St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-06-30

present line. The distance from Broadway Ia
central starting point to Dale street via pres
ent street car route is exactly 49, S3S feet.
The distance from Broadway via Fourth
street, Third street, Selby avenue and West
ern and Laurel avenues is 12,136 feet, the
saving being j 700 feet, or about four minutes
by street car time with horses. All the state
ments in the papers have put the distance
saved much greater, but the above is by actual
measurement. The inclined plane has been
used in Cincinnati more successfully than
elsewhere for carrying teams and street cars
by the Mt. Adams & Eden Park inclined plane
railway, and is now about to be abandoned
and a cable road substituted. sent the cut
and the description from the Pioneer Press
showing Mr.. Deans plan, to Mr.. George B.
Kerper, the president of that road, who
writes me to the effect that we had better not
try the inclined plane, as they have found the
cable preferable after operating them almost
side by side for about year. The plan pro-
posed by Mr.. Dean would necessitate the con-
demning of much valuable residence prop
erty, including that of Judge Nelson. John A.
Gilman and A. H. Wilder, and the cost would
be very heavy. In addion to this Mr.. Kerper
says: Your newspaper article shows sur
face street crossing. The street would have
to be abandoned entirely to the incline if the
proposed plan was adopted This would
necessitate the closing of Summit avenue and
possibly Pleasant avenue if Mr.. Deans plans
private letter to me, suggests going up Wal
nut street and tunneling under Summit ave-
nue. cable to be used). This would necessi-
tate great expense without any perceptble
benefit, and would also be very dangerous.
Mr.. Kerper also says, with reference to oper-
ating part of the line by cable and part by
horses as before proposed: you are right
in not building the hill line and then operat-
ating horses at either end. To secure the
full benefit of operating cable line there
should be no changing" l agree with my
friends, Dean and Moves, that better system
should be provided for St. Anthony hill,
and the objections of a few should
be overruled for the good of many.
There should be perfect harmony between
the city and the street railway company. If
an extension is needed it should be brought
to the notice of the company at the proper
time and when the years improvements are
being planned. In fact every spring there
should be consultation between the COM
pany and the city officials, and the needed ex-
tensions for the year laid out, so that the
company could arrange to do the work early
In the year. Sewers and other city improve
ments should also be considered, in order that
the streets should not be INSTRUCTED more or
oftener than is absolutely necessary. The
company should study the needs of the city
and endeavor to keep pace with its demands.
This we have tried to do. But you all know
the disadvantages and difficulties under
which we have labored. My own idea is that
a cable line should be run on Fourth street.
from Broadway to Seven corners. Thence up
Third street and Dayton avenue as far out as
Dale street. 1t might be thought best to run
the cable on Fifth street to Seven corners
from about Sibley street; thence to Third
street and Dayton avenue to the vicinity of
the present St. Anthony hill barns. If the
citizens of st. Paul want such a line and eX-
press such desire through their representa-
tives, the city council, by granting our COM
pany the right to operate by cable, will
guarantee to build the line and put it in OPP
Grafton as soon as it can reasonably be done.
On two occasions the city council has ordered
extensions by the street car company. This
is not necessary. l would suggest perma-
nent street railroad committee of the council
to be added to the list of committees and that
all such matters take that reference. In
short we desire to act with the city coun-
ell and to do any and everything
reasonable to insure as perfect system of
street railroad for every part Of st. Paul as it
is possible to operate. We have no DISPOSE
ton to abuse the privileges owned by the
street railway company. On the contrary, we
prefer to be in such position that the citizens
of st. Paul will treat US as benefactors rather
than intruders. l am advised that meetings
are being held to devise means to build a
cable road. You will doubtless all be glad to
know that the street railway company will
supply the want In ten years the city of St.
Paul will be city of 100000 people. In its
progress and development the street railroad
is one Of the most important factors. AS long
as I am at the head of the corporation whose
interests are SO closely identified with yours,
the company will join hands in hand with you
to promote the growth and welfare of your
most wonderful city. The street railway
company should give all parts of St. Paul
adequate street car facilities. If the present
company supplies the demand, it is far better
for the city that all lines should be owned by
one company. I will meet your common
council, your chamber of commerce or your
citizens at any time to discuss the matter
with view of arriving at what will seem
best for the general interests of St. Paul.
THOMAS LOWRY, President.