Windham County Observer

WEBSTER TO HAVE NO MORE TROLLEYS CARS STOPPED RUNNING IN THE CITY MONDAY

Line from Webster to North Grosvenordale Also Discontinued—Consolidated Co. Operating Buses

The trolley cars running between North Grosvenordale and Webster stopped running Sunday night and workmen are now engaged in tearing up the rails.

Trolley service in the city of Webster was also discontinued and motor buses of the Worcester Consolidated Co., which operated the trolley cars, are being run in their place.

A great majority of the citizens of Webster seem to be opposed to the granting of a franchise to operate buses by the Selectmen which means opposition to the Acme Company buses. At a citizens meeting held a few weeks ago to ascertain public sentiment on the proposition a motion to grant a franchise to the Consolidated was defeated by an overwhelming vote. The announcement last week that the Selectmen had granted the franchise is said to have been surprising and displeasing to the people of our neighboring town.

A petition asking the Board of Selectmen to call a special town meeting at the earliest possible date was filed last Wednesday at the selectmen's meeting by William G. Hagger, city manager of the Acme Lines. The petition contained some 570 names. The board will take the petition under consideration

The Webster Times of Monday has the following about the stopping of the trolleys:

"Workmen today started the work of tearing up the rails on South Main street, and the trolley company cars from Worcester, Webster bound, stopped at the junction of North, South and East Main streets as their new Webster terminal. During the early morning, cars operated to the center of the town but with the arrival of the working crew on the scene, no more trolleys passed through the center of the town.

"Coincident with the passing of the trolleys, the new Worcester Consolidated street railway buses began their operation in the town. These buses take the place of the local line, which passed out of existence last night. The Worcester & Webster Street railway is no more, and the tracks alone are the only indication of the trolley cars in the town.

"The new busses have a capacity of 25 passengers and the operation includes School street to Perryville, Main street, Lake street and Slater street. Passengers on the Webster bound trolleys were taken in buses to their destination, if along the local route, a transfer being given from the trolley to the bus.

"The Grosvenordale line also passed out of the community picture last night and no cars were operated on this line today.

"The workmen plan to have the rails torn up and on the cars before nightfall and this stretch will be along South Main street, where the highway department construction will start. This construction, which will be in charge of Charles A. Haggerty, will probably be started at once with the rails removed and all in readiness for the excavating for the new cement road.

"The new busses attracted much attention in their first trips today and maintained a good service throughout the town along the Webster & Dudley route.

"Within a short time it is expected that operation of the Worcester & Webster line will cease although failure to secure a permit in Oxford proved a setback to the Consolidated officials. When permits are secured for all the towns through which the bus lines will pass, it is expected that the trolley cars will be discontinued."