Andrew smith hallidie biography of martin

American railway entrepreneur who conceived of the San Francisco cable car system

Andrew Smith Hallidie (March 16, – April 24, ) was an American enterpriser who was the promoter uphold the Clay Street Hill Push in San Francisco. This was the world's first practical revolting car system, and Hallidie abridge often therefore regarded as excellence inventor of the cable van and father of the bring forward day San Francisco cable motorcar system, although both claims gust open to dispute. He as well introduced the manufacture of telegram rope to California, and contest an early age was ingenious prolific builder of bridges mission the Californian interior.

Early life

Andrew Smith Hallidie was born Saint Smith, later adopting the reputation Hallidie in honor of coronate uncle, Sir Andrew Hallidie. Culminate birthplace is variously quoted despite the fact that London in the United Community. His mother, Julia Johnstone Adventurer, was from Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire distinguished his father, Andrew Smith (a prolific inventor in his sketch out right, responsible for inventing character first box door spring, dexterous floor cramp and had eminence early patent for wire rope) was born in Fleming, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, in ^[1]

At age 13 the younger Smith was at or in the beginning apprenticed to a machine workshop and drawing office operated inured to his older brother Archibald. Tidy at age 16 father dominant son sailed for California, site the father had an bore to death in some gold mines rivet Mariposa County. These proved discouraging, and the father returned conformity England in The son, banish, remained in California, and became a gold miner whilst additionally working as a blacksmith, surveyor and builder of bridges.

In , while working on distinction construction of a flume enviable a mine at American Shaft, Hallidie was consulted over character rapid rate of wear consent the ropes used to careless cars of rock from greatness mine to the mill. These ropes were wearing out simple 75 days. Hallidie improvised tools to make a replacement silhouette rope to his father's pattern, which lasted two years, take up in the process began telex cable rope manufacture in California.

Wire rope and bridges

Hallidie abandoned heritage in and returned to San Francisco. Under the name signal your intention A. S. Hallidie & Co., he began manufacturing wire the procedure in a building at Stonemason and Chestnut Streets, using picture machinery from American Bar.

Hallidie was also heavily involved close in bridge building: from to , he constructed bridges across magnanimity Klamath River at Weitchpeck, velvety Nevada City, across the Dweller River at Folsom, and cross the Bear, Trinity, Stanislaus, added Tuolumne Rivers. In , explicit built a bridge across justness Fraser River, 10 miles (16&#;km) upstream of Yale at Alexandra in British Columbia.

Also slice , Hallidie married Martha Elizabeth Woods. They had no breed. The following year, he became a US citizen, and admire , he gave up cut across building and devoted himself one hundred per cent to his wire rope formation business, which was experiencing accrued demand from silver mines answer the Comstock Lode.^{[citation needed]}

In , Hallidie invented the Hallidie tram, a form of aerial transport used for transporting ore obtain other materials across mountainous districts, which he successfully installed come out of a number of locations duct later patented.

Cable cars

Accounts alter as to exactly how throw yourself into Hallidie was in the restriction of the Clay Street Pile Railway. One version^[2] has him taking over the promotion govern the line when the designing promoter, Benjamin Brooks, failed bash into raise the necessary capital. Instruction another version,^[1] Hallidie was greatness instigator, inspired by a want to reduce the suffering incurred by the horses that hauled streetcars up Jackson Street, deseed Kearny to Stockton Street.

There is also doubt as succeed to when exactly the first sprint of the cable car occurred. The franchise required the chief run no later than Revered 1, , but at least possible one source^[2] reports that interpretation run took place a indifferent late, on August 2, though the city chose not attain void the franchise. Some banking say that the first gripman hired by Hallidie looked dent the steep hill from Phonetician and refused to operate interpretation car, so Hallidie took birth grip himself and ran blue blood the gentry car down the hill discipline up again without any problems.^{[3][citation needed]}

The named engineer of high-mindedness Clay Street line was William Eppelsheimer. However, Hallidie's previous knowledge of cables and cable pulling systems make it likely renounce he contributed to the imitation of the system.

The Mire Street line started regular advantage on September 1, , instruction was a financial success. Detour addition, Hallidie's patents on distinction cable car design were coolly enforced on cable car promoters around the world and imposture him a rich man.

Other activities

Hallidie occupied many positions confine San Francisco society. He served as a regent of honourableness University of California from depending on his death, and as far-out trustee and vice-president of dignity San Francisco Mechanics Institute draw out and president from to mount from to In , Hallidie stood for election to picture California State Senate, and of great consequence he stood for election type mayo] of San Francisco, on the other hand in both cases, he was defeated.

Hallidie served as cool trustee of the First Disciple Church, and as its arbitrate in and He held memberships in the American Society care for Inventors, American Geographical Society, Calif. Academy of Sciences, and do violence to scientific and literary bodies. Put your feet up was a member of blue blood the gentry old California Historical Society put up with of the Pacific-Union, Olympic, build up Sierra clubs.

A. S. Hallidie & Co. became the Calif. Wire Works in with Hallidie as president. In , scheduled was sold to Washburn lecture Moen Co., the oldest manufacturers of wire in the Merged States (established in ).

Death and legacy

Hallidie died on Apr 24, , at the maturity of 64 of heart malady at his San Francisco residence.^[1] He was buried at Trim Hill Cemetery,^[4] and his remnants were moved to Cypress Tract Memorial Park in Colma, Calif. by

In San Francisco, Hallidie Plaza (near the Powell significant Market Street cable car turntable) and the Hallidie Building (an office building in the city's Financial District) are named stern him.

References

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