Later Means of Communication 249 



"showed" its money (to use an aldermanic term), to the 

 authorities and convinced them of its financial ability. How- 

 ever that may be, the Port Chester people offered so much to 

 the city in the way of payment of its franchise that the 

 court of appeals at last ordered that it should be granted, in 

 accordance with the unanimous vote of the State Railroad 

 C ommissioners . 



Work was begun upon the road-bed on June 21, 1906, and 

 large sums of money were spent, both in the Borough and in 

 Westchester County; then, after months of work, everything 

 suddenly stopped and remained so for over a year. Then the 

 public was informed through the press that both the contend- 

 ing roads had sold their franchises to the New York, New 

 Haven, and Hartford Railroad; and assurances came from 

 President Mellen of that railroad in the latter part of January, 

 1909, that work would be resumed upon the construction of 

 the electric elevated lines of the two roads, combined into one, 

 at as early a date as convenient. 



The convenient day came sooner than most people expected, 

 for work was resumed shortly after. In the fall of 191 1, the 

 railroad officials announced that the road would be running 

 early in February; but, owing to the delay in receiving equip- 

 ment, the first passenger trains were not run until May 29, 

 191 2. At West Farms there is a great union station with the 

 subway, but the Port Chester road continues south over Walker 

 Avenue and comes down to the level of the tracks of the 

 Suburban branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford, 

 which it uses to the terminus of the Suburban branch. North- 

 ward from the union station at Adams Street and Morris Park 

 Avenue, the Port Chester road parallels the latter for some 

 distance, then crosses the old Morris Park race track and 

 continues straightway to the city line near old St. Paul's, 



