Asa Moore was a railroad man with a keen business sense. He began working with the C & A Railway in Bloomington, but then bought his own railway system -- the street trolley system in Bloomington and Normal. Even in the time of steam engines, the street trolleys were pulled by horses. Asa Moore extended the railway to serve more of the city and instituted a special fare box that eliminated the job of trolley conductor. Some people say that the elimination of the trolley conductor made the trolleys less safe and caused at least one fatality.
On occasion Moore would drive a trolley himself. Once a patron came on the train with incorrect change while Moore was driving. Trolley drivers carried envelopes of change for the patrons that were to handed to the riders without opening the envelope. Unthinkingly, Moore tore open the envelope, paid the fare and handed the rider the change. The rider was offended and declared to Moore, "I intend to have you reported, sir. You will be made to learn that the driver has no right to handle money!" Moore knew the rules of course, but did not consider the fact that a rider would resent this transgression or not recognize the owner of the railway. Of course this exchange also illustrates the difference in status between car riders and the driver, who apparently did not receive proper respect and were subject to the rudeness and officiousness of riders.
A year later Moore made a plan to extend service on Washington Street to both the east and west. As part of his plan, he asked that residents come up with $2,000 toward the cost of the lines. The final cost of the lines was over $10,000, the excess of which was covered by the trolley car company. The extended lines made it possible for families further from the center of the city to take advantage of downtown and encouraged development of the east side of the city.
Asa Moore built a beautiful home at 1405 N. Main that appeared in the 1896 version of Illustrated Bloomington. Mr. Moore died in 1901 and it was not long after his death that the home became derelict. IN 1918 the home was the haunt of vagrants and prostitutes, according to the Pantagraph. It was in such poor condition that the home was pulled down that year.