Encyclopedia Dubuque
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KEY CITY ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY COMPANY
KEY CITY ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY COMPANY. The failure of the STEAM DUMMY did not bring an end to the need for transportation for the hillside area of Dubuque.
The Key City Electric Street Railway Company was organized in 1889 by the Key City Electric Company. On December 24, 1889 at 3:00 p.m. crowds began to gather along 8th Street from Main to the motor station near the Kansas City freight house. An hour later Motor No. 2 "resplendent in paint and varnish and polished brass and nickel" started to move after word had been sent to the U.S. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY station to turn on the power. Since this was a "trial trip" high speed was not attempted. Passengers were required to leave the car at Hill Street due to pieces of MACADAM on the tracks due to street work. The climb from Hill Street to SUMMIT HOUSE went without trouble. The return trip proved the quality of the braking system. The round trip took fifty minutes. The contract stated that the road would be operated by the manufacturers for thirty days and then, if satisfactory, be turned over to the local company. A test for speed was carried out on Christmas Day. (1)
In 1891 the line between the Kansas City depot and West Dubuque and was burdened with many financial debts. During the winter of 1890-1891 it operated only three cars and had less business than the previous winter when it operated only two. With debts of $80,000, the company went into receivership around 1891 and was sold to the 8th Street and West Dubuque Railway Company, part of the Allen and Swiney Company. In the same month, the council gave the company permission to operate its line from the Western Brewery to Schueller's store in West Dubuque using horses. The company's machinery was not powerful enough to operate in this area and the receiver did not have money to purchase new equipment. (2)
In June 1892, the railway was sold in foreclosure to William Doane of Cincinnati, Ohio. He told reporters that the line could be made profitable with extensions and improvements and invited local investors to join in the venture. When local investors failed to come forward, Doane failed to pay the $25,000 to the sheriff, so the railway was again put up for sale on August 27, 1892. (3) The line was sold to the Eighth Street and West Dubuque Railway Company which filed incorporation papers on the day of the purchase. In addition to William Doane, other investors were from outside of Dubuque. (4)
See: DUBUQUE ELECTRIC RAILWAY, LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY
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Source:
1. "Hill Folks Are Happy," The Herald, December 25, 1889, p. 4
2. "Can Use Horse Power," Dubuque Daily Herald, December 10, 1891, p. 4.
3. "Will be Sold Today," Dubuque Daily Herald, August 27, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920827&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
4. "Sold the Road," Dubuque Daily Herald, August 28, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920828&printsec=frontpage&hl=en