STOCKTON'S ELECTRIC RAILWAYS 



J. M. EDDY 

 Secretary Stockton Chamber of Commerce 



THE city of Stockton is supplied with two street-car systems, both of 

 which use electricity as the motive power, and each deriving that 

 power from a separate power line which brings the current from the 

 Sierras. The people of Stockton boast that these two urban sys- 

 tems are strictly competitive, that they are standard gauge, that they 

 are well equipped with modern cars, and that they maintain a good service 

 In all quarters of the city. 



The Stockton Electric Railway Company was the pioneer in affording 

 transit service in Stockton. It was a home enterprise, having been pro- 

 jected two decades ago by progressive Stockton men who ventured their 

 wealth to give the city the conveniences of rapid transit at a time when 

 there was little prospect of the profit from the operation of the road ex- 

 cept through a rapid increase of population. About seven miles of narrow- 

 gauge double track was constructed, the lines traversing the chief business 

 and residence streets of the city to the northern, eastern, and southern 

 limits of the city, and one suburban extension of the line reaching south- 

 ward one and a half miles to the warm mineral baths, and another a mile 

 or more northward to Oak Grove, which was acquired by the company 

 and converted Into a playground and resort. 



Throughout the financial depression of 1893-97 the company main- 

 tained a good service in the face of loss, and two years ago the system 

 was standardized at great expense, but without interrupting travel a single 

 day. It was then re-equipped with fine modern cars, and a branch line 

 was constructed to the western limits of the city. 



The Central California Traction Company was projected as a compet- 

 ing system, and its urban lines paralleled those of the older company. 

 Its tracks are of standard gauge and its cars are modern and commodious. 

 It has about eight miles of urban and suburban double tracks, affording 

 convenient service to all parts of Stockton and its suburbs. It derives 

 its power from the "American River Electric Company." This source of 

 power is now being reinforced by a very complete plant within the city for 

 the generation of electricity from steam. The company is said to have 

 one of the finest equipments in the West, and it will be ready to operate 

 in a few days and will be able to supply "juice" whenever, from the effects 

 of floods or other accidents, the American River power line is incapacitated. 



The Central California Traction Company has just completed the con- 

 struction of an interurban single track between Stockton and Lodi, a dis- 

 tance of fourteen miles, which was opened for service September 1st, 

 and carried nearly two thousand people on the initial day, by an hourly 

 service with only two cars. 



The interurban line gets its power through a third rail, which is insu- 

 lated by board hoods. This third rail terminates at the car-barns, a mile 

 from Stockton, and the trolley is used by the interurban cars on the streets 

 of the city. Four fine passenger-cars are ready for use on this line, each 

 of which will seat nearly eighty passengers. The company has also a num- 

 ber of express-cars for handling fruit and light freight at all hours, and has 

 the privilege of transporting regular freight-cars at certain hours of the 

 night through the city. It will soon have access to the water-front to de- 

 liver freight to the navigation companies, and has arranged for switching 

 cars to either the Western Pacific, Santa Fe, or Southern Pacific tracks. 

 Thus it is not merely a competitor of the steam railroads in local transit, 

 but is a feeder to their traffic and that of water commerce in the broadest 

 sense. 



This interurban line is to be pushed on to Sacramento without delay, 

 and the people of Stockton are convinced that they now have the nucleus 

 of an interurban system which will soon radiate from Stockton to all im- 

 portant points in the great central valley. 







