First Motorized Trip to Manito Park

One of the earliest defining events relating to the development of the Manito plateau occurred on Friday, November 16, 1888.  The historical narrative of the first motorized trip to the top of the plateau was published in the Morning Review the next day.  It read as follows:

THE MOTOR LINE

Public Gratification at its Early Completion.

Comments on the Magnificent Suburban Property.

The Trial Trip Yesterday – a Full Description of the Comfortable Jaunt – In Perspective.

 

“All aboard!”  shouted Conductor Peebles yesterday, and as the guests stepped on the car, the engine gave a tug and the long-delayed trial trip on the motor line was fairly under way.

HOPES REALIZED

For several weeks the streetcar line has been waiting for the Northern Pacific’s permission to tunnel under the tracks at the Washington street crossing.  At last, however, the owner of the city road, Mr. Cook, decided to operate his line at once as far as it was already completed.  He issued a number of invitations for the trip and among those who accepted them were:  Mayor Hoover and wife, Councilman Waters, Johnson and Fortheringham [Fotheringham], J.J. White, city clerk, Chief Warren, City Attorney Houghton, and the representatives of the press.

 

THE ROUTE

The heavy haul of so many passengers up the steep grade along the four blocks on Washington street severely tested the power of the motor;  but after a sharp struggle she mounted the hill and turned to face to the East.  The engine that drew the first car over the line was a very-powerful one of forty-horse power with six drive wheels, which are good at holding or propelling.  The line runs from there to Stevens street, and after winding in and out for some distance, enters a deep rock cut about 200 feet long.  Emerging from this cut the road traverses the side of a high bluff, from which is a grand view of the city is obtainable.

 

PICTURESQUE SCENERY

At the Central school [predecessor to Lewis & Clark H.S.], the eye plainly discerns the far off suburbs of the North Side.  From Ross Park to the falls; from the “Hill” to the fairgrounds [now Corbin Park] four miles away, nothing save the foliage of the evergreen pines and cedars, interrupt the view of the thriving and picturesque city of Spokane Falls.  The passengers were all charmed with the view and said that no stranger that wanted to see Spokane in its beauty should fail to ride to the end of the motor line.

Ascending another grade we reached the switchback and mounted the summit of the hill [the site of the present Cathedral of St. John].  From there the road continues on for one mile through Montrose Park and other additions to our city.  The land there is a level prairie with the best of soil instead of the gravel upon which the city proper is built, and the residences property in that neighborhood will now become quite as attractive as that in any other part of our town.

When the end of the line was reached the guests stepped out of the car and were engaged for some time looking at the scenery; and they would have probably kept on gazing until nightfall if the whistle had not warned them to get aboard for the return trip, which was made in very quick time.

 

THANKS FOR THE RIDE

As they stepped off the car at Second street the passengers with one accord thanked Mr. Cook for his courtesy and the ride, and sauntered to their respective homes.

The crew of the train were:  Conductor, Chad Peebles, engineer, Frank Goodrich, fireman, John Krick.  The regular schedule will be in operation tomorrow.  The line will be run with a transfer at the Washington street crossing to one of the company’s cars which will be pulled by horses to the Front street end of the road.  [The Washington Street viaduct, was not completed when the streetcar began operating].

Tune in next week to hear the next chapter about when the boundaries of Manito Park were defined.