Where it all began! Though a 25-year franchise was granted to Levi Estes by the city council on September 6, 1871 (said ordinance No. 1065 was approved by the mayor on September 12), it wasn’t until September 14 that the actual company was incorporated. Horse-drawn cars commenced running on First Street [now Avenue] on December 6, 1872. Although the franchise granted by the ordinance also allowed for track on Fifth, Burnside, Washington, Taylor, Jefferson and Hall streets, only the line on First was ever constructed and operated. Rights to the other streets were forfeited when they weren’t built in the time provided for in the ordinance.
| Years of Operation: | September 14, 1871–October, 1895 |
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| Preceded By: | None – the first streetcar company in Portland! |
| Succeeded By: | ‣ – a consortium of property-owners along First street, led by Messrs. C. E. Smith and G. Glass, who gave the rights to operate along First street in December 1895 jointly to the: |
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