Accounts of Some Early Roller Coasters

Accounts of even earlier European examples of gravity rides are found on the early European Roller Coaster page.

1870

Holly Grove, Baltimore, Maryland (?)

[advertisement]
The Maryland Steamboat Company
...
Holly Grove, greatly improved, with bathing houses, new wharf and various new amusements, for particulars of which the public are referred to the Company's circulars, will be opened Wednesday, June 15th.

The Approaching Schuetzen Festival.

... an inclined railroad, similar to that in use at Holly Grove ...

Schuetzen Park, Baltimore, Maryland

The Approaching Schuetzenfest.

An inclined railway, upwards of six hundred feet in length, is to be constructed, which will afford abundance of amusement to women and children.

The Schuetzen Festival

On each day during the festival there will be prize shooting and other amusements for the youth, an inclined railroad, similar to that in use at Holly Grove, under the management of Mr. Taylor, carroussel and swings, and each evening the splendid park will be brilliantly illuminated with a calcium light, and a fine display of fireworks given.

The Schuetzen Festival.

At the north side of the enclosure an inclined railway, under the management of Mr. Taylor, was well patronized, the cars running full until nightfall. In the same vicinity thirty swings were kept going by the young folks.

before 1874

Savin Rock, West Haven, Connecticut

A correspondent thus writes up Savin Rock, at West Haven: In the way of amusements the grove has no equal. There you have Allen's Eagle Museum, particularly a favorite with the younger population. ... Taylor's patent elevated railway cars, flying horses, patent swings, and a negro minstrel troupe. ... I forgot to say that the elevated railway carried over it last year 250,000 persons without the least accident to any one. It is absolutely safe.

1878

Rocky Point, Rhode Island (??)

The party them quietly proceeded over the grounds in a quiet manner, rode on the inclined railway and visited the Colliseum; Misses Hayes and Sherman rode on the flying horses.

1883

Saint Louis, Missouri

[advertisement]
Roller Coaster
The Roller Coaster is the greatest novel invention of the age, and all should try a ride on it. Coasting on a circle of 500 feet and free from any danger. Only 5 cents a ride. Will open about 3 p.m. to-day, corner Lucas Place and Twentieth street.

[advertisement]
Moonlight rides on the Roller Coaster, Lucas place and Twentieth st. 5c a ride.

Chicago, Illinois

Roller Coasting
A New South Side Amusement

A curious structure is now in the course of construction on the large vacant lot at the southwest corner of State and Twenty-second streets. It will be known as "The Roller Coaster," and the objects claimed for it are health and amusement. The erection is composed almost entirely of lumber, and is built on trestles rising from the ground to a height of twenty-two feet. It is circular in form, the diameter being 140 feet, and the circumference about 430 feet. The width of the track is about 2 feet, on which are lines of iron rails on which six cars will run in sections of two each. They will start from the highest point of the track, and running down will be impelled by their own weight, reaching a velocity that will bring them up the incline to a large platform in the space of eighteen seconds. The sides of the track have enclosed balustrades, as a protection against the cars running off. The charge will be five cents for riding round the circle three times. Each car will accommodate from six to nine persons. The highest point of the "coaster" faces State street, and a flight of stairs from the sidewalk of that thoroughfare will take the public to the platform, where another flight will bring them to the cars. The platform, which is thirteen feet from the level, will have a seating capacity for about 200 persons. The structure is being built by P. M. Stevenson, of Toledo, O., who has already erected two "coasters" in that city, and is going to put up another at New Orleans forthwith. The cost is about $800, and Mr. E. C. Hudson, of Toledo, O., is the manager of them. It is said to be a most exhilarating amusement to ride in one of these cars, and the effect is so exciting and pleasurable that the rider fairly loses himself, forgetting even who he is, where he lives, or what he is doing. The first "coaster" erected was simply an experiment, but instantly proved a great success. The work was begun the 18th inst., and it is expected that the "coaster" will be in complete running order by next Wednesday.

Chicago Daily Tribune
Friday, October 12, 1883

[classified advertisement]
Roller Coaster,
Cor. Twenty-second and State-sts. Health! Wealth! One hundred dollars' worth of fun for a nickel. A health resort for ladies nervously affected. Come and be happy once more.
J. Cornfield, Manager.

The Roller Coasting company of America, with a capital of $1,000,000, and the main office at Chicago, has been licensed to organize by the secretary of state at Springfield.

San Pedro Park, San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio
Accident--Judge Boone Dead--Suit Filed--Military Matters--Christmas Festivities, Ect.

[Special to the News.]
San Antonio, December 25.--
Christmas was ushered in by midnight mass at San Fernando cathedral. The venerable building was packed, with fully 1500 people outside unable to gain entrance. The day was observed by a general closing of business houses at noon. Jumping, walking and running matches, horse-racing, roller coasting, bird and glass-ball shooting, etc., drew an immense crowd at San Pedro park during the afternoon.

It Needs Caution.

The roller coasting at the springs is, no doubt, very enjoyable and great fun for the young people, but to lookers on it sometimes has a dangerous look. By the sometimes we mean when more children are allowed to ride on the coaster than should be allowed; some day when the little ones are in the heighth of enjoyment, two or three will be flung out, dashed to the ground and get their necks broken. The proprietor of the coaster should guard against this, either by limiting the number of children riding together at one time, or fixing a board in front, so they cannot be thrown out.

San Pedro Springs.
Ladies Exposition Society Give an Entertainment.

The roller coaster and roundabout were in full operation and amateur marksmen tried their best to show their powers at the shooting gallery by demonstrating how far from the bulls-eye they could get.

It is said that San Antonio is about to loose the roller coaster at the springs. A gentleman is here negotiating for it to take it to Mexico.

Two coaches of the roller coaster at the Springs yesterday afternoon were smashed to pieces, while some little boys were playing with them. The boys were not hurt, of course.

1884

Bremond Square, Houston, Texas

Last Day of the Drill
End of a Brilliant Week at Houston

[Special to the News]
Houston, May 10.--
...
The "roller-coaster" on the encampment grounds has been doing a rushing business during the week.

Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Texas)
Friday, October 31, 1884

Bayou City Locals

The roller coaster of Bremond square is being removed; it proved a failure.

Galveston, Texas

Complaints are made that the roller coaster on the beach at the foot of Tremont street has frightened two or three horses attached to vehicles in which were ladies and children.

Galveston Daily News
Sunday, June 22, 1884 (repeated June 25, July 1, July 9)

[classified advertisement]

For Sale Cheap--3/4 interest in the Roller Coaster, situated on Tremont and beach, and patents protect'g same. H.W. Ensign, TelephoneEx.

Galveston Daily News
Tuesday, July 29, 1884 (repeated July 30, August 5, August 7)

[advertisement]

Auction Sale.
We Will Sell At Our Sales-Room, Strand, on Thursday, August 7, at 11 a. m.
The Roller Coaster or Elevated Gravity Railway,
Located at the foot of Tremont street and Beach.
The above comprises about 6000 feet lumber, over one ton railroad iron, and 200 pounds six and seven-inch bolts, and four new cars--all in perfect order. Sale peremptory and for cash.
Lynch & Penland, Auctioneers.

Galveston Daily News
Friday, September 12, 1884

The City Railroad company commenced removing the roller coaster yesterday morning. It was never a success, and has always been an eye-sore.

Coney Island, Gravesend, New York

New York Times
Monday, June 9, 1884

Sunday By The Sea-Shore
The Beaches At Coney Island Thronged With Visitors

The only new forms of amusement this year are roller-skating and a species of sliding down hill by means of an inclined railway. The proper method of experimenting with the slide is for the youth to take his girl into the car, which holds eight people, and is allowed to slide down the incline unassisted. Its weight carries it up another incline, whence it is switched over to another track, and the occupants slide back again to the starting place. It proved a very popular pastime, and all afternoon groups of young people were clamoring for an opportunity to get into the car.

By the Sea
Sunday Visitors at Coney Island and Rockaway

Some enterprising speculator has erected one of the hideous structures known as a "switch back" railroad quite close to the Brighton, and yesterday was doing a profitable trade.

New York Herald
Monday, June 2, 1884

New buildings are being put up, old ones refitted and all sorts of startling "privalages," as one sign puts it, being established. One of the queerest of these that the island has yet seen was put in operation yesterday. It is a sort of summer coasting hill, except the "hill" is a wooden trough about three feet wide, which forms a circular incline whose circumference is about the extent of two city blocks. Benches on runners fit into a narrow track in this trough, and a half a dozen people seated on one of these benches are whirled around this track at a frightful rate of speed. This new "game" only opened at two o'clock in the afternoon, and by six o'clock, at the moderate rate of five cents for a whirl, the proprietor must have realized about $200. It was the prevailing impression among the onlookers that it was a question of but a very short time when somebody would be killed on the new-fangled amusement.

Yesterday at Coney Island

The merry go rounds, coasting wagons, rocking skips, peddlers and others did a fair business.

General Matters in the Courts

Before Judge Benedict in the United States Court this morning argument on a motion to continue the injunction granted in behalf of Joseph A. Cohoon against C. A. Smith, David Emmerick and Samuel Fisk was heard. The parties are all residents of Toledo, O. Mr. Cohoon, who is the inventor of the circular railroad, one of the latest additions to Coney Island, states that the defendants since the first of June have been using his patent without compensating him. Judge Benedict, after hearing arguments on both sides, granted the injunction.

Enjoining a Circular Railroad
Judge Benedict on the Rights of a Coney Island Corporation

An order was filed yesterday in the United States Circuit Court by Judge Benedict in the matter of the application for an injunction restraining C. A. Smith and others from operating a circular railroad on the Vanderveer property at Coney Island. The plaintiff, C. A. Cahoon, who runs a similar railroad near the new iron pier, claims that Smith's road is an infringement of a patent owned by him.

Brooklyn Eagle
Monday, July 14, 1884

At the Sea Shore

The people strolled up and down the beach, patronized the hotels, the wagons, the elevated road, the swings, the gravity roads and all the innumerable catch penny contrivances that especially at the west end of the island seem to spring into existence like mushrooms.

A Fat Man's Fun
Exciting Enjoyment at Coney Island for an Alleged Trentonian

...says the New York Morning Journal...

Mr. Oelschmitt came out of the water greatly refreshed, and after gazing at the merry-go-rounds and the canvas curiosities outside of the side shows, his attention became riveted upon the 'coaster.' This is the lately introduced invention which receives its name from the supposed resemblance it bears to a hand sled sliding down a hill. It goes with the velocity of lightning up and down a series of inclined planes, and is the nearest approach to perpetual motion yet discovered. Mr. Oelschmitt was fascinated by it and was soon sitting on the sled between two pretty girls. As the machine ran down the steep incline with a whir, the gentleman from Trenton became alarmed at its great speed and sprang to his feet. The pretty girls screamed with terror and the sled rocked from side to side. Mr. Oelschmitt lost his balance and fell over the railing. Fortunately, he landed in a pile of sand, and after being carried into Paul Bauer's he soon recovered...

Yesterday by the Sea
Scenes and Incidents at Coney Island

... took him to one of the switchback railroads, down and up which they rattled at a pace that suggested a danger of which they seemed to take no note.

These mock railroads are largely patronized, although the race is run and the five cents fare gone almost before the passengers get a second breath, and nobody seems to have any apprehension of the consequences of jumping the track while on the descent. This confidence is possibly inspired by the fact that, as has been suggested should be done on railroads of another sort, a director is always on the train; but it is worth noting that neither the tracks nor the car wheels are examined as often as they might be. Standing for an hour by the side of one, it was observable that it was used as often as, say, twice a minute, and each time the car was run on the descending track without the slightest examination of its condition after the journey just ended; and the thought was naturally suggested that if a wheel or axle should break in the furious descent, the car with all on it would probably be hurled through or over the surrounding fence work. On the steam roads they test the wheels at given points but how often do they test them here? One of the men running one of these switchback roads was asked the question, and answered indifferently that they were tested often enough, and if the road wasn't safe he wouldn't go down on it. But if the public could be assured of this fact by witnessing frequent inspections, say of the car after a trip, there would be a more general feeling of security, and consequently more passengers every day; for it is a wild ride and highly exciting.

On the Sands

The imitation switch back roads, the carrousels, the dime museums and the thousand and one catch penny schemes in operation were all patronized to their fullest extent.

By the Waves

True, the merry go rounds and the switchback roads have done a rushing business, but even the latter wane a little, the excitement gradually wearing off.

Photography at Coney Island

Having done the elephant, and the toboggan, and the merry-go-round, and the fat lady ...

Furious Wind

...thirty feet of the fence around the Elephant Hotel was blown to the ground, the fence around the double switchback railroad on the beach, between Bauer's and Feltman's, was torn down...

Crystal Palace, London, England

The Bank Holiday

To the familiar recreations was added an American novelty in the shape of a roller-coaster. The excitement of "coasting" greatly took the fancy of the portion of the British public who patronise the Palace, and although the cost of each ride was fixed at what seemed to be the somewhat prohibitive price of threepence there was an extraordinary demand for the privilege of enjoying the new sensation. The slopes upon which the British experiments at coasting are tried are purely artificial. They consist of a circular wooden staging erected at a considerable height from the ground. The sledges run on rails down the steeply-inclined platform and rise halfway up the other side of the circle. The sensation of the rapid descent is apparently highly amusing to the crowd, and for the time being this novelty seems fairly to eclipse the old-fashioned merry-go-round.

Foresters' Fete at the Crystal Palace.

Boating, dancing, and games on the green, whirligigs, swings, and railway runs on the Roller Coaster continued in full play until dusk.

Crystal Palace.

One means of amusement in the park seems, from an aesthetic point of view, rather an abomination than otherwise. It is called a roller coaster, makes a hideous noise, and it is a decided blot on the surrounding pretty scenery. In justice, however, it must be admitted that this machine gave great amusement yesterday to endless crowds of people, though a sober-minded person would think there was more of terror than of fun in rushing like lightning down one incline and then up another by the momentum thus gained.

Ponce de Leon Springs, Atlanta, Georgia

The Circular Railroad.

Elsewhere will be found the advertisement of the circular railroad at Ponce de Leon springs. The road is owned by the Gate City street railroad company, and will be opened to-morrow afternoon at half-past two o'clock. It is a great invention, and need only to be seen to be appreciated and admired. As the advertisement says, it is healthful, and the convalescent will find in it a truly wonderful friend. Go out to-morrow and take a ride.

[advertisement]

The Circular Railroad
--opens--
Thursday Afternoon, June 19th, at 2:30,
--at--
Ponce De Leon Springs.
The Gate City Railroad Company Announces the opening to the public of their new line and marvellous railway novelty, the Circular railroad, at Ponce de Leon Springs. This new mode of travel is intensely attractive, exhilarating and healthful. It pleases every body, the mature as well as the young ones. The ladies and the children are especially fond of it. It is highly recommended to the convalescent and it infuses a new life in the debilitated. It offers the sensations of an aetheraen voyage, and those who rode once on it want to do it always.

Some new attraction keeps being added to Ponce de Leon. There is no resort better provided with a pavilion for parties, balls, picnics, lunches, ice creams and amusements. Another attraction is the circular railway. Go out and ride on it.

Sliding Up Hill

From the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, June 24.

A circular railway has been built at Ponce de Leon Springs. The new railway is a wooden structure forming a circle, being 4 feet wide, 500 feet long, inside of which is laid the track for the cars, and is so graded that the cars run themselves, the highest point above the ground being 22 feet 6 inches, and the lowest point touching the ground. Mr. Wood, at one time a poor carpenter of Toledo, Ohio, is the inventor of the circular railroad, having conceived the idea from witnessing children slide down the hills on their slide-boards, he arguing that if they could slide down hill they could slide up hill, a demonstration of which is witnessed in the circular railway.

[this item was also reprinted in Milwaukee and San Francisco newspapers]

Atlanta Constitution
Tuesday, July 8, 1884

The Circular Road In Court.
The Manager Not Guilty of Violating the City Ordinances.

The circular railroad at Ponce de Leon springs has grown to be the most popular amusement for Sunday accessible to the Atlantese, and the crowds that flock thither on Sabbath afternoons are unprecedented in the annals of the place. The police, however, were instructed to stop the operations of the erratic railway on Sundays, and made a city case against the superintendent, Mr. W. L. Peyton. He was charged with violating section 439 of the city code, which prohibits any merchant, billiard table or ten pins alley keeper, etc., from keeping open on the Sabbath day, or trading and trafficing on that day. Upon the hearing of the case in the recorder's court, Mr. Peyton was fined a nominal amount, and the case taken to the superior court on a writ of certiorari. Two questions were made in the case, viz: that the case was not within the jurisdictional limits of the city, and that, if the act done was an offense, it was an offense of which the state had jurisdiction over and above the city. It was shown that the lines of the city were extended, by the act of February, 1877, so as to embrace Ponce de Leon springs, but the property within the limits of the extension was not made taxable and the act was only passed to give the city police powers over the territory embraced. In the second place an offense of this nature, at the place designated, is cognizable by the state, through the regular criminal procedure, under section 4579 of the code. Judge Hammond so held, and the circular railroad will run free of police interference in the future.

The Circular Railroad

The managers of the Circular railroad at Ponce de Leon Springs have ordered a number of large lights to be placed within and outside the circle, which will brilliantly illuminate the entire grounds. These lights will arrive in a few days, and will prove an additional charm to a place already beautiful. Mr. W. M. Peyton, the gentlemanly manager of the Circular railroad, informed the Constitution that the Gate City street car line will run cars as long at night as the Circular railroad is in operation if it takes till midnight.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Edward Reinfleisch, single, aged twenty-four years, received what may prove fatal injuries, by being thrown from the roller coaster at the Highland House, Cincinnati, a few nights ago. Reinfleisch, with a number of friends was seated on the coaster and were whirled around the track. The coaster went gliding down the first incline all right, but while passing the dip on the last round he was thrown violently from the coaster against the building. He was picked up in an insensible condition and upon examination was found to be injured internally.

The "roller coaster," for sliding down hill in the summer time, promises to deal out death as liberally as the frightful "double ripper" does in winter. A young man was nearly killed by one of the new devices in Cincinnati the other night.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Points
December sports in August -- How one with a vivid imagination joined to the swaying power of a nickel can enjoy a sleigh ride under the reign of the Dog Star -- Our correspondent takes a trip upon a gravity road and moralizes upon its ups and downs as applied to life.

[Special Correspondence Daily News]
Philadelphia, Pa., July 29, 1884.

A person walking along through that part of Fairmount Park skirted by the boundaries of Twenty-sixth street and Fairmount avenue will upon any clear day or evening be suddenly startled by a quick, harsh, humming noise, that begins way down in the scale, rises abruptly to a deafening height and then gradually links off into a dead silence, -- only to repeat itself the next moment in all its varying inflections. If they will turn their eyes in a northerly direction they will see just beyond the Reading railroad tracks a peculiar cluster of frame buildings and scaffoldings surrounded by a neat picket fence and everything about dressed in a fresh, clean, cheerful and inviting coat of paint. The entire structure has a solid, substantial, genuine appearance, and the keenest eye cannot detect a single cheap or tawdry feature to mar the stability of the curious fabric. After the eyes have taken in a general view of the affair they will naturally halt for a few moments upon an attractive sign which tells them in three-feet letters that here one can have a

Sled Ride Down Hill
Without Snow.
For Five Cents.

Additional signs tell them that this is the "Wonderful Roller Coaster." After sitting down in the shade of the park for a few minutes to meditate upon the eccentricity of an enterprise that thus forces the sports of mid-winter into the very jaws of the dog-stars, it is natural for them to want to go further and see something more of this queer affair. We will gather up our skirts and go with them. We pay our five cents at the ticket-office, get a little red ticket in exchange and pass through the gate and on upstairs to the starting station of the Wonderful Roller Coaster. Upon looking around and asking a few questions we learn that some wideawake individual has here carried out a plan to entrap runaway five-cent pieces by building and conducting what is neither more nor less than a Gravity Railroad. The road describes a somewhat irregular circle and measures five hundred feet from start to finish with, an extreme elevation of twenty-eight feet. Three long, narrow benches with supporting backs and neatly upholstered set each upon four iron wheels, two at either end, with an automatic brake and fitted to a track about fourteen inches wide constitute the cars. They run down and around through a sort of wooden trough about three feet wide and two and a half feet deep, and it is their journey over this gravity road which makes the humming that attracted our attention at the opening of this letter. Sometimes when a large party collects at one time two or all three of the cars are coupled together and then the fun runs high. Having gotten to the starting point and being provided with the necessary ticket the next best thing for us to do is to get aboard the car and take the circular trip. When eight or ten of us have gotten seated an attendant cautions us to keep our feet upon the foot-board and to sit steady, then with the parting salute of "All Aboard," starts us slowly off. Gradually we move to the first marked incline. Gradually we feel the earth moving from under us, and before we know it away we go like the wind down a grade on to a short level stretch, leaving our breath and the beat of our hearts behind us. Before we can recover the one or restore the other, we reach the second incline, and it being a sharper one than the first, we fairly shoot down it like a ball from a cannon and our faces set in a rigid stare of dread and uncertainty. And now when we have almost lost consciousness comes the final and most terrific plunge. We seem to actually drop down through space with the intense rapidity of the lightning's stroke and then we begin to swiftly rise and a second later are at our journey's end, having accomplished the five hundred feet in eleven seconds. Everything is a blank during the third descent and it is not until the car is well in home that we regain our lost breath and the regular beat of our hearts.

[moralizing omitted]

Mrs. Pilsen

Good Work at the Southern Home for Destitute Children.

The superintendent of the Roller Coasting Rink, Twenty-sixth and Pennsylvania avenue, gave the children an invitation to that place of amusement.

National Mining and Industrial Exposition, Denver, Colorado (?)

Succeeds like Success.
The Exposition Booming in a Way Never Seen before in Its History

Mr. W. D. Owens, of St. Louis, will exhibit a roller coaster, which is an apparatus whereby one can slide down hill on a sled without snow. It works on the same principle as roller skating, and is a very popular amusement in some of the eastern cities. It will occupy a space 125 feet in diameter.

Memphis, Tennessee

Stabbed to the Heart.

Special Dispatch to the Globe-Democrat,
Memphis, Tenn., August 12.--About 8:30 o'clock to-night a fight occurred between some white boys and a negro youth on the bluffs just outside of the roller coaster fence.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

There is a circular railway at Atlantic City, with very steep and abrupt grades, so that the passengers experience the ups and downs of travel over the Rocky Mountains condensed into a few rods. It is in the form of an ellipse, reaching from the street down to the surf. "Only five cents for a ride to the beach," says the solicitor. But when the tourist arrives at the shore end of the route he is told that he must pay a nickel more for getting back, or walk through the sand.--N. Y. Sun.

Kansas City, Missouri

A New Association

The Roller Coaster company to-day filed articles of association with a capital stock of $2,500. The stockholders are: A. R. French, C. S. Mowe, C. D. French and L. Towne. The association is limited to fifty years.

Removed.

The roller coasting rink, which has for some time been located on the corner of Seventh and Broadway, is now being removed to Delaware, between Eighth and Ninth sts.

Plunged into a Pond.
An Accident at the Roller Coaster Rink Last Night-Six Persons Injured by the Car Leaving the Track

A somewhat peculiar but very serious accident occurred at the roller coaster rink, Eighth and Delaware sts., last night, resulting in the injury of six persons. The coaster rink is so constructed that a car started from a certain point runs in a circle and down grade for a long distance when it strikes a rise and gradually slackens speed until it stops near the starting point.

Last night quite a crowd collected to see the sport, and Manager O. S. Mowe made a run around the track to show them that it was perfectly safe. He noticed that the car jolted somewhat as it neared the starting point and investigated the line, but found nothing wrong. Two successful trips were made, and when the car started on the third fully sixteen passengers were aboard. It ran down the incline at a fearful speed, and when about sixty feet from the starting point jumped the track, crashing though the side of the rink and plunging into a pond about ten feet below.

Kansas City Star
Thursday, October 30, 1884

The Coaster Attached

John W. Merrill, the man who furnished the lumber for the roller coaster, brought suit Monday against the roller company for $570.19 due him. Yesterday Mr. Merrill obtained his judgment and the sheriff at once levied on the roller coaster, which will be disposed of at a public sale if the claim is not paid.

About the Courts

Sheriff Hope received the enormous sum of $80 cash for the roller coaster, which cost over $1,500.

Summer Amusements
Supplying Kansas City's Wants
Arrangements Completed and Inaugurated - Summer Opera Houses - Fair Grounds and Drives - The Natatorium - Excellent Prospect for the Future

Passing from parks, the most recent addition to the amusements is the roller coaster on Delaware st., between Eighth and Ninth, which has just been refitted and opened to the public. The coaster is now in the most reliable hands and every precaution has been taken and every care will be exercised to guard against the possibility of accident. In addition to the rails, a high strip has been placed along the center of the track to guide the car and assist in holding it to the track. The coaster is now the property of the Kansas City Amusement company of which Mr. S. M. Towne is president, Mr. E. H. Webster secretary, and Mr. D. T. Keiller manager. In addition to the coaster, the company intends putting in swings, which, together with the coaster, will be free to those paying the admission fee of five cents. The coaster has already been running for several days, and is rapidly gaining in popular favor. There is a peculiar fascination about the dizzy descent, the headlong plunge around the curves, and the swift ascent to the place of starting, which makes one who has taken the ride wish to repeat it. Once or twice around, and you have forgotten your sense of danger, and give yourself up to the excitement of the dash. It recalls the days when one delighted in a steep hill, a smooth beaten track of snow, and a break-neck "jump" which threatened annihilation every time a sled went over it. Under the present management, the coaster promises to be a decided success.

Birmingham, England

Aston Lower Grounds.--Within the last fortnight another novelty has been added to the attractions at the Aston Lower Grounds in the form of a construction known as "The American Roller Coaster." It consists of a miniature elevated railroad, erected on substantial supports, having its gradients so arranged that the cars placed on the rails run once round without any extraneous help. The thing is a decided novelty in the Midlands. The speculation is in the hands of the Roller Coaster Company (Limited), London, who have similar "coasters" at work at the Crystal Palace, and are erecting others in different parts of the country.

Storming the Lower Grounds.

There were merry-go-rounds and shooting-galleries, there was the American roller-coaster, a variety of firework devices ...

La Crosse, Wisconsin (?)

Roller coasting is the latest announcement in La Crosse. It is something like riding a lumber wagon down a hill only smoother.

Indianapolis, Indiana

A Mile in a Minute.

At Crystal Palace, in England, one of the principal attractions is a roller coaster and thousands of visitors patronize it daily. Indianapolis, it seems, is not to be outdone in such enterprises, and has just established a roller coaster at 475 East Washington street. This place of amusement is now attracting hundreds of our best citizens--men, women and children. A Times man took a ride yesterday and sped along better than a mile a minute on a lightning express. There is not the least danger, as it is impossible for an accident to occur.

[advertisement]
The Biggest Thing off Ice.
Come and see the Greatest Success of the age.
Sled Ride Down Hill
without snow.
The Roller Coaster Now Open,
Cor. Washington St. and Michigan Ave.
Admission and ride, 5c. Bring your family and enjoy yourselves. Polite and attentive attendants.
Roller Coaster Co.

Society

Indianapolis society is very dull at present, and the elite of that city are amusing themselves at the "roller coaster." This "roller coaster" is probably new to Fort Wayne people, as it has been built only in Kansas City, New Orleans, and Indianapolis. It is built after the manner of the elevated railroad, but in a circle. The cars are no more or less than a common church bench on wheels. The car is started from the station about sixty feet higher than the earth, and goes down the track with such force that it is carried clear around, in less time than it takes to tell it. The sensation after riding one of these "flying cars" is such as to cause the occupants to become convulsed with laughter. To get a good idea of what the "roller coaster" is, one should ride in it, and he will immediately become fascinated, and like everyone else who has ridden, will cry for more. When the "roller coaster" becomes more generally known Fort Wayne may be lucky enough to have one.

Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts

Nantasket Beach

The skating rink is about closing, and the "roller coasters" will naturally follow suit. The success of the latter, which was erected late in the season, has been remarkable. It is said that $3000 was paid for the right to use the land adjoining the Nantasket House for this purpose, and the cost of the structure was about half this sum; yet the receipts have been as high as $300 in a single evening. The "roller coaster" is a curious contrivance, the inclines and rises on the course being so arranged that the sled gets sufficient impetus on the down grades to force it up the ascents, so that the ordinary trouble of pulling a "runner" up-hill is almost entirely obviated.

Winona, Minnesota

Winona is to have a "Roller Coaster" one of the newest devices for the amusement of the people. The parties who are to erect it having secured the right to use the device in this city. These roller coasters are now all the rage in the large cities, and may be likened to a sofa on wheels, which goes down an incline of several hundred feet, receiving sufficient momentum in the descent to carry it up another incline to the place of beginning. The sport is exciting and old and young enter into its enjoyment with great glee.

Prospects are favorable for opening the "roller coaster" in this city on Thursday. The cars are expected to arrive to-morrow.

The Roller Coaster opened this afternoon and will be in operation this evening. The formal opening will take place on Saturday afternoon and evening.

[advertisement]
Roller Coaster!
Located on West Fifth Street,
Opposite the Old Huff House garden, is now Open For Business from
2:50 p. m. to 9:30 p. m.
Street Cars Run To Coaster
Formal Opening of the Roller Coaster
Saturday, Sept. 27th.
Admission, including Two Rides,
Five Cents.

The Roller Coaster.
Inauguration of the New Amusement.

The roller coaster is the newest device to amuse the people and as in all other progressive matters, Winona loses no time in securing one and erecting it in the best style possible. It is located on the street car line on West Fifth street, opposite the old Huff House gardens, and occupies a plat of ground 160 by 160 feet square, whereon is erected a circular gravity railway, its highest elevation being twenty-four feet and eight inches, and its lowest elevation is two feet above the ground. The grounds are enclosed by a substantial fence ten feet high with a pavillion inside provided with comfortable seats for visitors. The cars arrived on Thursday and there was a large number of people at the roller coaster last evening to witness the novelty. Two rides for five cents is the price charged and it is hilarious sport for old or young and destined to become a popular resort. Mr. George B. Russell, an old time compositor in The Republican office has the management of the roller coaster and his large experience in the amusement line is a guaranty that it will be conducted in a manner to meet the approval of the citizens of Winona.

There will be a band of music at the roller coaster to-morrow evening. The new amusement is proving to be a very popular attraction.

[advertisement]
Roller Coaster!
Upper Fifth St. -- Open Afternoon and Evening.
To-Morrow (Thursday) Evening, a Band of Music will be in attendance.
Admission:--When Music in attendance, 10 cts., including two rides.

The electric lights were all turned on last evening, including those on the towers, with good effect. On Monday evening the cutting off of one of the lights near the roller coaster caused the whole circuit to be broken and darkness ensued.

[construction during the year, First Ward]
Russell & Bothom, roller coaster ......... 700

The roller coaster on West Fifth street will open the season on Wednesday evening. There will be music and a gala time. See the announcement.

[advertisement]
Grand Opening
of the
Elevated railroad
Or Roller Coaster!
Wednesday Evening,
May 6th, (weather permitting.)
A Brass Band Will Be In Attendance.
The following flyers will take the track for the season of 1885!
"Slippery Elm"   "Cyclone,"
"Maud. S." and "Whirlwind!"
Admission--Opening Night, 10c., including Two Trips on the Elevated Railroad. Trip tickets within the Park, 2 1/2 cts. each. Everybody invited to the Inauguration.
Gates Open at 7 o'clock.

The Roller Coaster.

It gives the roller coaster a shudder to announce another postponement, but owing to unforeseen snow storm the opening will not take place until Saturday evening. If the weather is fair the fun will be furious on that evening.

Mr. W. W. Powell departed this morning for Wisconsin, where he will supervise the erection of roller coasters throughout that State.

A Dizzy Whirl.
An Enthusiastic Crowd on the Roller Coaster.

After being baffled by the unseasonable chill of last week the crowd bent on enjoying the fun on the roller coaster gathered in force on Wednesday, lured by the delightful Spring night, the music of the band and the exhilarating sport of the novel invention which has caught the public like a whirlwind. The street cars going up to the west end carried many people to the coaster, while many went on foot and in carriages. The grounds were brilliant with many lights, while the Gate City band in full force discoursed some fine music. People poured through the entrance to the grounds in a living stream, taxing the good-natured ticket seller to meet the demand. Upwards of a thousand tickets had been sold up to nine o'clock. Ascending the stairway the visitor found himself in the midst of a lively throng of men, women and children, young and old, laughing and chatting, strolling about on the large elevated platform, listening to the music, watching the roller coasters as they whizzed around the track, following each other every minute. The Republican representative was advised that he had no time to loose so he "caught on" to the first car that appeared. Along side were a couple of business men bound on a little sport though both were dreadfully anxious lest in the dizzy whirl they should lose their packages of breakfast beefsteak. The car started down the grade at a lively rate, the velocity increasing with each second. There are two or three places where the grade is very steep and the sensation as the car drops down the decline fairly takes one's breath. The girls scream, the boys shout and in the next second the car is mounting the home stretch, completing the round in thirteen seconds. The sport is great and is catching everybody. The Roller Coaster is bound to be a very popular Summer resort.

The Elevated Railroad band will play to-night at Roller Coaster Park.

[advertisement]
Ladies Admitted Free
to
Roller Coaster Park!
Music To-Night! Gentlemen 10c.,
which includes Two Tickets on the Great American Slide. Trip Tickets within the Park 2 1/2 cts. each for everybody.

[advertisement]
Fourth of July
On the Roller Coaster!
Music, Dancing, Coasting!
The only Celebration in the City!
Fireworks in the Evening, and Fun all Day!
More Sport for Less Money than all other Inducements offered!
Come Up Everybody!
Ladies Free.

[advertisement] For Sale--Winona Roller Coaster,
with right of Winona County. Reason for selling--owner has other business to attend. Address P. O. Box 573 Winona.

Winona Daily Republican
Wednesday, February 23, 1887

Mr. H. C. Bolcom has purchased of Mr. H. D. Perkins a tract of land on West Fifth street extending through to Broadway, comprising over a block, and formerly occupied by the roller coaster.

San Francisco, California

Daily Evening Bulletin (San Francisco, California)
Tuesday, September 9, 1884

A petition was received from Jesse A. Melcher, the School Director, asking for a franchise for five years, permitting O. S. Mame of Kansas City, Mo., and H. H. Reynolds, to operate the roller-coaster and circular gravity railway upon such premises as they may buy, lease or control. The petition stated that the coaster is a means of popular amusement quite common in Eastern cities. It is not propelled by steam, but by force of gravity, upon the principle of the inclined plane. There is no danger of collision, as but one car at a time is allowed to run, and the second is not started until the first has reached its destination. It is patronized by adults as well as children, affording healthy exercise. The petition was referred to the Street Committee.

The Street Committee reported in favor of granting a franchise to O. S. Moore and H. H. Reynolds for the right to construct and maintain the Roller Coaster and Circular Gravity Railroad; ... This report was adopted.

Veto Message.
The following veto message was received from the office of the Mayor, which was read and ordered printed:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors--Gentlemen: I return herewith without my approval Order No. 1,789, granting to O. S. Mowe and R. H. Reynolds and their associates the exclusive privilege of erecting and maintaining the "Roller Coaster and Circular Gravity Railways," in the city and county of San Francisco for the period of five years.
My objection to the order is that the Board of Supervisors has no power to grant an exclusive privilege such as is contemplated in this order.
Very respectfully, Washington Bartlett.
San Francisco, October 17, 1884.

A Circular Railway

At the corner of Eighth and Mission streets is to be seen in operation something decidedly new for San Francisco. It is called the circular gravity railway. It is a rather complicated machine, being circular in shape and about 200 feet in diameter, elevated at one end to about twenty-five feet, and descending to the ground on the opposite side, when it begins to ascend. Upon this is placed a car or settee, capable of seating ten or twelve persons, which, when a fare of five cents is collected from each person wishing to ride, is pushed off down the incline at an alarming rate of speed. The momentum is so great, and the track is so arranged that the car ascends again on the other side till it reaches the starting point, where the passengers are discharged to make way for others.

[advertisement]
Roller Coaster,
The California Gravity Railroad Co.,
Corner Eighth and Mission streets.
Something New Under the Sun!
A Sled-Ride Down Hill Without Snow!
Great Sport! Physicians Recommend It.
Bring your Family and Enjoy Yourselves. Polite Attendants.
Open Day & Evening. Electric Lights.

Daily Evening Bulletin
Tuesday, November 18, 1884

Miscellaneous Matters.

The mayor's veto of the resolution granting a franchise to the San Francisco Roller Coasting and Gravity Company was, on motion, sustained.

Injured by the Gravity Railway.--John Davey and Annie, his wife, have filed an action for damages in the Superior Court to recover $2,500 damages from the Central Gravity Railway Company for injuries sustained by Mrs. Davey while gliding over the road.

Injured While Coasting.

Mrs. Anne Davey has sued the Central Gravity Railroad Company, which operates an elevated coaster car at the corner of Eighth and Mission streets, to recover $5,250 damages for personal injuries received on the 30th of November. She paid for a ride on the car, and while enjoying the coasting a portion of her clothing got entangled in the wheels and she was dragged from her seat and seriously injured.

George Dawson sues Philip Hinkle and Jane Doe Kendall to dissolve a partnership to construct and maintain a gravity pleasure road, for the appointment of a receiver and a division of assets of the firm.

Daily Evening Bulletin
Thursday, April 23, 1885

The Street Committee of the Board of Supervisors met this afternoon at 2 o'clock. A protest signed by several well-known citizens was read, asking for the discontinuance of the building of a "gravity railway" at the ocean beach. The petitioners allege that the proposed railway will be a public nuisance and would tend to frighten horses. A gentleman connected with the railway was allowed to speak on the matter and claimed that the protest was the outcome of jealousy among other people doing business on the beach. The matter was taken under advisement for one week, and the builders were permitted to proceed at their own discretion.

[advertisement]
Block to Lease at Park and Haight-st. Car Terminus!
Block bounded by Stanyan, Page (next street to Haight), Oak and Shrader. This block is 275 feet north of Haight street car terminus, faces Park both on Oak and Stanyan, and is opposite Sharon Gate; 412 1/2x275 in size. The Gravity Railroad was on it. Will be leased for 5 or 10 years for pleasure grounds or gardens and restaurant, etc., or will lease a portion of the block.

near Exposition Park, New Orleans, Louisiana

The World's Fair.
Unpleasant Experiences of a Party of School Teachers.
Southern Courtesy Exhibited in the Street Cars--The Landscape as Seen from the Car Windows--The Exposition Grounds.

[New Orleans Cor. Chicago Tribune.]

Then we pass more pieces of bare swamp, more gardens and orchards, more saloons, more miserable frame shanties, until we reach the vicinity of the exposition grounds. Here are a host of forlorn sideshows, with a big panorama building for a center-piece. Circular railroads, merry go-rounds, toboggan slides, roller coasters, dime museums, mermaids, and monsters, and freaks, are collected here from all over the country--a regular town of them. Nobody visits them--even the peanut and lemonade stands have deserted them. Their proprietors seem to have almost given up hope; ...

Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
Wednesday, April 15, 1885

A Lonely Man at the Great Show

[New Orleans Cor. New York Sun.]

Among the saddest looking men in New Orleans is one who wears a blonde beard and an air of rebellious dejection as he goes scooping with interminable rattle and roar over the track of his own roller coaster. The enterprise at this writing is not a popular success. The track pursues its devious way on a circular series of stilts set in a marshy bit of ground near one of the entrances to the exposition. It is precisely similar to the coasters at Coney Island, but it is regarded here by visitors as something coarse, improper and uninteresting. Although huge placards inform the public that two rides can be enjoyed for the small sum of 5 cents, it would appear that the solitary man with the blonde beard is doomed to go tearing around on the track with never a soul for company for the rest of his stay. Natty visitors from the north pass the familiar structure with out a glance, loudly dressed men and women from the upper inland cities look at it uninterestedly, and southern observers see nothing in its din and uproar to attract.

At two minute intervals during the day the solemn man steps upon the car and pushes her off. He has traveled the route so much that the steep descents and sudden swerves have no effect whatever on his equilibrium, and he goes banging, bouncing, and rattling along with unrudied mien. If he happens to be paring his nails or reading a newspaper he goes right on with the occupation while the car is careening wildly about. He never smiles, but all day long through weather that is dismal or damp, as the case may be, he goes on his lonely way.

1885

San Jose, California

A "roller coaster" has begun operations at Sixth and Santa Clara St. It is a novel sport.

Frank Bennett, special officer at the Roller Coaster, has been acquitted of the charge of battery on Leo Rosenthal.

The roller coaster will remove to Stockton.

Toledo, Ohio

Children Injured

Toledo, April 15.

While a party of school children were gathered to-day upon the platform of a new roller coaster, the cars of which were being tried for the first time, the floor gave away precipitating the entire party about 25 in number to the ground, a distance of 20 feet, a portion of the structure falling on them. Three boys were seriously injured, one it is feared fatally, and eight more or less hurt.

Salt Wells Park, Evansville, Indiana

[advertisement]

--Under a New Management--
Grand Opening of the Salt Wells Park, Evansville, Ind.
Sunday Afternoon, May 3.
Just Erected at Great Expense an Improved Safety
Roller Coaster.

Ridgway Park, Camden, New Jersey

Philadelphia Inquirer
Sunday, April 27, 1885

Ridgway Park was opened for the season on Saturday. The park has been put in the best of order, and a skating rink and roller coaster have been added to the place. A new boat, the George W. Dohnert, has been placed in service to carry visitors to the island, thus making three now in use.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

A New Amusement.

W. M. Shepard is having a "roller coaster" built at the east end of the Madison street bridge. It consists of substantial frame-work forming a large circle, one side of which is twenty-five feet higher than the other. When completed (which will be in about ten days), a car is elevated to the highest point, and when filled with passengers makes the four hundred and fifty foot circuit by the force of its own weight. An electric light will illuminate the apparatus, which, to say the least, will arouse much curiosity.

The Roller Coaster.

As announced in the Leader a week ago the roller coaster is being rapidly pushed forward. Mr. Shepherd thinks he will have it ready by the middle of May, if not sooner. The length of the railway is 450 feet and the location desirable, viz. at the foot of Madison street bridge on the North Side.

The Circular Gravity Railway
or
Roller Coaster!
Is now open on the Northside, Near Madison St. Bridge,
The Immense Arena Illuminated by the brilliant Electric Light.
Mirth, Music and Jollity For Everybody.
To-Night.
Come One, Come All!
And be merry while you may. Gates open at 2 and 7 p. m. Concert at 7:30 p. m.
Admission Opening Night, 10 cents, including two trips on the Circular Railway. Trip Tickets within the Park 2 1/2 cts, each.
Except on special occasions the regular price of admission will be 5 cents, including two trips on the Circular Gravity Railway.

The new roller coaster at Eau Claire has been opened to the public. The car goes down the incline, around the bend and up the grade completing the circuit and running the heat in just 13 seconds.

The roller coaster is doing better than ever. The management has received a valuable addition in the person of Rawlings Webster. Everyone knows Webster, late clerk at the Galloway, and the favorite of the traveling public. He is bound to make his mark as a roller coaster. A description will be given next week of the splendid new dancing floor now being laid down 80 feet square to be covered with canvas.

Roller Coaster Improvement.

A dance platform 60 feet square has been added to the roller coaster and on every Saturday evening dancing will be indulged in. A No. 1 orchestra will be in attendance and good order will prevail. Will F. Gallaher, formerly of the Criterion rink, will manage the coaster during the balance of the season and will endeavor to make it pleasant for the patrons. Remember the band nights, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

A Smash-Up.
A Woman's Arm Broken--A Man Gets an Ugly Cut.

A little after ten last night two cars or seats filled with passengers were started at the roller coaster. The party went down with the usual wild cheer. Near the bottom of the grade the front car left the track and dashed through the fence. Everyone on this car escaped, but the passengers on the next seat were hurled in among the splinters. ...

Roller Coaster Accident.

The roller-coaster has been started again in full blast, and coasting and dancing the 9th drew quite a crowd. About 10 o'clock, as two car-loads of people were shooting down the inclined plane, both of the cars jumped the track and plunged through the fence near by. The two cars and their occupants were jumbled together in almost inextricable confusion. When the wreck was cleared, it was found that a woman named Curry had a broken arm and that G. Pacifico, dealer in fruit, had been gashed in the leg by a splinter. The rest were more or less shaken up and bruised.

Andrews Grounds, Chippewa Lake, Ohio

Medina County Gazette (Medina, Ohio)
Thursday, May 28, 1885

Work on the roller coaster will begin this week.

The roller coaster is ready for business...

Excursion to Chippewa Lake

... communing with nature, steam-boating, flying circus for the little ones, and a thrilling ride on the roller coaster, ...

The double-storied skating rink, and dancing hall, and roller coaster a new thing by the way, gives you a ride of about fifteen seconds, all for 5 cents. The average money taken in for the sale of tickets was $2.25 every ten minutes. The enterprise more than paid for its cost on the Fourth.

Chippewa Lake

On the old grounds a large two-story pavilion and a roller coaster have been erected, and many other improvements made.

Medina County Gazette
Thursday, July 23, 1885

The roller coaster is an unsightly, noisy, dangerous thing that ought not to be tolerated at such a retreat.

Santa Cruz, California

The roller-coaster is to be located on the Hodgdon lot, on the east side of Pacific Avenue, opposite Maple Street. The outfit includes three car loads of freight, which arrived to-day.

The uprights of the roller coaster are all in position and the prospects are that it will soon be completed.

Central Park, Davenport, Iowa

To many the roller coaster was more of an attraction than the prize contest.

The roller coaster will close this evening for the season.

City Council

A resolution that the roller coaster at Central park be removed was adopted.

The roller coaster which was declared a nuisance by the city council some time ago is being removed.

Silurian Springs, Waukesha, Wisconsin

E. R. Shaw contemplates the erection of a roller coaster.

Roller Coaster

Mr. Shaw has fully decided to erect a coaster on the Silurian Spring ground, a portion of which he has leased for three years. Work will be commenced the last of this week, and will be finished before July first. The coaster consists of a substantial frame work, forming a circle, one side of which is twenty-five feet higher than the other. A car is elevated to the highest point, and when filled with passengers makes the 500 feet circuit by the force of its own weight. Doubtless the coaster will prove a great attraction.

The labor of constructing the roller coaster on the Silurian grounds has been commenced, and will be completed one week from Saturday. The coaster will evidently be a popular thing this summer.

The roller coaster began operations to-day and was liberally patronized.

The roller coaster has begun operations at Waukesha.

There will be a grand illumination at the Roller Coaster, on the Silurian Grounds, next Monday. Do not fail to enjoy it.

Last Saturday evening Mr. Shaw had a grand time at the roller coaster opening. Hundreds of people were present and everyone was happy, especially the youngsters who could raise the necessary funds for a whiz around the track.

Summer Resorts.
Watering Places in Wisconsin Still Crowded.

The new railroad will run directly through the roller coaster, and proprietor Shaw will not lose much by the investment, after all.

Waite & Hankins have become possessed of the roller coaster and we understand they contemplate placing it on the new fair grounds if permission can be obtained.

National Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Novel Sport on the South Side.
A "Roller Slide" to Be Built in National Park

A company is being formed to establish a novel sport on the South side. Parties have made an arrangement with the manager of the National park for space to erect what is termed a "roller slide," and work on the structure will be commenced in a short time. It is proposed to build a platform on an incline, a long slope to extend from the point of starting, around in a circle and back up to the point of starting, of strong trestle-work covered with heavy planking, the whole to be in the form of a double hill, extending from a given point in a circle back to the highest point. On this will be built a double iron track. A contrivance similar to a sled, provided with iron rollers, is run on this.

The sled or boat is mounted by the coaster, and being given a start at the top, shoots down the incline on its rollers and the iron track like an ordinary sled on an icy hill. The start given the concern, together with the momentum gathered in the descent of the first inline, carries it up the opposite ascent and back to the place of starting. By giving the contrivance another gentle push, the trip may be repeated. The "roller slide" is a favorite sporting appliance in Europe, but is little known in the United States, the one to be erected at National park being the first of the kind to be built in the west.

The event of the season will be the opening of the Roller Coaster or Gravity Railroad at the National park, Sunday afternoon and evening. The Coaster has been in operation in all the largest eastern cities and has proved a grand success, being the most fascinating amusement of the age.

[advertisement]
National Park.
Grand Opening
of the
Roller Coaster!
The Eighth Wonder of the World,
Sunday, June 7.
Admission to Park FREE. Trip Tickets, 2 1/2c each.

The National Park.
Pavilion, Roller-Coaster Race Track and Ball Ground Together.

The formal opening of National park will take place next Sunday. ... The novel roller-coaster commenced doing business for the first time yesterday, and the stand was filled by those anxious to experience the sensation in the new mode of sliding up and down hill. The roller coaster will be a drawing card.

At National Park.
Costly and Attractive Improvements Now in Progress at the Resort.

... and a roller coaster, or elevated railroad track, with its passenger cars, has been completed, and will be ready to transport passengers next Sunday.

[advertisement]
National Park
Sunday, June 14
Grand Opening of the National Park Pavilion
And Roller Coaster,
...

Sunday at National Park.

The principal feature yesterday was the roller-coaster, which drew big crowds at two rides for a nickel. The track is circular and the distance around it is 500 feet. The sensation produced by the first ride is that of a "goneness," and when the car reaches the last dip in the track it attains a fearful velocity which sends it to the starting-point again, making the distance in thirteen seconds. When necessary four cars a minute are run, the receipts of each car are 20 cents and the total receipts yesterday afternoon and evening were over $200. The company have the rights for the state of Wisconsin and are putting in roller-coasters in the large interior towns.

Oakland Beach, Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania

Crawford Journal (Meadville, Pennsylvania)
Friday, June 19, 1885

Conneaut Lake Notes

A roller coaster is among the amusements afforded at Oakland Beach.

The roller coaster at Oakland Beach is completed and the public has a chance to enjoy a circular ride. It is very well patronized.

Conneaut Lake

The roller coaster is in full operation at Oakland Beach. Everybody takes a ride.

Conneaut Lake
All the Important News from the Popular Resort Neatly Paragraphed

The gravity railway is the great attraction at Oakland Beach. We will give a description of this amusement later.

The gravity railway at Oakland Beach is still the great point of attraction around the lake.

In Camp At Conneaut.
What the Soldier Boys are Doing.
Amusements at Camp Gallagher.
The Roller Coaster--Games of Chance--The Great Inspection--Dress Parade.

Camp Gallagher, July 27.
Conneaut Lake.

The scheme of the Roller Coaster, I mentioned in my last letter. I have examined the construction, and find that it consists of a circular track on trestle work. The cars start from a platform, down an enclosed inclined plane and run on a narrow track with two roads. The momentum carries the cars back to the place of starting. The track is 1/8 of a mile, and the circuit is made in 15 seconds, or at the rate of a mile a minute. Six persons can ride on a car, and from 8 in the morning, until 9 at night, it appears to be well patronized. Of course it costs quite a sum of money to construct the track but as a permanent institution, as it is here, all the season it is a money making one, as almost every person desired to try a ride and are so well satisfied they venture the second or third time.

Los Angeles, California

One of the roller-coasting inclined planes so popular in New Orleans, Kansas City, Cincinnati and other cities, is being built at the corner of Charity and Sixth streets. It is intended to be finished May 30th. J. W. Marder and J. D. Henry, of San Francisco, are the proprietors.

Short and sweet was the life of the Sixth street roller-coaster. It will be sold at Sheriff's sale, next Tuesday, to satisfy a claim of the Los Angeles Storage and Lumber Company.

The Roller Coaster.

Will Beach has purchased the roller coaster, lately sold by the Sheriff, and will again open it to the public Thursday, July 2d.

Will Beach starts the Roller Coaster this afternoon at 1 o'clock.
...
Cleveland, Ohio, has thirteen Roller Coasters, mostly patronized by adults.

The Roller Coaster again emits its blood-curdling howl upon the evening air.

The roller coaster carried 2187 dead head passengers yesterday afternoon.
...
Cincinnati has 6 roller coasters, Los Angeles one.

Roller Coaster--round trip 2-1/2 cents.

Will Beach has sold the roller coaster to W. V. Johnson, late of Cincinnati.

Tom's Trip.
A Boy Painfully Injured on the Roller Coaster.

The roller-coaster at the corner of Sixth and Pearl streets is a "holy terror" to surrounding parents. The boys will steal off and get their two rides for a nickel. The savage rumble and roar of the cars as they flash around the circle puts every mother's heart to dread.

... About 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, he got on a car of the roller-coaster for a ride. He was on the front end of a car; and as it came to the last jump going down, he slipped off. The back of the car runs within about three inches of a plank guard, twelve inches high, intended to keep the centrifugal force from throwing the car off the track. His right leg was caught between this guard and the car, and he was dragged thus until the car stopped. ...

Will Beach, formerly proprietor of the Sixth street roller coaster, explains the accident to Tom Harrity, Saturday, by stating that Tom was not sitting on the seat, but on the forward arm of the coaster, swinging his feet over the back of the car. When within about thirteen feet of the stopping place, his foot caught between the back of the car and the guard. Young Harrity is known throughout the neighborhood as a wild boy, and he was riding on the coaster without leave when his carelessness caused him to get hurt.

Savin Rock, West Haven, Connecticut

Where Breezes Blow
Savin Rock and the Season.

Just north of Howes' place, near the spot where Jennie Cramer's body was found, Walter Smith of California has built a roller coaster on 75 piles, extending out over the water. The coaster is identical with those at Coney Island. It is 25 feet high at its highest point and the track is 340 feet long. It cost $1,300. The cars will seat nine or ten people. The coaster will be managed by Charles Card, the roller skater.

Anomalous Savin Rock.
Little Sailing or Bathing.

In the California coaster a platform is being built for bicycle riding. Near Railroad grove a new sort of "merry-go-round" with bicycles and tricycles instead of horses, is being built.

Three New Haveners were slightly injured yesterday while riding in the California coaster at Savin Rock. The coaster jumped the track.

No End to the Style
Around Salty Savin Rock.

Manager Smith of the California coaster is not quite as happy. He has an elephant on his hands. A gentleman to whom he owes money which was put into the erection of the coaster won't let him run it until it is paid. Smith can't straighten matters out. There was to have been a dance in the pavilion portion of the coaster last evening, but the rain dispersed the fellow and his girl who assembled to attend it and also the piano player.

'Round Cool West Shore
Idlers' Life at Savin Rock.

The trouble over the California coaster has been arranged, and the car is seen whirling up and down around the incline many times a day. Thomas Ackerill, who was for a long time the successful manager of the Dwight street rink, is in charge of it.

Saturday at the Shore
First Hop at Savin Rock.

"That structure over there," said a shore lounger, pointing to the much litigated over California coaster at Savin Rock, "seems to be in hard luck. Now that it is running, its patronage does not seem to be what it ought to, and it looks to me like a monument of a departed $1,500, the amount of money it took to build it." The coaster, however, it now in competent hands and may do better before the season is over.

Many People at Savin Rock

All the resorts did a brisk business and the roller coaster roared merry music for the multitude steadily.

The Card-Foot Bonds

Frank M. Fowler, 273 Orchard street, a carriage maker, contradicted Mr. Foot's statements relative to the California coaster that was an attraction at Savin Rock four years ago.
...
Augustine T. Garlick, another plumber, contradicted point blank Mr. Foote's testimony about the California coaster. Mr. Foote had testified that his only connection with this amusement at the Rock was in the nature of loaning $300 to Mrs. Card's son to build it, and being compelled subsequently to sell the coaster for $100. He denied too that he was ever arrested for a breach of the peace in West Haven. Mr. Garlick told the court that he hired the ground floor of the coaster from Mr. Foote, paying him $400 for the '85 season. Mr. Foote, he said, came in there one day, pulled down the bar and struck Mr. Garlick with a piece of scantling over the head. He had Mr. Foote arrested. ...

Brighton Beach, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Brighton Beach Hotel.
A New Summer Resort to Be Opened Below Sandwich.

About 20 invited guests boarded the steamer Excelsior at Miller's wharf, near the foot of Woodward avenue, yesterday afternoon and went down the river to test the hospitality of George Buchanan, proprietor of Brighton Beach, the new summer resort below Sandwich. The place is yet unfinished, but enough can be seen to give an idea of what it will be when the plans are carried out. The hotel fronts the river. For the convenience of vehicles a driveway has been graded from a point below the sulphur springs across the fields, lessening the distance from the springs over a quarter of a mile. Seats are scattered under the trees, and graveled walks abound. Behind the hotel a roller coaster 450 feet around, built on the plan of the coaster at Coney Island, is in course of erection, and Mr. Buchanan talks of grading a plot where base ball, lacrosse and other games can be played.

A Forger's Chickens Come Home to Roost

After Buchanan's flight into Canada he devoted his business abilities to conducting a summer garden and roller coaster at Windsor, just across the river from Detroit. The enterprise prospered, and the bankrupt millionaire accumulated $5,000.

Chicago, Illinois

That Roller-Coaster

Alanson Wood, the owner of a roller-coaster at the corner of Clark and North avenue, filed a petition yesterday to compel the Mayor to give him a license to run his amusement for the benefit of the public in general and his own pocket in particular. The machine cost him $5,000 and he paid $500 for the use of the land where it is erected. He claims the license should not be more than $25 a month, but the Mayor refuses to grant one, because he cannot tell under what head to class the nondescript invention. A motion for mandamus will be heard this morning by Judge Tuley.

Point of Pines, Revere Beach, Massachusetts

[advertisement]
The Point of Pines
"The most attractive and accessible Seashore Pleasure Resort in the East."
...
Roller Skating Rink, Roller Coaster, Dancing Pavilion, Electric Railroad, Bowling Alley, Shooting Gallery, Swings, Tilts, &c.

Children at the Pines

... ride on the roller coaster, a ride on the electric railroad...

Denver, Colorado

The capitol commissioners held a meeting yesterday and decided that the roller coaster which was in the process of erection should not be built on the capitol grounds. Work that has been done so far has been thrown away as it will have to be torn down. It is not known where the projectors of the enterprise will go.

A Chance to Coast.
Denver People Invited to Indulge in a New Amusement This Evening in the Shape of a Roller Coaster.

A new amusement of roller coasting will be introduced to Denver people for the first time this evening. The amusement is said to resemble in some ways toboganning, and to be equally fascinating without the danger. In another respect the sport is much superior to all ordinary coasting as the sled does not have to be dragged up hill, neither do people have to walk up hill once for every time they go down but can ride both ways. Roller coasting is now a very successful and popular amusement in San Francisco, Stockton and San Jose, Cala., also at Coney Island, New York, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Boston, and other points East. The coaster is perfectly safe, the construction being especially strong. The track will be illuminated by electric lights and the fare will be only 5 cents. The coaster is owned exclusively by Denver men, and all who want to enjoy the novelty of sliding down hill in summer would do well to patronize the enterprise. The coaster will start on its journeys this evening at 7 o'clock, and will be run every evening till 10 o'clock except Sunday evening, and from 2 to 6 o'clock every Saturday afternoon.

All the respectable people of Denver are invited to attend on this and succeeding evenings and enjoy the new sport. The coaster is located at Twenty-third and Welton streets. Courteous treatment extended to all visitors and patrons.

Splendid Sliding.
Great Crowds Enjoy Rides on the New Roller Coaster Last Evening-A New Sport.

The "roller coaster" started on its journey Thursday night and the attendance was somewhat lessened by the bad weather. Last night, however, there was a good attendance and the new sport was heartily enjoyed. The "coaster" runs down an inclined plane erected for the purpose at Twenty-third and Welton streets, and the new sport is very interesting and inspiring. Street cars on the Welton street, Twenty-third street, and other lines are now labeled "to the roller coaster."

Children are especially delighted with the new sport, and the managers assure the public that the coaster is perfectly safe and that the sport exceeds anything in the line of flying horses whirligigs or other contrivances, and is fully equal to tobbagganning, the great Canadian sport, while it has the advantage over all ordinary coasting that it can be enjoyed in warm weather without overcoats or mufflers. Rides are only 5 cents.

The coaster was in full running order last evening. There was a vast crowd of spectators and a still larger crowd to enjoy the sport. Arrangements have been made for a grand roller coaster matinee for ladies and children this afternoon.

Go to the roller coaster to-night.
...
Take a slide down hill without snow, at the roller coaster.

[classified advertisement]
To Let-Miscellaneous
To Let--Cheap--Seats in the Cars of the roller coaster. Five cents a ride.

Denver has a roller coaster which is supplanting roller skating in the affections of the multitude.

A Lineman's Mistake.

Some two thousand persons were disappointed at the roller coaster last evening in consequence of the failure of the electric lights. The lineman neglected to turn the switch, consequently the coaster was cut off the circuit and the visitors were in darkness. The platform was crowded until near 9 o'clock, when, becoming tired of promenading in the dark, the patrons left for home. Shortly after they had gone the lights loomed up and shed their silent brilliancy on the deserted rialto. A similar annoyance will not occur again.

The Roar of the Roller.

An element which is marring the popularity of the roller coaster is its noise. The people living within two blocks of it are complaining bitterly that from 7 o'clock in the evening until 11 they are disturbed by the roar of the roller to an unbearable extent. It is understood that unless some way for quieting the noise can be devised, legal proceedings will be instituted to have the machine abated as a nuisance. This has been done in Chicago with success. Whether the same could be done in Denver or not is not so certain, but it is quite evident that the attempt will be made. If it is successful it will be hard for the owners of the coaster, and if it fails the people living in the neighborhood will suffer, but not in silence.

The Roller Coaster Nuisance Left to the Care Of the Building Inspector and The Police Committee.

Residents and taxpayers on Twenty-third and Welton asked for the removal of that dangerous nuisance, the roller coaster. Alderman Hadfield moved that the petition be granted. Alderman Jones said that he had observed that beautiful cottages in the vicinity

Were Standing Vacant

on account of this nuisance, the roller coaster.

President Darrow said that he had been informed that the building inspector had condemned the coaster and he did not think it best for the board to take any hasty action.

The roller coaster craze is raging at present in Denver, Col., and the Daily News of that city does not hesitate to pronounce it a public nuisance and calls upon the city to put it down.

Colorado Transcript (Golden, Colorado)
Wednesday, August 26, 1885

Opinion is of the opinion that the action of the authorities in condemning the roller coaster in Denver is an unjust discrimination against the undertakers of the city.

A New License Bill

In the present bill roller rinks have $300 per year and roller coasters the same, and dancing academies have to pay a license of $50 a year.

Andy Glenn and ex-Mayor Montag went to Denver last week to enjoy a ride on the "roller coaster." They found that it had been closed for the season, so they took the next train for Como.

Thompson & Co.
Auctioneers,
Will Sell at Public Sale
on
Wednesday, Dec. 16
At 10 O'Clock,
the
Roller Coaster
situated at
Corner 23d and Welton Sts.
This is a rare opportunity for any one wishing to speculate. The Coaster cost $1,5000 to construct. At the price this will probably bring, anyone can take down and hold until spring, when he can easily double his money. Don't fail to be on hand Wednesday morning and give us a bid.
Thompson & Co., Auctioneers

Hanlan's Point, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Roller Coaster.

Several successful trial trips were made on the roller coaster at Hanlan's Point on the Island last evening, when a number of ladies and gentlemen enjoyed the novel and curious ride around the circular incline.

Hanlan's point last night presented a busy and brilliant appearance. ... The roller coaster and merry-go-round did a rushing business.

[advertisement]
During the Exhibition
Hanlan's Point
Will have special attractions.
...
Roller Coaster,
Sliding down hill of 518 feet without snow.

[advertisement]
Hanlan's Point
...
Who's The First
to ride down
The Roller Coaster
This Season!
Opened at Hanlan's Point To-Day.

A Bad Day For Humanity

The first accident of any importance that was reported occurred on the roller coaster at the Island early in the afternoon. Presumably to keep boys from climbing over the rails of the lower parts of the coaster, a barb wire fence has been placed around them, about four feet from the coaster itself. A car containing nine persons, when it had reached the lower part of the structure, suddenly jumped the track and precipitated the occupants with great violence over the rail, several of them being hurled against the barbed wire fence. ...

Chautauqua, New York

There will be a new device for giving amusement to the patrons of Chautauqua this season. P. H. Weaver, of Jamestown, will have a roller coaster on the grounds, which is a circular runway, built upon stilts, one edge touching the ground and that opposite elevated high in the air; the runway having a track on which a car is placed. Starting from the highest point the car, loaded with people, speeds down the incline and gains nearly sufficient momentum to reach the summit or starting point. It is coasting without any walking up hill.

Chautauqua is very much like other places in the fact that one finds there what he seeks. If he wants amusement, there are boating, and tennis, and concerts, and the skating-rink (fortunately less patronized than formerly), and the roller-coaster, and the promenade.

Chautauqua

As an element of recreation the roller coaster has become popular.

Chautauqua

Lawn tennis and the "roller coaster" have this year been added to the means of diversion for the younger folks ...
[Troy Daily Times.]

Exhibition Grounds, London, Ontario, Canada

From George McBroom, secretary of the Horticultural Society--Asking permission to erect a roller coaster north of the baseball grounds in the Exhibition Park, near the old poultry shed, and to maintain the same till the grounds were sold. Granted.

Report of Number Two Committee.

By Ald. Taylor, chairman: 1. That the petition of the Horticultural Society of London to erect a "roller coaster" in the Exhibition Grounds be granted;

[advertisement]
Go and Secure a Ride on the roller coaster, or toboggan on wheels, the newest sensation in amusements, now in operation; thousands visit it every day, and everyone is delighted with it; it is pleasanter than getting a legacy, and safer than lying in bed; better than a cold bath for hot weather; fare, only 5c, or six tickets for 25c, at Exhibition Grounds.

The new roller coaster on the Exhibition Grounds commenced making regular trips yesterday, which were taken advantage of by a considerable number of people. It looks as if roller coasting will boom in the footsteps of tobogganing and roller skating.

Boys' Foolishness.

London, Oct. 1.--While some boys were fooling on a roller coaster they accidentally started two cars, both occupied, down an incline so as to collide. Both cars were shattered.

The roller coaster was running pretty much all day yesterday at the will of the small boys in the northern end of the city.

Since the neighboring city of London annexed its eastern suburb it has become puffed up with pride, and wickedness increases within its bounds. There was a time, only a few years ago, when the people almost went crazy over the proposal to run a Sunday train to and from Port Stanley during a hot spell in summer. The great change in the sentiments of the people is to be found in the fact that yesterday the roller coaster was kept running for hours, and no one interfered. London must be striving to eclipse its great namesake--in disregard for the day of rest.--[Hamilton Times.] The roller coaster was taken possession of by a lot of boys ranging from 10 to 15 years of age. A policeman did interfere, but the boys were at it again as soon as his back was turned. We assure our esteemed contemporary that the great bulk of the citizens of London are not engaged in Sunday roller coasting.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Witnesses Broken Down.
They Could Not Describe the Fearful Noise of the "Roller Coaster."

Now that a "roller coaster" is ready to be launched upon the local public at Savin Rock, it is interesting to learn from the Boston Herald that Judge Buchwalter of Cincinnati, has been occupied an entire day with the hearing of testimony in a complaint case against one of them. Henry A. Morill and a number of other property owners and residents in the vicinity of the Bellevue house, in Cincinnati, are the plaintiffs, and David Billigheimer the defendant. The plaintiffs allege that the "roller coaster" or circular gravity railway, recently constructed on the Bellevue house grounds, is a nuisance to the neighborhood, on account of the noise it produces; that it prevents sleep, tortures invalids and nervous people, interrupts conversations, and will depreciate the value of property in that vicinity unless its further operation is enjoined, which the plaintiffs pray the court may be done by a perpetual injunction.

Mr. Billigheimer admits the presence of a roller coaster on the Bellevue grounds. It was constructed at an expense of $4,000 and can be used for no other purpose than that to which it is now applied. It furnishes innocent amusement to a large number of people, and the small fare which is charged is an important source of revenue to him. He alleges that while the track was being constructed some of the plaintiffs talked with him in regard to it, and they all knew what was being erected, but no complaint or protest was made.

The testimony was entertaining. Counsel for the defense tried to keep out statements by the witnesses as to the effect of the noise upon them, but were unsuccessful. The witnesses all broke down in trying to describe the noise of the coaster--it was so unlike any other noise, and strong words were needed to do it justice. With the starting of the car, which at times is every few minutes, there is a loud noise from the friction of the wheels upon the rails, which grows rapidly louder as the car descends, and is reinforced by the screaming of the excited passengers. It was the experience of the witnesses that babies are woke up by the noise, all conversation has to be stopped for the moment, people who are reading or otherwise engaged have their attention diverted, the sick and nervous people are greatly annoyed, and distressing fear is continually excited by the screaming of the passengers that the car has left the track and people are being dreadfully hurt.

Buckeye Topics.
What Our Cincinnati Correspondent Has to Tell This Week.

A curious and interesting case is on hearing in the courts here, in which is involved the question of what constitutes a nuisance. On the hill-top resort at the Bellevue house the proprietor has put up a roller-coaster, in which passengers are wheeled over a tramway in a roller car at a breath-taking speed. Citizens living on Ohio avenue, near which the coaster has been erected, have applied to the courts to have it abated as a nuisance. The testimony of the plaintiffs has been voluminous. Most of the witnesses are refined women. Their evidence was that the noise was shocking, and that the screams of the women passengers were constantly suggestive of people suffering great bodily pain or mental anguish. It was in evidence, too, that it was generally harrowing to the nerves and distracting to the mind, and that it greatly interfered with ordinary conversation, and that it waked up and scared babies and prevented grown people from sleeping. On the other hand, it was in evidence that, "yes, the thing does make a noise, to be sure, but then it doesn't disturb us a bit." Counsel for the plaintiffs shadow forth along through the proceeding that their argument will be that neighbors are entitled to protection against a nuisance which is not more than counterbalanced by a compensation in the way of a benefit to the general public. Able counsel are employed on both sides, and they fight the case vigorously.

Nuisance. [Noise and Vibration.] A Roller-Coaster or Gravity Railroad Enjoined as a Nuisance.--In Schlueter v. Bellingheimer, it is held by the Common Pleas of Hamilton County, Ohio, in a learned and extended opinion by Buchwalter, J., that where the proprietor of a public resort, located in an otherwise quiet neighborhood, occupied for years by dwellings, introduces extreme features of amusement, as a roller-coaster or gravity railroad, causing unusual noise, and in a substantial degree depriving others, having ordinary sensibilities, of the ordinary comforts of life, such as rest and sleep at night, peace, quiet and rest on Sunday, disturbing family conversation, etc., he creates thereby a private nuisance; that, where the proof is clear, certain, and satisfactory that he has wrongfully done these things, working a serious injury, the court will restrain him from its continuance, without the intervention of a trial by jury; and that the mere fact that the complainants waited until after the roller-coaster was constructed and in operation would not estop them, since they did not know the character and degree of the noise, nor that it would be operated at unreasonable hours and times.

Dundurn Park, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Roller Coasting

A new amusement is running at Dundurn park, and people who delight in novel sensations should take it in. On the bank beyond the west lawn a circular track has been laid. It starts at a height of probably 30 feet from the ground, gradually works down and then rises again, and its circumference is over 500 feet. A car starts at the top with a load of people, whizzes around, and in less than eight seconds gets back again. It is carried up the ascent by its own gravitation. It has caught on in Toronto and wherever it has been tried, and there is no particular reason why it shouldn't be as popular here as elsewhere. The sensation is delightful, and those who have tried it consider it the finest fun going. The public will have an opportunity of trying it at the carpenters' and joiners' picnic to-day.

Salem Willows, Salem, Massachusetts

The parties arrested at Salem for running a roller coaster Sunday have been fined $15 and costs each, but they appealed and have been held in $300 for the superior court.

A Roller Coaster in Court.

To-day's Sunday law sensation comes from the staid old town of Salem ... At the Salem Willows, a popular picnic resort, a roller-coaster has been built. It was run all day last Sunday for the first time. Good citizens protested, and demanded that the unholy amusement of the world's people be stopped. Previously a similar effort had been made to stop a roller-coaster in Lynn, but without success. This morning Marshal Hart went down to the Willows and found the roller-coaster running full tilt. M. D. Fitzgerald, Mortimer Chandler and Francis L. Powers were in charge of the machine. Marshal Hart told them not to run it. Fitzgerald started the car and was at once arrested. The names of the other two proprietors with those of the passengers on the car were taken. The management concluded that it was no use to try to run the machine. In the excitement the car was left unattended for an hour, and the boys had a delightful time running the thing as they pleased till a smash-up ended their fun. Mr. Powers was furious at what he termed the unwarranted interference of the law with his legitimate business. His company, he says, is incorporated under the name of "The United States Gravity Railroad." He claims that it should be treated just as other railroads are, and that he has the right to carry passengers from station to station just as any elevated railroad would have.

Oak Point, Bronx, New York

An attempt was made to enforce the Sunday law at Oak Point yesterday... At sunset the policeman marched away, and the Point was left in charge of the special men in the employ of the proprietor. They had not been gone 10 minutes when the camp was alive with entertainment. The flags on the roller coaster were run from half to full mast, and the little cars were set a-going; ... the swings, carousals, and everything else were in motion.

Herman Klinker, who owns the roller coaster at Oak Point ...

High Bridge Glens, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Aug. 24.--A Cuyahoga Falls gentleman who is not afraid to give his opinion in matters and things, expressed himself yesterday in pretty out-spoken terms in regard to the persistent defiance of public sentiment by those who run the Glens, particularly in regard to yesterday's performance, saying: "If ever the Devil had a boom in Cuyahoga Falls he had one yesterday." Excursion trains were run from all directions pouring in hundreds of people, not tired workmen seeking for rest but in great part the off-scouring of creation to see the promised "great" attractions at that resort. These attractions consisted in a ride on the roller coaster and a sight of a pair of legs flopping about at the end of a rope, which hung from the bottom--unless there was somewhat more attraction in guzzling lager in Cuyahoga Falls than in doing it at home. The balloon ascension was a grand fizzle.

Industrial Exhibition Grounds, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Exhibition Notes.

A sort of roller coaster, only running in a straight line and full of ups and downs will be in operation.

Extending Exhibition Park

The exclusive right to erect and run a roller coaster was granted to A. J. Patterson. The coaster is to be north of the carriage house and will be of the "switch-back" variety.

The Switchback.

Editor World: The switchback and roller coaster business seems to be booming, but the action of the committee having charge of that portion of the exhibition seems to have been biased in favor of the new company. Will the committee explain and show that their decision was unprejudiced.
--Fair Play.
[Manager Hill says that the switchback people got the privilege because they were willing to give more than the roller coaster combination. They paid $500 down; the others offered $250; the first offer was snapped up.--Ed. World.]

The Exhibition Opened

In the afternoon the directors took a ride on the roller coaster.

Over 40,000 At The Fair

... the switch-back, roller coaster and electric railway thrived almost beyond computation;

Albert Palace, Battersea Park, London, England

Albert Palace, Battersea

Passing on into the grounds, and keeping to the left, we find a busy band of carpenters erecting an American Coaster, which, for the benefit of the uninitiated, may be described as a platform on which, seated in a wheeled carriage, visitors may go "up one side and down the other."

[advertisement]
Albert Palace Annexe and Pleasure Grounds.
Grand Winter Fair.
Special Entrance from Battersea-park-road.
Applications for Shows and Amusements of every description to be made to the Patent Roller Coaster Company (Limited), 37, Walbrook.

Albert Palace.

Not a few pleasure-seekers, setting mist and moisture at defiance, stayed in the grounds, where Pettigrove's marionettes were exhibited frequently; the "roller coaster" rushed continually up and down its inclines, and swings, roundabouts, and other elements of a fair were to be found.

[advertisement]
The Most Attractive Amusement of the Day.--Estimated dividends based on actual returns over 25 per cent.
The Automatic Railways Company, Limited.
...
The Automatic Railway or Roller Coaster is a circular railway track, raised on one side to an imposing elevation and having steep inclines. Thus the cars, when loaded with passengers, travel round the circle without any other motive power than their own gravity. It will be seen there is but little expense attached to the working, consequently the takings are almost wholly profit.
...
This Company has been formed for the purpose of purchasing, developing, and working the English, French, German, Austrian, and Belgian Patents of the Roller Coaster Railway, and to take over the railways already erected at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, Albert Palace, Battersea, the Hall by the Sea, Margate, and the Raikes-hall-gardens, Blackpool.
...
The net proceeds of the Albert Palace Coaster, which was opened in August, 1885, were for the first six weeks over £98, after deducting wages, &c.

Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas.
Collecting Debts with a Fish Pole--Penitentiary--No Pennies--Sunday Laws.

Little Rock, Ark.

The national affliction has struck this city in full force--two roller skating rinks in full blast, also a roller coaster, or "hold me closer," is well patronized night and day, but particularly at night when the moon is in the shade, a ride for five cents and a "hold me closer" thrown in; "Oh would I were a boy again!" This is exclusively for the amusement of the "white trash;" the colored folks are having one built for their especial benefit, "no white folks need apply."

Hamilton, Ohio

The Fair Opens.

In the amusement line the old time shows will be on hand of course, and the "flying Dutchman" that monopoly of long years' standing, has at last found a rival which will be worthy of him. The roller coaster, the first of the kind in Butler county, attaining a speed of one mile a minute, will resound with the shrieks and shouts of delighted and excited children. It is a feature that will add much to the pleasure of the little ones, and the older ones too, who will be compelled (?) to ride in order to look after the children. It is very strongly constructed.

Richmond, Indiana (?)

Ves Rogers will erect and operate a roller coaster in Richmond this coming season.

Linwood Park, Lafayette, Indiana (?)

[Athlophoros advertisement/testimonial article]

Guarding A "Roller Coaster."

La Fayette's new "roller coaster" at Linwood Park has a vigilant night watchman in ex-Policemen John McGrath, who is careful to see that no daring spirits take surreptitious rides upon the coaster during the hours of darkness, and who is himself a most fearless and gallant rider.

Bellaire, Ohio (?)

Wheeling Register (Wheeling, West Virginia)
Tuesday, March 3, 1885

Mr. David Rankin will probably build a roller coaster on the corner of Guernsey and Thirty seventh streets at an early day.

Work has been commenced on the Indian Run skating rink. When completed Bellaire will have three rinks with good prospects of a coaster in addition.

Meyers Lake, Canton, Ohio (?)

E. M. Leatherman and H. B. Wetzel are going to erect a roller coaster at Lake View, Meyers' Lake, Canton, O.

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (?)

Fond du Lac is to be provided with a roller coasting outfit.

State Fairgrounds, Wheeling, West Virginia (?)

A Novel Attraction

The directors of the State Fair Association are making the necessary preparations for the erection of one of Yearick's gravity-railways on the Fair Grounds, designing to have it completed and in working order before the opening of the Fair. The affair is a sort of perpetual motion coasting apparatus, and consists of two inclined tracks, upon which small cars run, so arranged that on leaving the platform the car descends a steep incline to the level of the ground, and by the momentum thus gained starts back on another track to the same height as the starting point, from which the journey is repeated ad infinitum. The railways are in operation in Toledo, New Orleans, Memphis and other cities.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin (not built)

There is some talk of a roller coaster being erected in this city. There are several at present in successful operation in different parts of the state.

No Roller Coaster
A Stock Company Organized to Build One, but it goes to Pieces on the Start.

A short time ago a stock company consisting of some five or six members was partially organized for the purpose of building and operating a roller coaster. The intention was to have it put up on the vacant lot opposite the Opera House, and it was estimated that the total cost would be about $1,000. Stock to that amount was to have been issued had the scheme proceeded successfully. Some of the leaders of the enterprise, fearing that the present dull times might prevent their plan from being a financial success, were inclined to back out after the preliminary steps had been taken, and some of the members of the proposed company disagreeing, it was finally decided to throw up the sponge. As a result Oshkosh will have no roller coaster just at present unless different parties take up the undertaking where it has been dropped. A prominent rink manager, and a young man engaged in the manufacturing business were among those who were interested. It is seems to be believed by many that on account of dull times, and the craze for roller skating which existed last winter, the prospects for making a roller coaster pay are rather slim, and that interest in it would be rather short lived. A trip around a machine like the one which was to have been built is made in about thirteen seconds, and the cost of two rides is usually a nickel.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (not built)

The City's Pleasure Ground.
What Was Done by the Park Committee on Superintendence Yesterday.

At the meeting of the Park Commission Committee on Police and Superintendence yesterday, Lewis M. Hough, civil engineer, and who is professor of civil engineering at the Pennsylvania University, asked for permission to build a toboggan coaster in the Park, similar to the one in use at Atlantic City. Two sheds are to be erected parallel to each other, each 500 feet long and eight feet wide. One of these will be used for the going and the other for the returning coasters. The grades are undulating and the force of gravity will carry the coasters from one end to the other. These coasters will be placed on wheels. The site selected is in the East Park, on the edge of the base ball ground, which abuts the Reading Railroad. The matter was referred to Mr. Boker.

no specific locale described

Rink and Rollers

The roller coaster, or gravity circular railway which provides an opportunity for coasting without snow, is controlled under a patent, and is being widely introduced.

The Social World

The roller coaster is as great a craze in the east as was roller skating. Two rides for five cents is cheap enough amusement for any one.

Last revised 2-July-2008

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