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Philadelphia Rapid Transit scrapbooks
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT) was incorporated on May 1, 1902, and began construction of electric streetcar lines going into West Philadelphia, which was at the time a rapidly developing suburb. Within the year, PRT organized initiatives for the city’s first subway line, which ran und...
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| Collection: | Philadelphia Rapid Transit Scrapbooks |
|---|---|
| Collection Number: | 3651 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
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| Physical Description: |
1.2 Linear feet ; 3 volumes |
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| Access: |
Collection is open for research. |
| Summary: |
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT) was incorporated on May 1, 1902, and began construction of electric streetcar lines going into West Philadelphia, which was at the time a rapidly developing suburb. Within the year, PRT organized initiatives for the city’s first subway line, which ran under Market Street and was a predecessor to the current Market-Frankford Line. Despite many financial hardships the PRT grew rapidly rates in the early 20th century, but its management was inefficient, secretive, and grossly unpopular with the public and employees until Thomas E. Mitten became president. Around the time that the Market Street line was finished, PRT was almost bankrupt. In spite of its many hardships the PRT and would continue shaping the Philadelphia transit landscape until the early 1930s.
The collection includes three volumes of newspaper clippings from the four prominent newspapers at the time. The clippings primarily center on the climate of the Philadelphia transit system at the time with the PRT as a major player. The clippings span from the late 1920s to the early 1930s, which were the PRT's last years. The collection consists of three disbound scrapbooks of clippings pertaining to the PRT. The scrapbook pages have been placed in chronological order into folders and boxes. The clippings originated from four main newspapers of the era: Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Record, Philadelphia Bulletin, and Philadelphia Public Ledger. These clippings span from 1928 to 1932, the time after Thomas E. Mitten sold the Philadelphia Rapid Transit company to the city of Philadelphia. The clippings also coincide with pending litigations against the PRT regarding its business dealings. The clippings heavily feature the construction efforts of the PRT and their costs to the city. The clippings also report on mounting or active litigation concerning the PRT. Of particular note were William B. Hadley’s suit to explore the PRT books and the litigations to buy out the PRT underlying companies. In addition, the clippings cover fare increases. Volume three of the collection contains a column entitled “Inside Transit Facts” from The Philadelphia Public Ledger, which begins February 10, 1930 and ends March 12, 1930.The column was written by Edmund Stirling editor of The Philadelphia Public Ledger, and gives readers a very detailed background of the Philadelphia urban transport system. |