St. Paul daily globe., 1888-01-22
A Fair Proof that the Cable
Is Not Exactly a Sum
mer Road"
On the Coolest Day Of Winter
the First Round Trip
Made,
While Curious People Stood
Along the Line and
Watched 1t.
Indications That the New
Road Will Soon Be in
Running Order.

The first car was run over the cable
line yesterday afternoon, and all doubts
about the practicability of a cable rail
way in cold climate were effectually
dispelled. A force of 800 men had been
busy all day clearing the snow and ice
from the tracks, but the weather was so
cold that it was impossible for the men
to make much headway. Divided into
crews OF thirteen men each, they
pegged away as best they could, but
the ice and snow were packed deep and
hard, and the foreman estimated that
one crew made progress of only ten
feet an hour. At four o'clock in the
afternoon, grip-car No. 66, to which was
attached Lafayette avenue horse-car
of the old pattern, filled with salt for
the rails, left the power house
at the corner of Selby avenue and
Dale street. AT the rate of about three
miles an hour, or as fast as man ordi-
narily walks, the cars rumbled smoothly
down Selby avenue. Mr.. Lloyd, secre-
tary of the Construction company,
walked beside the grip-car. Men were
stationed in every manhOle along the
route to watch the working of the cable
upon the pulleys. Not an obstacle was
encountered in the trip down the hill,
and the cars passed steadily and safely
down the steep Selby avenue cut and
around the sharp curve to Third street.
All sorts of people came out to witness
the spectacle, and gaping crowd of
small BOYS trudged along in the rear
Stops were made before every crossing.
The men below, seeing the car coming,
worked ike'TrojanS, and accomplished
as much in half hour with the car in
sight as they had during the entire
afternoon before.
THEY WANTED TO SEE IT.
The streets down town were lined
with people on either side, who came
running from all directions ON learning
horses appeared to be frightened by the
novelty, but most of them paid no
more attention than to an ordinary
horse car. Everything was in readi-
ness. The switch at the Broadway ter
minal worked to a charm, and without
any delay the cars, were changed to the
opposite track and started back. The
return trip was not made 50 easily. The
cars were stuck by the snow once near
Robert street, and near Wabasha street
they were detained for half an hour, the
slot having contracted until it
was too narrow to admit
the grip. Beyond Seven corners,
where the snow had packed close to the
inside of the rails, the wheels left the
track and the grip was snapped in two.
A new grip ear was run down and the
remainder of the first trip was made in
safety. Three more trips were made
during the evening, and the line is in
perfect running order. 1t is probable
that car will be kept running over the
line to-day, and the members of the
press will be invited to take a; trip when
the cable will be run at natural speed.
Messrs. Lloyd and Webb, in charge: of
the construction company, having COM
pleted their work, the line. viii now he
turned over to the Street, railway CONF
pany for service. lit iSrnot improbable
that cars will be run for the accommo-
dation of the public by tomorrow, and
by "Wednesday, the opening day of the
Carnival, the cars will be running. reg
ularly on schedule time.