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

would continue through Rishton to meet the Accrington Corporation Tramways line at the crossroads in Clayton-le-Moors. This line would then be extended to Harwood Bar. The second line would turn north and follow the main road through Great Harwood to meet up with the Clayton extension at Harwood Bar. The reunited line would then continue on to terminate close to the Whalley Arms in the town. However en route it would meet at Portfield Bar an extension to the Burnley & District Tramway system, which would connect it through Padiham to that town. These powers were still valid and revived some ten years later but were never progressed. February The 14 th Annual General Meeting of the Accrington Corporation Steam Tramway Company took place in Accrington Town Hall. The Chairman was able to present a balance sheet which showed an increase in profits of £1,474 during 1899 over the figure of £16,520 for 1898. Working expenses amounted to £11,583 in comparison to £11,948 for the previous year, and revenue accounted for £6,368, an extra £67 – 6s – 3d over 1898. A dividend was paid during July 1899 of 5% on ordinary shares and 6% on preferential shares, whilst the Depreciation & Reserve Account stood at £2,400. They had also refunded £2,600 to Accrington Corporation in outstanding loans. The Chairman then explained that ten passing loops on the Haslingden Section had been relaid at a cost of £706. He asked the meeting for permission to obtain two new engines and two new trailer cars to be added to the fleet, on the grounds that ‘considerable’ revenue had been lost on the Clayton and Haslingden sections at holiday times due to lack of spare capacity. The Secretary then read the minutes of an Extraordinary Meeting held when the decision had been made to sell to the British Electric Traction Company, and these minutes were duly adopted. From the floor Mr Cooper, a shareholder from Clayton-le-Moors, asked why the sum of £1,513 had been put down to repairing the permanent way? He was told that £900 had been spent on passing loops in Baxenden. He also wanted to know if the sum of £2,400 could be paid out to the shareholders, should the ‘expected’ take-over by BET go through. The meeting ended following the re-election of two of the sitting Directors, Messrs Wilson and Kenyon. (The following is a copy of the proposals of the Accrington Corporation Steam Tramway Company to the Corporation of Haslingden, setting out their proposals for the electrification of the system into the Borough.) To the Town Clerk of Haslingden. March 29 th , 1900 Dear Sir, Referring to the interview which my Directors had with your Committee, they now have the pleasure in submitting proposals with reference to the future working of this Company’s Tramways within your Borough. At the above-mentioned interview my Directors explained to your Committee the terms and conditions of the Agreement which has been entered into between this Company and the British Electric Traction Company Limited. I therefore do not think it necessary to make further reference to it in this letter, beyond stating that under the Agreement my Company secured the benefit of that Company’s large experience in the matter of electric traction, and also the advantage of its extensive organisation and technical resources. The British Electric Traction Company also holds the controlling interest in the Rossendale Valley Tramway Company, and negotiations are now taking place with the various Local Authorities with a view to adopting Electric Traction on that Company’s system. Should terms be arranged with your Corporation, it is the intention of the British Electric Traction Company to work the two Companies in conjunction, so as to provide the

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