St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-28
MINI EAPOLIS
"PEOPLE BE DID,"
What in HI do I Care for the People Of
the Eighth Ward7"
Inside History OF the Transfer or the
Motor Line.
The Washburn Interview Reviewed
and HIS Motives Analysed.

1nstead OF keeping the promise made BY
/ him 10 the committee representing the
Eighth ward. and notifying them as TO his
final determination on the motor question
as soon As he arrived al one, Gen. Wash
burn fires few blank cartridges from the
/ Tribune battery and retreats to New York.
/ While contrary 10 the expectations OF many
friends aud neighbOrs," the course taken
by the general viii not be a surprise to all
certainly not by those best acquainted
with the man aud his methods. In tue
lengthy interview ia the Tribune, which IS
said to be substantially what he would
have said had he seen the committees" he
sought 10 avoid, he
wRIGGLEs IN AND wRIGGLEs OUT.
leaving the reader still In doubt as to lust
what be thinks ought 10 be done yet makes
it evident that he will not yield one lot or
title, but will demand the pound of flesh As
nominated inlthe bond" He does saw.
however. Ihat III the motor was required 10
stop al Nineteenth street the case might be
/ dinerent'-not that IL would DC. And thar
/ Is where the shoe pinches most, for he has
, a Nineteenth street stop provided for in the
bond, and Eighth warders fear he will IN
sist on that pound OF flesh also In the event
/ that IL IS found impractieable 10 substitute
/ other rapid transit al an early day. know
ing as they now do the views OF the man
with whom they have 10 deal. Inadyert-
antly he lets
THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG
and admits publicly what was until lately
known 10 but few. thai his aim Is To keep
every power save horse power Of the motor
/ line; that has plan was not 10 cable from
| Washington avenue TO the suburbs. but
| from Nineteenth street to Twenty-eighth
Il street uSiUp lnrsf- nnxvar hafoxs, ,h.. go-,..o-
aud steam-pOwer beyond the latter-three
different motors on one passage from Wash
lngton avenue 10 Lake street And this Ia
our intereSt-heaven save the work. He
| incidentally states what he must know to
be false, that "a cable from
Bridge square to Twenty-eighth
street would not cost to exceed SlOO. OOO.'
IL be knows OF any parties who will do the
work for double that sum, aud guarantees
successful operation, IL is understood they
can have the job at once. Yet he knows
full well that cable-which he told the
committee would be no Improvement
could not be provided for by reason of
needed sewers, etc., in less than q year,
and could not be finished within a year and
half. Meanwhile he thinks horse power
sufficient for our needs. Throughout the in
terview there Is a manifest desire TO pose as
He knows better what the people of the
Eighth ward need than they do, and is Ia
boring wholly IN their interests. He has
no personal interests in the matter, and
aims TO be public benefactor. 1t is about
time then the public knew to what extent
he Is interested in their behalf, and AT the
risk Of an apparent betrayal OF confidence |
shall endeavor to throw some little light
upon the matter. When he purchased the
motor bonds some time ago, with view to
foreclose, 1t was not by mere accident"
as he told the committee, but a we'll worked
scheme TO freeze out" Col. McCreary and
sundry parties TO whom the line was in
debted. j. l.. Side, representing large
portion Of the latter, came to the rescue
and prevented the contamination of what
common people. unused TO the ways that
are dark" OF railway potentates, would re
gard as a deliberate Outrage-fnesse Is the
polite word. Crowded to the wall and
realizing that he could only secure the road
at the end OF law suit and that the debts
would have to be paid. Washburn con-
cluded to capitulate and finally did so.
THE PEOPLE BE DAMNED"
He at the time demanded that the syndi-
cate should agree not to use other than
horse power below Twenty street.
and upon Mr.. Sides saying the people
Of the Eighth ward would not sub
NIT TO IL, respOnded-not that he
was working in the interests of the Eighth
ward public. but 1.-THE people Of the Eighth
ward be ID; what In HI do | care
for the people of the Eighth ward" He
then expressed his honest sentiments, and
hasn't changed since. Yet this is the
man to whom the people of the Eighth
ward appealed a week ago as their ''frlend
and neighbor," TO the end that finally
the people Of the entire city might see that
he had been given every opportunity for a
graceful surrender in the interest of the
people; man whom all can now see in his
true light-'as mild a hammered a man as
ever scuttled ship or cut a throat"
When, thanks 10 Mr.. Side, the transfer
of the motor was finally made to the pres
ent owners. the bond OF which so much has
been said of late was ''signed. sealed and
delivered" And why? Because, in
BURST OF CONFIDENCE,
which was remarkable in men who knew
him SO well. il was believed he would i'm no
event insist upon its entOrcement-that he
desired it simply to let himself down easily
from an unpleasant prediea nent. and
would i'm no event deem IL policy
to antagoniZe so large portion
of the people. Yet what have
the patrons of the road to do with that
what care we for the confidence or want of
confidence among capitalists? 1.-THE Pills
burys have been foolish enough TO PLAY the
fy and. with their eyes wide open, walked
into the spiders parlOr, let them pay the
penalty. But do not let transaction in
tended simply TO blind the eyes of the pub
lie as to the true inwardness OF attempted
sharp practice so operate as to deprive the
people of the Eighth ward of the rapid
transit which was largely the consideration
when they purchased their homes from the
very parties who now lyinglv prate about
the depreciation of values q First avenue
south.
HOW 1T DEPREcIATEs.
By the way, i notice In the same issue of
the Tribune in which the Washburn inter-
view appears. a letter signed +. G. Win
stOn. In which he says; Il cannot see how
any candid man can dispute the fact that
this line virtually contscates the AUDITING
property" and lays stress upon the fact
that he Is "a property owner on First ave
nue. south and Nicollet avenue" Always
ready 10 aid the unfortunate with SYM
pathy) / looked up the records in Mr..
Winston's behalf. but l cannot even
sympathiZe with him for the property
purchased by him was purchased long after
the motor was In operation and using
steam-he had no excuse for sQuandering
his money so recklessly. Let US see: The
records show that on March Ia. 1883. he
purchased lots z. s, and 10. block 10,
Pennimans addition. being on Nicollet ave-
nue.. near Seventeenth street On May 10.
1854. himself and brother purchased twenty
five feet front on First avenue south, In the
nev nOSfnffira bloak