In the first decade of the twentieth century, area newspapers were full of news of projected electric railroads, trolley lines and "street railroads." Here are two accounts of plans for an extensive trolley line to be built in Saranac Lake. 1
Malone Farmer, June 12, 1907
The matter of the trolley line at Saranac Lake has been practically settled at a joint meeting of the committee of the Board of Trade and village trustees. An agreement made that the franchise should run for 50 years and. that, the trolley company shall pay the village $25,000 spread over a period of 45 years, as follows.—Nothing for the first five years; $250 per year for the next five years, $500 per year for the next 20; $600 per year for the next 15, and $950 per year for the last five years of the period. It is planned to operate a belt line through Saranac Lake and its outskirts and a through line to Lake Placid, but through freight cars will be run over a private right of way around the village and none will be transported through the village streets. It is planned to run 16 trains a day each way between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. A protest against the granting of a franchise for street cars in the village has been signed by a number of property owners who think that street cars will damage the place as rural summer resort.
Malone Farmer, July 17, 1907
The application for a franchise for a street railroad in Saranac Lake village has finally been granted to Paul Smith, Jr., and others, according to the terms formerly agreed upon. In addition the tracks must be standard gauge and of girder rails, either half groove or L pattern, the flange of the latter not exceeding 2 1-2 inches; tracks must be flush with the established grade of streets and if street grade is changed tracks mast he changed accordingly. The streets over which the tracks are permitted to be laid are Ampersand Avenue from the corporation line to Broadway, Broadway to Main, Main to River street and across the bridge to Lake Ave.; also along River St. to Flower Ave. and along Flower Ave. to the corporation line; also from the intersection of Broadway and Bloomingdale Avenue, along the latter to the corporation line; also the entire length of Depot street. The franchise carries the right to install sidings, switches and turnouts wherever necessary.
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Footnotes
1. Thanks to Phil "Bunk" Griffin for finding these stories.
