Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

£120, as this was the lowest received. This was required to contain meters and instruments required to measure the current supplied to Haslingden Corporation’s Tramways. On the subject of through parcels traffic to Rawtenstall, it was resolved the Tramway Manager would negotiate the apportioning of receipts between the corporations of Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall. The Town Clerk reported that he had corresponded with the Post Office authorities informing them that now the mileage on the tramway had increased, he had suggested that the sum of £70 per annum they had paid for the conveyance of mails, postmen and telegraph messengers, should now be increased to £100. His actions on this matter were approved. It was further resolved, that the meters already in use on six of the tramcars should be fitted to the remainder of the fleet. Finally, the Sub-Committee had visited the site on Moreton Street where it had been suggested the Tower Wagon might be kept, but it was found to be unsuitable. Arrangements were then made for it to be stored at the Corporation’s Electricity Works. At another meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee a letter was received from the Town Clerk of Haslingden asking if Accrington would send three appointees to meet a similar number from both Haslingden and Rawtenstall Corporations, at the municipal offices in Haslingden on July 7 th , at 10am to discuss the whole subject of through running between the townships. It was resolved the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Alderman Rawson and the Town Clerk would attend, with powers to enter into any agreement which would be beneficial to all those concerned. Any agreement to be no longer than six months in duration, and then renewable if thought desirable, also that all three authorities would give their respective representatives full powers to enter into such an agreement should one be devised. It was finally resolved that the Tramway Manager should obtain one dozen new oilskins for the motormen, from the same source and at the same price as those they had previously supplied. July The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee met to hear a report from the Town Clerk that in response to his letter to the postal authorities, they had signified they were prepared to enter into a five year agreement with the Corporation to pay £100 per year for the conveyance on the extended tramway of their mails, postmen and telegraph messengers. He was authorised to draw up the necessary contract. A letter was received from Oswaldtwistle District Council asking for the introduction of a flat 1 penny fare between Rhyddings Street or the Town Hall in Oswaldtwistle to the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church on Blackburn Road in Accrington. The Committee were unable however to accede to this request. It was also resolved the Tramway Manager could issue notices prohibiting smoking in the front compartments of all the single deck saloon cars. It was finally resolved that the Chairman be allowed to let by tender the contract for the ‘whitewashing’ of the tramcar sheds. August At a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, the Mayor and Tramway Manager were authorised to attend the annual conference of The Tramways Association, to be held in London between the 22 nd and the 25 th of September, and that each member of this Committee should be provided with a print of the minutes and proceedings. At a meeting of the Finance Committee, the Borough Treasurer reported that the amount the Tramway would receive from the 1909/10 Sinking Fund for the redemption of loans would be £2,610, and that the loans fund for the redemption of stock would be £332 – 3s – 0d. September The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee having inspected the modifications to single deck tramcar N o 3, on which the internal partitions had been removed, they expressed themselves “well satisfied”, also with the repainting and varnishing of the ‘whole’ of this car. In the light of this it was resolved that as other single deck cars came out of service, they too should be modified in this way whilst being repainted and varnished. It was also decided that as the 16 candlepower lamps within these cars failed, they should be replaced by ones giving out 8 candlepower. At another meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee they received a letter from the Town Clerk of Haslingden again inviting representatives from the three neighbouring authorities to discuss through running beyond Lock Gate, in order to alleviate the possibility of passengers having to change tramcars at this boundary. This on the understanding, that if no mutual agreement could be made, the whole question would be referred to the Board of Trade for a resolution to this problem. It was decided that Alderman Higham (Chairman), with Alderman Rawson and the Town Clerk would represent Accrington Corporation at this meeting. October The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee received a report from the Overhead Linesman, suggesting the present horse drawn Tower Wagon should be replaced by a motorised one. This

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