The Merrill Railway & Lighting Co was set up in 1889. During the first months of operation, problems with poor bonding of the track led to the electrocution of several animals. This led the company to develop the first use by a trolley company of a second suspended wire for return power.The company experimented with one of the earliest trolleybus operations in 1913. Already experienced with two wire operation it purchased an 18 passenger vehicle from the Field Electric Bus Company.