The Underground Electric Railways Company of London (route map pictured), known operationally as The Underground for much of its existence, was established in 1902. It was the holding company for three deep-level tubes (underground railway lines) opened in London during 1906 and 1907: the Bakerloo, Hampstead and Piccadilly tubes. It was also the parent company of the District Railway and a precursor of today's London Underground. The company struggled financially in its first years and narrowly avoided bankruptcy in 1908. Acquisitions before World War I gave the company control of most of the underground railways in London and large bus and tram fleets, the profits from which subsidised the financially weaker railways. After the war, new railway lines were extended outward from London to stimulate passenger numbers. In the 1920s, competition from small unregulated bus operators reduced the profitability of the road transport operations. The company's directors sought government regulation, leading to the establishment of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933, which absorbed the company and all of the other bus, tram and underground railway services in the London Passenger Transport Area.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_Electric_Railways_Company_of_London
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1594:
In the Philippines, Philip II of Spain recognized the right to govern of the Principalía, the local nobles and chieftains who had converted to Roman Catholicism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal%C3%ADa
1776:
The Second Continental Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston to the Committee of Five to draft a declaration of independence for Britain's Thirteen Colonies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Five
1917:
Alexander was crowned King of Greece, succeeding his father Constantine, who had abdicated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_of_Greece
1955:
More than 80 people were killed after cars driven by Pierre Levegh and Lance Macklin collided during the 23rd running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car endurance race. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1955_Le_Mans_disaster
2008:
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologised to the First Nations for past governments' policies of forced assimilation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Indian_residential_school_system
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
piece together: 1. To physically assemble (or reassemble) from fragments or pieces. 2. (figuratively) To reconstruct an event or goal from incomplete or flawed elements. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/piece_together
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
True happiness Consists not in the multitude of friends, But in the worth and choice. --Ben Jonson https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ben_Jonson