St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-01
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Communication from President Lowry
of the Street Railway
Company.
Night Signals Of Street
DISTINCTIONS.
Our Letter Carriers Must Wait Til
Next Census for Increase
of Pay.

AhCChHS yoSlCludy HloiHiASy anu "lIHou
discussion was referred to the committee OF
streets, roads and parks:
June, 9th, 1884. Hon. John B. Sanborn
President Chamber of Commerce, st. Paul
MINI. SIR: On behalf of the st. Paul City
Railway company I thank your honorable
body for its action of the 23rd inst, in rela
ton to the improvements already made and
those contemplated by our company. Nc
one deprecates more than myself the unpleas-
ant situation regarding Pleasant avenue. II
IS even rendered more so from the fact that,
personally my motives have been miscon-
strued by many of my warmest friends. Your
honored fellow citizens and President Of
Board of Public Works, Col. Harrington, in q
conversation with me several months ago re-
ferred to a remonstrance from property
owners on Pleasant avenue against tracks
being laid on that street.
replied that the company would re-
spect the wishes of the public. In planning
the general system, twas afterwards sugges
ted by many residents of your city that q
line should be run on Pleasant avenue, and
that eventually an easy grade would be made
to gain access to the bluff on st. Anthony
Hill. Believing it to be in accordance with
the wishes of a large majority of those inter
ested, and an advantage to the city, we in
Guided that avenue in our plan. 1t was at
once announced and has since been discus
sed before the Board of Public Works, and
your City Council, at various times. l refer
to the above facts to show that the company
had no intention to override the wishes OF
the public. 1t is essentially to the interest
of the company for US to cater to public de-
man and l say now, as have often stated
to your Common Council, that the wish Of
any citizen will be respected, and if reason
able grounds are presented, changes made
in accordance Herewith.
We are endeavoring to give ST. Paul sys-
tenn of street railway, of which your city may
feel justly proud. To me, personally, the
success or failure of the st. Paul City Rail-
way company is of great moment. l may be
over enthusiastic, but l am willing to stake
all on the growth and prosperity of this great
northwest. Our present receipts do not JUS
tify the expenditure. AS an offset for the
deficiency we must rely on our charter, but
when such an eminent lawyer as your es-
teemed fellow citizen, Hon John NJ. Gilman,
announces to the world, through the
public press that we have no franchises,
rights or privileges, and your City Council
attempts to revoke part of our charter,
it is time for us to pause and ascertain
where we stand, and what the rights of the
company are. We are willing to risk the flu
tnre growth of st. Paul and make the nee
essary expenditures to complete the system
as laid out, but we cannot remain in uncer-
tainty as to our rights. We will carry out in
good faith all agreements made with the city,
and do more than cyen the most exacting
could reasonably suggest, but we demand in
return good faith, common honesty, and fair
treatment at the hands of your city gov
eminent. We can not submit quietly to
proceedings calculated to injure our credit
and depreciate our securities. If our charter
is worthless, and disposition is shown to
accept our expenditures without giving value
received, we will gracefully submit, and
utilize to the best advantage what we already
have, if we are allowed to keep it. Wa find
no fault and have no criticisms to make as
to the action of your city government, or OF
any individual. We accept the situation
and patiently await the decision of the court
Again thanking your honorable body, and
with renewed assurances of your intentions
to faithfully serve your city, l remain, with
respect, THOMAS LOWRY, President
At the conclusion of the reading of the
letter Mr.. Gilman stated that the writer made
a mistake when he stated that he, Gilman,
had expressed an opinion in regard to the
charter of the company. The writer wa:
also mistaken when he said the city council
had sought to revoke the chartered rights O
the company. The council has not attempted
to do anything of the kind.
THE LETTER CARRIER.
A letter was read from Mr.. Washburn in
regard to the salary of letter car riers, anC
saying that the population of a town coul(
not be presumed from the names of direc
tory, but must be shown from census ant
that alone will answer the purpose.
THE CONDITION OF OUR STREETS.
The following letter was read and referred
to the committee on streets:
st. Paul, Mimi, June 25, 1884.
General J. B. Sanborn, President Of tn
Chamber of Commerce.:
DEAR SIR beg to respectfully represen
that the streets of this city have been, ar,
now, and must for long time continue t,
be obstructed at many points pending tn
construction of sewers, laying water pipes
and constructing lines of street railways ant
that during the night persons driving in car
riages, hacks or buggies are liable to NEE
with grave accidents, owing to the DANCE
points being only marked by an ordinar,
lantern carrying white light.
A white light means nothing but light
and at the distance of block may seem lik
an ordinary street lamp,or lantern in SOM
ones hand, or carriage lamp, or any othe
ordinary light, and gives no warning of dan
ger.
On the contrary, red light is always 8
danger signal, and should be placed at ever
point of danger during the night, whethe
those danger points are created by the cit
authorities, or by private individuals, AM
corporations, and where no ''thoroughfare'
exists for vehicles, two lights should b,
placed side by side, to indicate to persons
block distant that they cannot pass that
point, thus saving the trouble of reaching
the point, only to incurO the danger of turn
ing around in the darkness, to retrace theil
way. A red light to indicate danger, ant
two red lights, OF a red and white light sidt
by side, to indicate ''no thoroughfare, ;
would save those whose duty or pleasure
make it necessary to drive during the nigh
great deal of inconvenience and possibly
danger.
L IelIalu ITOu1 All dTguueHl, leaving III
good sense of the authorities to see the pro
priety of making so slight and inexpensive
change in the present very unsatisfactory,
order of things relating to danger signal
during the night. Very respectfully, you
most obedient servant,
DANIEL LEAsCRE.
QUITE PERTINENT.
The following, offered BY NJ. McClung
was adopted:
Resolved, That our representatives in con
gress are respectfully requested to make spe
cial efforts to prevent the city of ST. Pau
from being ignored in the river and harbo
bill now pending in congress, and that tn
president of the chamber telegraph brie
memorial asking a continuance of the Ap
propaiation for improving the harbor Of st
n.