Robert Gillham: The Guy Who Got Kansas City Moving (With Cable Cars!)
Okay, so picture this: late 1800s, Kansas City is trying to grow up, but it’s got a major problem: getting around is a drag. Enter Robert Gillham, a total whiz kid engineer who saw the potential in this Midwestern hub. He’s the guy who basically put Kansas City on the map when it came to modern transportation.
From New York to the Wild West
Born in New York City in 1854, Robert wasn’t exactly a cowboy. He got a fancy education in New Jersey, studying engineering like a boss. By 20, he had his own engineering office, doing all sorts of cool stuff like building bridges and designing sewer systems. Word got around, and soon he was the go-to guy in the New York area.
But in 1878, something called him West. He checked out Kansas City and was like, "Whoa, this place is going to be HUGE." So, he packed his bags and set up shop there, ready to make a difference.
Mule Cars? Seriously?
The first thing that struck Robert was how awful the transportation was. People were stuck riding slow mule-drawn cars up steep hills just to get into the city. It was like something out of a bad Western movie! He knew there had to be a better way to connect the city center to the train station.
The Cable Car Vision
Robert had a vision: cable cars! At the time, there were only three cable car systems in the whole country, all in San Francisco. But he was convinced that Kansas City could be next.
He came up with a plan for the Eighth and Ninth Street Cable Road, complete with a fancy viaduct (basically a bridge) to the Union Depot. Sounds simple, right? Not so fast. The horse-drawn railway company (surprise, surprise) wasn’t thrilled with the competition. They fought tooth and nail to block the project.
Obstacles and Triumphs
The city council even refused to grant him the franchise at first. They said they’d only consider it if Ninth Street was widened. So, Robert, being the determined dude he was, convinced the city to widen the street. Even then, they still dragged their feet on the franchise!
But Robert didn’t give up. He knew this cable car line would be a game-changer for Kansas City. He eventually won the franchise, partnered with some other smart folks, and got to work.
Building the Dream
Building the cable car line was no joke. It was a massive engineering project, and Robert was in charge of everything. He designed the whole system and even had to find the money to pay for it!
But he wasn’t done there. He also dreamed up an elevated railway to connect Kansas City, Missouri, with Kansas City, Kansas. He teamed up with another engineer, D.M. Edgerton, and they battled lawsuits and grumpy property owners to make it happen. They finally got the green light, raised the money, and opened the elevated railway in 1888. It was a total success!
The Eighth Street Tunnel: A Feat of Engineering
To connect the elevated railway to the Ninth Street Cable Line, Robert had to figure out how to get through a massive bluff (a steep hill). His solution? A freaking tunnel!
He designed a double-track cable railway tunnel that went right through the bluff. Some engineers thought he was nuts, but Robert pulled it off. Construction started in 1887, and less than a year later, trains were zipping through the tunnel.
Cable Car King
Robert didn’t stop there. He was involved in pretty much every cable car project in Kansas City. He helped organize the Grand Avenue Cable Railway Company, consulted on cable car systems in other cities, and even designed elevated railways in Chicago.
He was making serious money, too. He started at $5,000 a year and quickly jumped to $10,000. Soon, he was making $40,000 to $50,000 a year, which was insane money back then. He was the highest-paid guy in Kansas City!
More Than Just Cable Cars
Robert was a busy guy. He was president of a foundry company and helped plan Kansas City’s parks and boulevard system. He joined the Board of Park Commissioners in 1895.
By that time, Kansas City had the third-largest cable car system in the country, behind San Francisco and Chicago. Not bad for a guy who just wanted to make getting around town a little easier!
An Untimely End
Robert’s career peaked when he built the Kansas City, Pittsburg, and Gulf Railroad and its terminus at Port Arthur, Texas. He became the railroad’s general manager, but the railroad was in trouble.
In 1899, he took a grueling ten-day trip along the railway with the receivers (people in charge of a bankrupt company). The trip took a toll on him, and he caught a cold. He died just six days later from pneumonia and appendicitis at the young age of 44. People said he had worked himself too hard.
A Lasting Legacy
Robert Gillham may have died young, but he left a huge mark on Kansas City. The city named Robert Gillham Road after him, and his cable car system helped transform Kansas City into a modern metropolis.
Cable cars eventually faded away, replaced by electric streetcars. But Robert Gillham’s vision and engineering genius helped shape the city we know today.
So, next time you’re in Kansas City, take a moment to remember Robert Gillham, the guy who got Kansas City moving!