DIVISION SIX — BUSINESS, 431 



"It is the design of the projectors of this enterprise to construct a 

 narrow-gauge railway from lyos Angeles by way of the Arroyo Seco, High- 

 land Park, Garvanza, lyincoln Park, Hermosa Vista, within a short distance 

 of the proposed Raymond Hotel, and thence along a line midway between 

 Orange Grove and Fair Oaks Avenues to a point as near as practicable to 

 the intersection of Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado street in Pasadena. 

 Practically, it is the intention to extend the street railway system of Los 

 Angeles to the center of the settlement of Pasadena, using as a motive 

 power a noiseless steam motor known as a 'Dummy,' or such other power 

 as may be required." 



It will thus be seen that the project as laid out at that time was sub- 

 stantially the same as is now carried into effect by the Pasadena and Los 

 Angeles Electric Railway Company ten years later. That original "Dummy 

 line " stock was put at $25 per share ; and the prospectus further said : "It 

 is desired to make this a people's road, built for the people, on a popular 

 subscription by the people, without mortgaged or bonded indebtedness, and 

 then run it in the interests of the people." It was a live project in its day. 

 On June 5, 1884, a meeting was held at Los Angeles to work it up. A. O. 

 Porter was chairman, and Green, Ball, Eaton and Dr. Conger were also 

 there from Pasadena, besides engineer Williel Thomson, who reported 

 estimates of cost at $7,000 per mile to build the road, and $10 per day for 

 operating expenses thereafter, making five trips each way. Another meet- 

 ing was held June 12, with Dr. Conger chairman, and articles of incorpora- 

 tion were adopted. Its preparatory work was pushed with zeal and energy. 

 Right-of-way for its track was given along Pasadena avenue from Columbia 

 to Colorado streets ; I signed agreement for this, in .common with other 

 dwellers or owners of property on that avenue, although the avenue was 

 then only open from California to Colorado. But it was found that this 

 undertaking seemed to embarrass the San Gabriel Valley railroad [now 

 Santa Fe] which was then making a tenacious struggle for existence, under 

 the lead of S. P. Jewett, J. F. Crank and S. Washburn — all Pasadena men. 

 And the Valley Union of August 2, 1884. contained this announcement: 



"The directors of the Dummy Railroad and those of the S. G. V. 

 Railroad came to a mutual understanding Thursday, in which the former 

 agreed to cease operations, upon a positive guarantee that a road will be 

 built and in operation by January i, 1885; and that not less than three 

 trips per day will be made by their trains the first year, and four or more 

 the second," etc. 



So the " Dummy road " was never built. Yet the idea on which it was 

 based, for a Pasadena-Los Angeles street car line owned by local holders 

 and managers, still kept alive.* The rapid-transit road built by Capt. Cross 



* An illustration of the many grand projects incident to the boom time is afforded by an article in 

 the Pasadena Star of April 3, 18S9, on a new patent noiseless and smokeless street railroad motor, Irom 

 which I quote this passage : " The fact that such a man as E. F. vSpence and his associates are willing 

 to invest money to build a railroad whose franchise will permit nothing but a noiseless, smokeless motor 

 to be used is a very practical way of showing their faith in this motor and that it is what it is claimed to 

 be. This line is to go from the top of Mt. Wilson to the sea, through Pasadena and Los Angeles with 

 trains every hour. It will give us what we have so long needed— frequent commuuication witn i.os 

 Angeles, and bring every tourist that goes to Mt. Wilson through Pasadena." 



