St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-27
ADDITIONAL MINNEAPOLIS NEWS.
LIKE BANQUo.s GHOST.
The Motor Line Troubles Will No
DOwn--The Extension Resisted.

The Motor Line Troubles Will Not
DOwn--The Extension Resisted.
About forty property-owners of First
avenue south yesterday afternoon sat in the
spectators seats of the council chamber, and
applauded the orators who denounced the
motor line in set terms, and urged that the
ordinance extending the privilege Of the use
OF steam for ten years below Nineteenth
street should be adversely reported upon.
The council committees on ordinance ana
railroads, together with the aldermen from
the Eighth ward, listened with commendabie
patience Tor TWO hours to the arguments pro
and con. Vice Presid dent +. Z. Plllsbury
made d statement OF the position OF the motor
line. The company, he said, had made an
earnest endeavor 10 find Il practicable suosti-
tute for steam to be used below Nineteenth
street. They had experimental with cleo
tricity aud had found lie unreliable and in
adequate. Next they heard OF the soda mo-
tor, and sent an agent to Germany, VINO i'll
vestigated them and reported faVoraOly. AT
great expense four of these motors
mad been cons tructed by the Baldwin
Locomotive works, and had been brought on
TO Minneapolis. Owing TO certain defects
they had been found comparatively useless
after repeated trials He did not consider q
cable line feasible. 1t would cost at least
$780, 600 mile, and might prove impracticable
owing TO climatic influences.
Judge NJ. h. koOn, who was evidently pres
ent as the representative OF the street rail-
way company, questioned Mr.. Pillsbury quite
sharply and drew from him details about the
length of the trains, number or passengers,
etc. He asked if the present company had
not bought the motor line under promise 10
provide u substitute for steam, ana Mr..
Pillsbury answered in the affirmative.
L. 5. CorSer next spoke in behalf of the
property owners. Tine motor line" he said,
"A railway accordance
with It's franchise, out is full-hedged rail-
road, with engines, cars and switches. He
was president of toe council that granted
the franchise, God forgive him. The various
councils have since time and again set dates
when the use of steam should cease and
stop be put to this Internal outrage. The
motor line company, however, has thus far
ingeniously evaded the requirements OF the
franchise" He was glad That the motor had
asked for ten years extension. 1t means
that there is to be no more trihing with
soda, pop, lightning or wind" He did not
want to come before tho council again, but 10
go before the courts.
J. c. Worrau made a vehement protest
against the motor.
J. T. Miner spoke for the citizens of the
Eighth ward, saying that thousands OF people
have gone out there upon the assurance That
they could have rapid transit.
c. r. stevens painted the horrors OF the
situation in graphic language relating the
details of several serious accidents that mad
resulted from runaway teams.
II. a. Towne thought that cable line
could be built for So, ZOO mile instead of
$50. 600 q mile, as stated by Mr. Pillsbury.
Judge NJ. B. Koon made quite lengthy
address, the giSt of which was that the coun-
ell would reverse its decision OF two } ears
ago if it gave an extension allowing the use
of steam to Bridge square. The original
franchise was obtained upon the pretense
that the motor should be a small, noiseless
affair, drawing car about the size of the
ordinai V street cars. This same ordinance
even states that the council can prohibit
steam whenever public good shall be
served" If this extension is granted we will
never get any other method of transit.
c. H. Benton said that like Judge Koon he
appeared as the hired attorney of a corpora
ton. He represented the side of the motor
line, and proposed to answer such statements
as he thought were worthy of attention. The
very TACT, he said, that themotor company
had entered into an agreement to forfeit
$50, 100 if it did not provide d substitute for
steam below Nineteenth street showed that
it had been acting in good faith. Thousands
Of dollars had been expended in experiments
that had failed through no fault OF the COM
pany. The only one question to be cOnsld-
cred is the good of the people as whole.
1t must be remembered that there are 1000
people who depend upon the motor to get to
and from their work. There is no CONNER
cial railroad which does NJ t bring the same
Inconvenience to some few people Of which
the residents of First avenue south complain.
Yet who would think Of trying 70 prevent
these roads from enteSbg the city. When
Mr.. Benton had finished, the committee ad-
journed to meet again this morning to look
the situation over.