintenance and operation of the railroads formerly belonging to the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railroad Company as a single railroad from Bartow to Belden's Point in the city of New York, said railroad to be constructed, maintained and operated as a railroad of standard gauge on which the motive power shall be overhead current of electricity, and on which transportation shall be afforded from one end of the line to the other at a single fare of five cents, be and the same hereby is authorized, consented to, permitted and approved; the authority, consent, permission and approval hereby granted to pertain and apply to the construction, maintenance and operation [Page 192 / Page 193] of said railroad in, upon and along the particular streets, avenues, highways, public places and private property, in, upon and along which said railroads of the Pelham Park Railroad Company and the City Island Railroad Company have been heretofore operated, or in, upon and along such alternative route or location as may be authorized by law and consented to by the city authorities and by the property owners affected; provided, however, and this authorization, consent, permission and approval is granted upon the express condition that said company shall take any and all steps not already taken and procure any and all rights not already procured that are or may be required by law as conditions precedent to the construction, maintenance and operation of said railroad in the manner mentioned.

Section 10. And it appearing to the commission that the convenience of the public demands that said railroad to be constructed, maintained and operated by said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, should be constructed and placed in operation at the earliest possible moment.

Section 11. It is ordered that said Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Incorporated, proceed immediately with the construction of said road and complete the same and place the same in full operation within three months from and after the first day of June, 1913.

Section 12. It is ordered, that this order take effect on the 3d day of June, 1913, and except as provided in the third paragraph of section 3 limiting the duration of the authority to issue the stock herein granted, continue in force until otherwise ordered by the commission, and that within ten days after service upon it of a copy of this order said company notify the commission whether the terms of this order are accepted and will be obeyed.

Arthur DuBois, for the commission.

James L. Quackenbush and J. Osgood Nichols, for the Interborough Rapid Transit Company.

Harry P. Nichols, Engineer of the Bureau of Franchises of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York.

William P. Burr and Vincent Victory, Assistant Corporation Counsel, for the City of New York.

Thomas J. Higgins, Commissioner of Parks of the Borough of The Bronx.

Henry C. Appleton, President, H. S. Sayers, Secretary, H. T. Booth, P. C. Curry, and F. W. Seifert, stockholders, of the City Island Railroad Company. [Page 193 / Page 194]

George T. Holloway, for W. S. Jarvis and Mrs. Longford, in opposition.

Stephen Collins and Samuel Reynolds, in opposition. 

Eustis, Commissioner.— The applications in the first two matters above mentioned were received at the same time and hearings were set for the same day, on account of the ownership of both properties being the same and the roads affected being two parts of one line running from Bartow, which is the City Island station on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, to Belden's Point on City Island.

The condition of travel on these two old roads since the formation of this commission has been the cause of continuous complaint and trouble. In the early years of the commission, the line leading from Bartow to City Island bridge, known as the Pelham Park Railroad, was a narrow-gauged horse railway in a most dilapidated condition, and the City Island Railroad began where the other line stopped and continued across City Island bridge and through Main street down within a few blocks of Belden's Point and there terminated. This was also a narrow-gauged railway in the same condition as the other. Complaints were numerous of the conditions of their equipment. Actual observations taken on various complaints showed that the cars were so dilapidated that often in rainy weather they were absolutely non-waterproof. The horses and harnesses were little better. After much effort we got them to put in some other second-hand cars that were somewhat better, but in every effort to mend the condition of affairs, we were met with the statement that the companies were not paying operating expenses, and an examination of their financial condition proved that to be the case. The travel, excepting for a few months in the summer, was exceedingly light, and the expenses abnormally high for the service rendered. About three years ago a change was made, and Mr. Bion L. Burrows (who was assisted by Mr. Belmont, the one who originally bought these lines and transferred them to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company) took up the proposition of substituting for the horse-car service on [Page 194 / Page 195] these lines a monorail-car service. After considerable negotiation, the city officials consented to the change and the roadway was graded through the park some distance from, but yet on a line parallel to the road leading through the park, and a monorail line was constructed and service installed on the Pelham Park line as an experiment, it being the intention at that time, if this car was a success, to have the line extended across City Island. But after three years of experiment the monorail was discarded. In the meantime, a year or so ago, the city authorities undertook the widening, regulating, grading and repaving of Main street on City Island, upon which street the City Island line was laid. During this construction the railroad track was relaid as a widegauged standard track, approval being given therefor by this commission. Foreclosure proceedings were had on account of the non-payment of interest for many years on the mortgage covering these properties. The properties were sold on July 2, 1912, to George Keegan, who is the agent or representative of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, the plaintiff in the foreclosure suit and also the owner of all the stock of the old companies. The application of each of the companies was for the issue of stock only, in amount sufficient to cover the value of the actual property now in existence, together with a sufficient amount to secure capital to put the two roads in proper condition for operation as a standard-gauged trolley line between Bartow and Belden's Point. Formal proof was duly offered upon the first hearing, held on March thirty-first, and testimony was also offered as to the value of the property remaining. The city was represented by the corporation counsel and also by Harry P. Nichols, the franchise expert of the board of estimate and apportionment, who took an active part in the proceedings before the commission. This activity on the part of the city officials grew out of the fact that they had been very greatly aggravated and annoyed by the condition of the service and the failure of the monorail system—to the extent of passing resolutions, ordering the monorail removed from Pelham Bay Park and also directing that the attorney-general be requested to institute legal proceedings to forfeit the franchises of these companies on account of poor service. At the first hearing the [Page 195 / Page 196] commission suggested that these two applications be consolidated since both properties had been purchased by Mr. Keegan, representing the same ownership; that the two lines were only parts of one whole line, and that no better time would ever come to consolidate these properties into one ownership, one company and one fare. The attorney for the applicant thought that this proposition might be acceptable to the owners, and an adjournment was taken for the purpose of ascertaining whether they would not take this under consideration.

At the adjourned hearing, on April 7, 1913, an amended petition was received, entitled 'In the 'Matter of the Plan for the Reorganization of the City Island Railroad Company and the Pelham Park Railroad Company,' in which the petitioner asked for substantially the relief asked for in the original petition. The petitioner then stated that, 'pursuant to said plans and agreements, as modified in accordance with the terms of this petition and the requirements of the public service commission,' he proposed to organize a new corporation to take over the said railroad properties and franchises, and requested 'that this commission authorize the said new corporation, under the name and style of the 'Pelham Park and City Island Railroad Company', or such other designation as may be approved by the secretary of state, to issue its stock in an amount equal to the reasonable value of the tangible properties' of the old companies, which properties were to be acquired by the new corporation. The petitioner further asked that the 'commission make this order upon such terms and conditions as may permit and facilitate the carrying into effect of the purposes contemplated in this petition, without delay.' The purpose contemplated by the petition as amended was the establishment of an up-to-date trolley line, standard gauged, from Bartow station, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, to Belden's Point, City Island.

One of the suggestions made on behalf of the city was that the new service should be a storage-battery car service, on account of the line running through a city park, thus doing away with unsightly poles and overhead wires. The petitioner objected to this [Page 196 / Page 197] on account of the grades along the line at some places being about four and five per cent, and asserted that, under such conditions, and especially at curves, the battery-car service would not be reliable, particularly with heavy loads in the winter season. The residents of City Island, who attended the hearings in large numbers, with one accord said: 'Give us a regular trolley service; we want no more experiments.'

Another suggestion, made on behalf of the city, was that the tracks should not be allowed to be restored to the bed of City Island road through the park from which they were removed when the monorail was constructed, but that they should be relaid on the line of the monorail track. Another suggestion submitted by the city was that, in connection with the proposed reorganization of these two companies into one company, the commission should impose as a condition of its approval the requirement that the new company should agree to extend its line along the Eastern boulevard, from Westchester avenue to the easterly line of the park, and that, if such an extension was promised, then the trolley service would be necessary. Whether extended now or not, the reconstructed line should be the best and one capable of extension hereafter, and for this reason our approval should be for trolleyline service, and not storage-battery car service. The overhead structure can be so designed as not to be any detriment to the park features. As to whether the reconstructed track should be on City Island road, or along the bed of the monorail track, the commission is not materially concerned; neither are the residents of City Island, so long as they get the road and get it quickly. The company's permit to use the monorail track through the park is revocable at any time. The company has no legal rights there at present. To secure such rights as the company claims to have on City Island road, to-wit, a perpetual franchise, might take a long time and remedial legislation. We should not require the road to be built where the rights are doubtful. There can be no objections to the commission approving the plan as asked for on City Island road, with an alternative approval for the other location, should the company be able to make satisfactory arrange- [Page 197 / Page 198] ments to build it there. The question of extension to this line, which all concede are very necessary for adequate service to the residents of City Island and the vast crowd of visitors to this park, should not be made a condition of approval in this case, but should be considered on its merits. I have had the assurance of the general manager of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company that the company will look with favor on an extension of this line through the park on satisfactory terms, but that the company does not wish to delay the rebuilding of these old lines until the question of an extension can be taken up and decided.

At the hearing on April sixteenth, a written protest was read by Mr. Harry P. Nichols, representing the franchise committee of the board of estimate, in effect against the commission taking any action upon the application now before us until the railroad company makes satisfactory arrangements for the extension of the line through Pelham Bay Park, which protest the citizens of City Island, who were present in large numbers, emphatically denounced. I do not believe that it is the desire of the board of estimate and apportionment of the city of New York to take any action that will further inconvenience, harass and damage the citizens of City Island. I earnestly believe that a majority of that board would wish to see the two old railroad companies rehabilitated into one, and reorganized from a ramshackle, horsecar, monorail system, into an up-to-date trolley system of one line and at one fare. In this proceeding the commission is asked to do certain things to bring about just such a result. The first relates to the amount of stock to be issued to the reorganized company. As to this, for once the commission has a very simple and easy proposition on a question of the issue of securities. No bonds are asked for, and therefore there is no question of any security being issued for less than par. The applicant does not ask for any definite sum, but submits the value of the property that it claims is still in existence, and also an estimate of the cost of completing the line. An examination of these figures, made by the experts of the commission, shows that they are so nearly correct that criticism would not effect any substantial reduction.  [Page 198 / Page 199]

As to the value of the property of the City Island Railroad Company that is usable by the new company, it is embraced in the value of the reconstructed tracks, which, according to the testimony, is $44,941.06. The other property upon which proof of value was offered was six horses at $100 each, old harnesses at $260. tools and stable equipment at $200, making a total of $1,060 for a lot of truck that is absolutely useless for a trolley road, and would naturally have to be sold. The only tangible property belonging to the Pelham Park Railroad Company is the estimated value of the monorail construction, which is to be sold for scrap, which was estimated at $2,030, aggregating, with the other three items, $3,090. As none of this represents assets or property that would be used in the reconstructed road, stock should not be issued to represent the same, but the company should be left free to dispose of these articles for cash, and then, if the cash is turned into the reconstruction of the line, stock can then be issued for the same at whatever amount the company is able to realize. The testimony as to the cost of completing the line on City Island for an overhead trolley, including the relaying of the tracks as broad-gauged through Pelham Bay Park on the City Island railroad, constructing the overhead trolley, furnishing a small car-house, substation and substation machinery, showed a total of $71,999. Criticism of these items would tend to increase rather than to diminish them, as it seems almost improbable that the company can build a suitable car-house for the storage of cars for this line for $6,600, or that an adequate substation with the necessary machinery can be established for less than $8,000. The company has included only $4,800 for closed passenger cars. The evidence submitted was that the company anticipated providing only four cars with equipment, at $1,200 each. These cars, at that price, would have to be second-hand, and might be serviceable for a short time only, but, in order to be satisfactory to the commission, they would have to be in first-class condition, and I am of the opinion that to give adequate service during the summer months more than four cars would be needed. I therefore would favor the granting of authority to issue $44,900 of capital stock, [Page 199 / Page 200] in round figures, to cover the value of the present track and roadbed, and I would recommend that additional stock to the amount of $72,000 be authorized to be issued when that amount of money has been expended upon the reconstruction, the usual method of accounting to be established so that the stock shall not be issued until vouchers have been presented to show what amounts have actually been expended upon the reconstruction work. When that is done, if the amount should exceed the amount hereby authorized, favorable consideration should be given to further applications, so that capital stock shall be issued to cover the actual cost of the reconstruction of the railroad.

Another request contained in the application is that the Interborough Rapid Transit Company may own the stock to be issued. The evidence taken upon the hearing proved that all of the money expended for the reconstruction of the line upon City Island, where the only tangible assets to be used by the new company exist, was advanced to the receiver by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, and that all deficits created by the receiver during his management of the railroad and down to the date of the starting of the new company are to be paid by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. Therefore, the stock to be issued for such property should be issued to the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. Another reason is that the said Interborough Rapid Transit Company was the owner of all of the stock of the old companies that are being reorganized, and which has been wiped out by the foreclosure, and also was the owner of the mortgages that were foreclosed, and which by the reorganization will also be wiped off the slate; and the new company will start out with a clean sheet. As the Interborough Rapid Transit Company proposes, also, to furnish the necessary funds for completing the line as an up-to-date trolley line in every respect, when it has done this and its money has been expended, it should be authorized to receive the stock to be issued therefor.

On the hearing Hon. Thomas J. Higgins, commissioner of parks for the borough of The Bronx, stated that he had been advised by the corporation counsel that the railroad company had the right to [Page 200 / Page 201] restore its road on the City island road as a narrow-gauged road only, and that the company could not restore it as a broad or standard-gauged line without the consent of the city authorities. After having consented to the building of the standard-gauged road on City Island, the city authorities could not consistently refuse to consent to a continuation of the same kind of road so that uniform equipment could be run by the new company. Such a policy would, indeed, be obstructive. .So far as the approval of this commission is necessary for the changing of the track on City Island road, formerly owned by the Pelham Park Railroad Company, such approval should be given, in order that the same may be constructed as a standard-gauged road, either on City Island road, or, if the company and the city come to any satisfactory agreement that the road should, be constructed along the roadbed of the monorail system, then at that place. If the approval of the commission is necessary for the operation of a trolley-line service over the franchises of these two companies to be operated by the reorganized new company through and along Main street on City Island, and along City Island road through Pelham Bay Park, or through Pelham Bay Park along the track of the old monorail system, the same should be given, subject to the obtaining of the property owners' consents, in order that, without further delay, the company may proceed to take up and complete the reconstruction of this railroad, so as to enable the people of City Island to have the benefit of it during the present summer. At the last hearing, on May twentieth, the certificate of incorporation of the new company, under the name of the Pelham Park and City Island Railroad Company, Inc., was placed in evidence, and an amended petition was filed by the new company asking for the same relief as set forth in the other petitions. The title of this petition is as follows: 'In the Matter of the Application of Pelham Park and City Island Railway Company, Inc., for authority to issue its corporate stock and to effect changes of motive power and gauge and for other purposes incident to the reorganization of the Pelham Park and City Island Railroad Companies.'  [Page 201 / Page 202]

The application should be granted, and the company should be required to complete the reconstruction work at the earliest possible date; and I would recommend that the order provide that the same be done within three months."

Source:  In the Matter of the Approval of the Plan and Agreement for the Reorganization of the Pelham Park Railroad Company, and the Proposed Issue of Securities in Accordance Therewith in The State Department Reports of the State of New York -- Decisions of the Public Service Commissions, Business Damage Commissions Nos. 1 and 2, Board of Claims, and Education Department -- Opinions of the Attorney-General.  Rulings of the Secretary of State, Comptroller, State Engineer, Commissioner of Agriculture, Superintendent of Banks, Superintendent of Insurance, Civil Service Commission, Conservation Commission, Commissioner of Excise and State Tax Commissioners, etc., etc. and Messages of the Governor, Vol. IV, pp. 189-202 (Albany, NY:  J. B. Lyon Company, Publishers 1914).

Fri., April 30, 2010:  "Truly, An Illuminating Little Passage in the History of New-York!" - Efforts to Develop Shore Road Trolley Line in 1897.

Thu., April 29, 2010:  City Islanders Complain and Force the Operators of Their Horse Railroad to Agree to Replace Antiquated Cars in 1908.

Wed., April 28, 2010:  Efforts by the Pelham Park Horse Railroad to Expand and Develop a Trolley Car Line on Shore Road in 1897.

Tue., April 27, 2010:  New York City's Interborough Rapid Transit Company Sued to Foreclose a Mortgage on the Horse Railroad in 1911.

Mon., April 26, 2010:  Public Service Commission Couldn't Find Marshall's Corners in 1909.

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.