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Adair Co., KY: Prof. Azbill and the Electric Interurban Railway, 1901-1906 In this long, but fabulous account of an era of optimism in Adair County, KY, Jim recounts the promotion of the idea of an electric railway from Columbia to Lebanon, KY - sometimes on to Creelsboro - which obsessed Adair County for some six years. (Some, the writer thinks, still haven't given up on the idea) By Jim "The matter of the coming great enterprise was discussed until late bedtime, every body retiring to dream of the whistle of the locomotive." -- Adair County News, April 15, 1908. Professor Azbill and the Electric Interurban Railway, 1901-1906 In the opening years of the twentieth century, Columbia and Adair County were offered two incredible opportunities. For one of the two, the Methodist Training School, now known as Lindsey Wilson College, the local citizenry grabbed the brass ring and held on with bulldog tenacity. As far as the other one, well, therein lies the tale. The possibility of a local railway surfaced in the Adair County News as early as the closing days of the nineteenth century, and, without doubt, the News dedicated more column-inches of print in the early years of the 20th century to proposed railways than any other single topic--sometimes a freight/passenger connecting to a rail system out of Louisville, Lexington, Danville, or Nashville, but more frequently, an electric interurban rail running from Columbia to Greensburg, Campbellsville, Lebanon, and/or other nearby towns. (From Hope to Hilltop, p 39.)The years 1902 thru 1905 was a banner era for vapor-rails, beginning, appropriately enough, with a stirring opinion piece in the January 1, 1902 edition of the News in which J.E. Murrell wrote, in part, ...Here in Columbia our merchants and other lines of business have scored the best year of the last decade. It has been a prosperous year and the majority of the people in this locality realize that this is a favored land...yet it stands a back country in many respects.The prospect of a rail line approached crescendo in the October 1 and October 3 editions of the Adair County News, the latter being the first -- possibly the only -- special edition of the News ever published. The articles were occasioned in great part by the annual meeting of the Louisville Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, held in Columbia that early October, 1902. Above and beyond the regular business conducted and assignment of churches, the Conference was to discuss and vote on the prospect of building a Training School in Columbia, and the News, with even more vigor than usual, ...relentlessly, unabashedly...thundered for progress in Columbia and Adair County... Such was the case with the Methodist Training School from the time the prospect was first floated at the Annual Conference held in Glasgow in the latter part of 1899. It was the News that kept the matter--the possibility, the hope--of locating the institution in Columbia before the public, extolling the benefits of having such an institution in Adair County... (From Hope to Hilltop, p iii.)In a lengthy opinion piece in the October 1 edition, headlined "To the Conference", Mr. Murrell, wrote, in part, Just now we have the assurance that an electric railway will be built from Columbia to Campbellsville within the next year. This will add to the convenience and worth of the school and will result in good to the entire community. Back of this there is an effort to extend the line to Burkesville, which, at this hour, is not a certainty, but is within the range of a probability. This would open up and place the school in close proximity to the entire southern part of the district.(This issue of the News also reported that "The survey of the Green River Park and the plot of land for the Power Plant was completed on Saturday...") In a similar piece in the October 3 special edition, Mr. Murrell again addressed the railway issue in regard to the proposed school (the Conference vote on the proposed training school was to be held next day -- Saturday, October 4, 1902): In a former article we called attention to the fact that an Electric [rail] Line from this place to Campbellsville was assured, that the building of this [rail]road would increase the desirableness of this town as the place for your school. It would likewise increase the value of any school property secured here.How much role, if any, these articles (as well as the one below) played in the decision to locate the training school in Columbia played can't be determined, but they certainly didn't hurt the cause as the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the project. Mr. Murrell's words were no just empty rhetoric. Plans -- and work -- were already underway at the time for an electric interurban from Campbellsville to Columbia. An article in the October 1 paper stated that Attorney James Garnett, Jr., and Prof. Azbill went to Taylor county last Friday on business in connection with the right of way for the railroad. Incidentally they fell upon gratifying proofs that the leading parties interested in the turnpike road are quite friendly to the interurban enterprise...Two weeks later, the October 15 issue stated that Eld. W.K. Azbill was out last week in the interest of the electric line between Columbia and Campbellsville...Mr. Azbill is meeting with encouragement from many different sources, and the people along the line are very enthused. The people of Columbia have perfect confidence in Mr. Azbill's ability and influence to carry the project to a successful conclusion.Wilson Kendrick (W.K.) Azbill, variously accorded the honorifics of Mr., Elder, and Professor, was a man of many interests. He served as the first principal of the Columbia Christian College (founded in the early 1870s); pastored the Colombia Christian Church for nearly the entire decade of the 1870s; served as missionary to Jamaica & Japan; spent time in Hawaii as a minister and as proprietor of the Queen Hotel & Eagle House; served briefly, after leaving Columbia around 1909, as a fund-raiser for Dixie College, the forerunner of Tennessee Tech; authored a book about.1914, Science and Faith: The Spiritual Law in the Physical World; and, in his declining years, built and operated the first licensed radio transmitter in San Diego, California (1922). Prof. Azbill returned to Columbia from Japan (by way of stops in Hawaii and the West Coast) in the latter part of 1900 and by late 1901, he was, in the language of the day, agitating for an interurban railway for Columbia, and by mid-October, 1902, things stood as noted above. Perhaps the prevailing sentiment at the time was best expressed in this entry from the Bliss community newsletter of mid-November, 1902: "Glory on high for the Lindsey-Wilson training school... It's about a go, with an Interurban railroad coming. Better times are in view." Part of the above comment most likely was predicated on an article which had appeared in the November 5, 1902 News, which announced that "Mr. C.L. Cornwell, a surveyor of Louisville" had arrived in Columbia a few days earlier with a crew of men, and that "Friday morning the surveying of the route from [Columbia] to Campbellsville was commenced." The same article, quoting from the Courier-Journal, stated that Evidence is multiplying that the proposed interurban electric road from Columbia is only the forerunner of a network of such lines in Central, Southwestern and Western Kentucky.. The road may be extended to Burkesville.The October 29th edition had practically crowed that The news of Columbia's prosperity has spread over the State. Every person with whom you come in contact makes inquiry about the proposed electric [rail] line and the Methodist Training School.And, again quoting from the November 5 issue, There is not a doubt but every class of business in Columbia is increasing. The railroad and the Methodist School will make it one of the most prosperous towns in Kentucky.There were no fewer than three articles in the December 10, 1903 News about the electric line. The first informed readers that Mr. Cornwell, the surveyor, had about concluded his calculations and that "It is now believed that a definite statement as to the cost of the road, etc., will be placed in the hands of capitalists in the next few weeks." The second piece was a stinging editorial reprinted from the Campbellsville Enquirer in which the author, in a manner reminiscent of J.E. Murrell at his finest, thundered Our citizens should bend every nerve to get the new electric line to run to this city instead of trying to block it. We cannot afford to do without it at any cost... and mark our words, if we don't get this road it will not be ten years before we will see Columbia a thriving city and [Campbellsville] will be placed in the scale of a "has been" town...And the third article was a lengthy (over half a column) "in substance" quotation from Mr. Azbill, in which he outlined the progress to date, noting that I have secured the right of way from all parties interested except three or four in Taylor county and a like number in Taylor county... I am now ready to organize a company and take subscriptions for stock... [and] we likely will place the shares at $100 each. He then added that "I want our [i.e, local] people to build, own and control this line and enjoy its profits." The March 4, 1903 News informed readers that Mr. W.K. Azbill addressed a large crowd in the court-house Monday in the interest of the Electric road to be built from Columbia to Campbellsville... Quite a number expressed their desire to take stock and at an early date a company will be formed...By mid April, 1903, the monied men of Columbia and Adair County were getting down to brass tacks and dollar bills. The April 22 paper proclaimed that on Monday (April 20), the Columbia Inter-Urban Railway Company had been incorporated with "fifteen thousand dollars of capital stock having been subscribed..." The Board of Directors and other investors read like a who's who of Columbia: The elected Board of Directors was composed of Prof. W.K. Azbill, President; Capt. W.W. Bradshaw, Vice President; C.S. Harris, Secretary; and Circuit Court Judge W.W. Jones, Treasurer, along with W.D. Jones and J.O. Russell. Other investors included: James T. Page (Prof. Azbill's kinsman by marriage), J.N. Conover, James Garnett, Jr., W.F. Jeffries, W.R. Myers, Z.T. Williams, G.W. Robertson, A.S. Chewning, T.A. Murrell, T.R. Stults, Geo. Nell, J.N. Coffey, J.D. Lowe, W.B. Rowe, L.V. Hall, and N.M. Tutt. A month (and several articles) later, it was reported in the May 27, 1903 News that The prospectus of the Columbia Interurban road is out [and] the facts and figures coincide and proves to be one of the best and safest propositions in electric lines in the State. It will attract the attention of capitalists. Every statement made in is conservative, so much so that we believe the surplus would bear a raising of 100 per cent.Little more was heard about the electric interurban until July 22, when the News stated that "Mr. Azbill is at work every day, perfecting necessary arrangements...and in a short time men of means will be here to look over the ground..." The following week (July 29) came this announcement: We hear that the Campbellsville city council has taken up the matter of the Inter-urban railway, and has appointed a committee to confer with the Columbia Inter-Urban Company... [I]t would be greatly to the interest of that city for the line to go there, no matter where else it may go.Within the next two weeks, apparently plans for the railway expanded, as the August 13 paper reported that "Mr. Azbill has received satisfactory assurance from Lebanon and Bradsfordsville that the citizens of those places will bear the expense of completing his preliminary survey from Robertson's creek to Lebanon...Hardly had that ink dried until another article two weeks came at readers of the News like a high-rising sinkerball. That article noted that John Powers and Mr. Tennis, "two prominent railroad men," had been in Columbia the previous Saturday night and that while they "were well pleased with the route," they opined that "the road should be a steam line, at least for two or three years, as freight would be the heaviest producer of revenue..." The September 16th News carried a lengthy quote from Mr. Azbill in which the assurance was given that "there is practically no limit to what we can haul with electric motors." He also said that "There are only about 10 miles of difficult grading on the entire line. There are third miles which will be as easy of construction as can be found anywhere." The distance given here, forty miles total, apparently referred to the Columbia-Campbellsville-Bradsfordsville-Lebanon route. Lebanon would have been an important, perhaps critical, terminus point; at the time, as the freight and passenger railroad service nearest to Columbia was located there.. Mr. Azbill further stated that he estimated the cost of constructing the railway would be around $15,000 per mile. In closing, he uttered the following, words which proved bitterly unprophetic: Go now and tell the wise -- and the unwise -- the well-wishers and the pessimistic, that their predictions and idle words will all be had in remembrance on the train some sweet day.The September 30, 1903 edition of the News brought forth more sunshine and optimism: Mr. Azbill had "secured the flood rights on Green river" (in Taylor County) which opened the way "for developing water power so essential for cheap operation of the electric railway." The same piece. bubbling with enthusiasm, continued thus: The prospect for the Columbia Interurban was never brighter and never needed as united effort more than at present. Every man should give assistance and feel that he has a part in the development of this section. Cold water will not down it, but friendly aid will assist in hastening its advent.A few weeks later, at a called meeting of the stock holders of the Columbia Inter-Urban Railway Company, Prof. Azbill gave a summary of the "negotiations, propositions and developments since the meeting in September. It was highly satisfactory to all and the preliminary work, so essential, is progressing much better than most of us had anticipated." (C.S. Harris, one of the stock holders, was the Editor of the Adair County News.) Little else was reported about the railway until the November 25, 1903 paper which carried this article, reprinted (most likely from the previous week's edition) of the Lebanon Falcon: Mr. W.K. Azbill secured the right of way through nearly every farm along the route of the proposed electric railway in [Marion] county while here last week. The Tennis Construction Co., of Cincinnati commenced the location survey at Columbia Wednesday of last week and will work on this way, probably reaching [Lebanon] in about six weeks. This is an expensive move and is taken with the understanding that the road is sure to be built. Parties interested expect to 'break dirt' in this spring.By now, almost exactly two years had elapsed since Mr. Azbill began pushing for the interurban. The December 23rd News still cheerfully reported that "Mr. Azbill, the prime mover, is in full confidence and says the project will be a success..." but also noted that while the surveyors were beyond Green River, it "would possibly take until Spring to reach Lebanon." The following week came the report that the survey had been completed "from Columbia to Robinson's creek -- a distance of twelve or fourteen miles, and the engineer of the works states that it is the best grade he ever saw in a hilly country." More specifics were forthcoming in mid-February, 1904 when Mr. Azbill went on record by saying that The chief engineer of the Tennis Company is now on the line making notes to complete his preparation for work on the plans and estimates. By the time you go to press [on Tuesday, February 9] he will be in my office where he will continue to work until the plans, specifications, estimates and maps of the road shall have been completed.... The road is to be built in sections of about ten miles each, and the subscribers for stock will not be required to pay an money till the section is completed for which they have subscribed.The following week, the News reported The Royal Wheel Company of Lebanon, furnished beautifully prepared hickory sticks [for use as grade stakes] for the last mile of the survey of the Interurban road... [T]he interest taken by the business men of that city is encouraging and means they will do their full part in the building of the road.In the same edition, an article/opinion piece prematurely prognosticated that The building of the [rail]road means development of our town and county; it opens up the way to market, puts us in touch with the spirit of the time. It will stir our energies, increase our opportunities, advance the value of our productions and reduce the cost of our purchases. With it, new enterprises will come and an entire transformation of business practices.This article ended on a somewhat suspicious note by stating that ...there is many a slip between cup and lip, and other purposes often [are couched] behind such movements rather than the building of a road. If they come give them aid, but first come, first served should be our rule and now is the time to stick to the Interurban form Columbia to Lebanon. A fortnight later, J.E. Murrell was at his peak in a news/opinion piece. He wrote, in part The time is up [i.e., the time is now] for the formation of a company to take this enterprise in hand and push it to completion. Mr. Azbill has done splendid work and now asks the people to join in this development. A meeting was held one night last week in which a committee of eight was appointed to solicit subscriptions for stock in the company. Just as soon as a sufficient amount of stock has been placed the company will be formed and push the work until it is completed.The March 23, 1904 News informed readers that a committee of five "prominent and influential citizens" of Marion County had been appointed to solicit subscriptions for the interurban, proof that "The people of Marion see the good the road will bring and they are dead earnest in their efforts weeks later, the paper noted that Mr. Azbill had gone to Frankfort some days earlier "for the purpose of securing a charter for the interurban railroad," and a week afterwards, he reported that the "raising of subscriptions...is moving along nicely in Marion [County] and the Mannsville section of Taylor County," and that he "had raised several thousand dollars more than enough to organize the company." In late April, 1904, the reality of the electric railway seemed within grasp with the announcement of the formation of the Columbia and Lebanon Interurban Railway Company. Among the directors & other incorporators were Columbians W.K. Azbill, President; W.W. Bradshaw and C.S. Harris; and Jas. T. Page, W.R. Myers, Jno. N. Conover, and T.R. Stults. The articles of incorporation had been received from Frankfort, and the total amount of stock subscribed to totaled $18,500 "but it is understood that most of the [members of the Company] will increase their subscriptions...," and the Lebanon Falcon was quoted as saying, "Those having money to invest will do well to get in on the 'first floor,' as the road will certainly be a big revenue producer." Little more appeared in the News over the next few months, but the July 6, 1904 paper reported, with perhaps a bit less optimism and a bit more anxiety than earlier articles, that "only ." Threeabout half of the stock required of Adair County has been subscribed." This was followed by an absolute statement, "It is an opportunity that we cannot afford to let slip," and list of reasons why, including increased land values, utilization of timber that would otherwise be unmarketable, and an increase of business. Not much more about the interurban appeared until mid-November, when the News stated that There is an impression outside of Adair county that the effort to build an interurban railroad...has been abandoned. This is a mistake, as we are reliably informed... The country was in a stir about the election, and those who openly interested themselves about the railroad, concluded that it was best to work quietly until the close of the Presidential contest.The article went on to say that much had been accomplished over the past few months, but gave neither details nor examples thereof, and a month or so later came word that "Interest in the railroad is assuming shape again..." By this time, over three years had elapsed since Prof. Azbill had started agitating for the electric line, but according to the January 11, 1905 paper, There are sufficient reasons to feel encouraged over the prospect of work beginning on the Columbia and Lebanon Interurban road... [O]utside capital is coming our way and now is the time for all of us to show our faith.After a couple of brief (and somewhat puzzling) entries in late March, came a lengthy report in the April 12, 1905 edition, reprinted from the Harrodsburg Herald, that stated Prof. Azbill was working on ...the practically and advisability of constructing the [interurban] road from Burgin to Harrodsburg, thence to Perryville and Lebanon, and on to Columbia and Creelsboro, in Russell county...The article went on to say that Danville citizens had contacted Mr. Azbill about getting in on the action, and had made "substantial promises provided they could the electric line." Not mentioned, however, was whether this was venture was an expanded version of the Columbia and Lebanon Interurban Railway Company or a completely new enterprise. The June 14 edition reported that a crew was surveying from Columbia to the Cumberland, and News readers were admonished thus: Those who have been faint-hearted, and others, whose faith has not been so large as a mustard seed...should cheer up and join the crowd, small though it be, that keeps the faith unwavering...By early August, 1905, the above-mentioned survey had bee completed, and the News informed readers that "A few amendments will next be made on the Columbia-Lebanon survey...and then the eastern [i.e., Lebanon to Burgin] extension will be proceeded with." By late summer,1905, the survey for the complete route was nearly finished, and, according to the September 13 edition, immediately upon completion, "Mr. Azbill will go to Cleveland, Ohio, for the purpose of submitting the proposition to a syndicate who have signified a willingness to finance the road." And, with a glimmer of the optimism of 1903, the article continued: "Mr. Azbill has never 'let up' in his enthusiasm, and is as confident as he was at the start that the proposition would be successfully landed." The last mention found in the 1905 News appeared in the October 4 issue, almost exactly four years after Prof. Azbill first brought up the interurban rail line, simply stated that Mr. Azbill & son Paul, "who have been in Mercer and Boyle counties with the surveying party, reached home last Saturday night." However, the year closed with the report via a reprint from the Louisville Times that a survey was underway for a rail line from Stanford to Scottsville to be known as the Green River Railway." The News took umbrage at this potential interloper, stating that Again we can see how our people in this county could be switched off from the proposition to build from the Cumberland river and Danville or Harrodsburg, by the introduction of the above-mentioned undertaking...The January 24, 1906 edition continued in the same vein. In an opinion piece penned by J.E. Murrell at his best, he succinctly laid out the case for the long-awaited interurban: The line surveyed from Cumberland river to Danville or Harrodsburg, via Columbia and Lebanon, is practical. It splits the center of a great country that needs the service, and is amply able to support such an investment. Its Southern terminus reaches into a coal field that will furnish heavy tonnage for a century, while its Northern limit would be in close contact with the large cities...The last mention in the News of the interurban came five weeks later in a one-line report: "Eld. W.K. Azbill was in Cincinnati last week in the interest of our railroad." Sadly, despite all of Prof. Azbill's efforts, despite all the optimism and thunder from the pen of J.E. Murrell, the electric railway was destined to be the railroad that wasn't. A century and more removed, it's difficult to hazard a guess why the emterprise failed, but the Panic of 1906-07 may well have delivered the final blow to an already faltering project. Contributor's note: This article is for Messrs. Fudge, Moore and Waggener, all of whom "still cherish this dream and look forward to its completion sometime soon." :) This story was posted on 2010-04-28 06:46:13
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History: More on the Chance, KY Post Offices First Chance Store was in house structure Chance, KY: Recollections of Uncle Olie Rowe Baseball and Lindsey Wilson College: A tradition of long-standing History of Chance, KY Post Office recorded in Adair Co. News Memories of growing up in Chance, Adair Co., KY Q. on 100 years ago: Where was Sulphur Vale? History: The Great Adair County General Store Robbery Nugget of Information: Moss Homeplace Farm in 3 counties Old Jane Todd Crawford Trail roadbed has charm View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
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