St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-02
AN OPEN LETTER,
In Which the New Cable PROPOSE
ton Is Definitely Outlined.

Messrs. Anderson, Douglass & Co.
have addressed the following open let
ter, in answer to the communication
from Thomas Lowry, president OF the
street railway company, to the city
council:
To the Honorable Mayor, the Press,
the Public and Thomas Lowry as the
representative of the Minnea polls
Street Railway company:
The fact that we have asked permlS-
sion of the city council to enter the
field of street railway construction in
this city in competition with the pres
ent company is sufficient excuse for our
guarding our cause both aggressively
and defenSively, and we think the Situ-
alton will justify the presentation at
this time of a few facts over our own
signatures, making a canvass OF the
situation as it was three months ago. as
it is now, and what we may reasonably
forecast as to the future.
In the Minneapolis Tribune Of April
II there appeared statements, which
were accepted by the public at the time
as authentic. in which it was shown
that the street car system of Minneapo-
lis made profit of only 81, 092.31 during
the previous year, and in order to give
the city the rapid transit of which there
was apparent need, it was necessary to
reduce the already moderate wages of
the cOmpany'S employees TO still lower
point in order to show profit so that
bonds could be sold to secure the neceS-
sary funds for the improvements con-
tempIated. Notices were posted an
nouncing reduction in wages, and this
was followed by strike, during about
thirteen days of which the public sub
mitted to the attendant Inconvenience
with no apparent benefit to the better
ment in health which resulted from the
enforced exercise of walking.
While the events above referred to
were still fresh in the minds of a long
suffering but patient public the COM
pany proposed to substitute cables for
the present motor on First avenue south
and NicOllet avenue upon few appar-
entity simple and harmless conditions,
namely: That the city agree to pave
the streets in given time and pay dam
ages to the motor company to indemnify
them against loss of business conse-
ouent upon the lowering of certain rail-
road tracks. Afterwards, when there
was no apparent change in any of the
existing conditions (other than the pre-
sentation of the Anderson & Douglass
ordinance) these damages were waived.
In due course of time, and on June 20,
Mr.. Lowry, in behalf of the Minneap-
oils Street Railway company, presented
to the city council a lengthy communi-
cation offering to build lines anywhere
and everywhere that the city council
might order them built, and to run them
with any kind of power that the council
might deem best, and also offered to
make test for the city of electric
power on any line the council might
designate, and further kindly offered to
go back to the good old horse power
when electric power should have been
proved to the satisfaction of the city
council to be failure, and ended the
communication with an invitation to
the city council to visit the city of St.
Paul in body to witness the benefits
he had conferred upon that city in the
past by his cable systems there.
Before passing over this point it might
be we'll to notice two minor points III
the communication above referred to.
FirSt-The parties holding contracts
with the city would do nothing which
they were not absolutely compelled to
do. ut would seem that the memory of
the contracts which Mr.. Lowry holds
with the city of Minneapolis, and his
method of fulfilling them should render
this statement superfiuous.)
Another point contained threat that
if competition was allowed the citizens
of Minneapolis would in consequence
suffer inconvenience.
We are willing to cOncede another
minor point in Mr.. Lowry's cOmmuni-
cation, to which he so modestly called
attention, and give him all the honor
and praise due him for his connection
in the past with the great enterprises
and development of the city of Mime
apolis but it wonld seem to us that this
furnishes no valid excuse for the HIM
drance of others who may be as ambi-
tious for a share in the good work of de-
veloping the city as Mr.. Lowry.
Mr.. Lowry has certainly received full
compensation from the city in the past
city owes him nothing at present but
good will, and this, we think, every citi-
zen is willing to concede to him.
Now, just few words with regard to
our own proposition.
We propose to construct cable lines
without asking the city TO indemnify us
against loss of business to pay US dam
ages, or to pave or sewer the streets
until they may be ready to do so.
We promise electric lines subject to
no contingent experiments. We also
promise the best of service, and instead
of asking the city toindemnify US against
loss, we offer to indemnify the city.
Our proposition is as nearly a business
one as we know how to make it, and we
have attempted to secure nothing which
we may feel called upon later to waive,
and we offer to cover all our promises
with good bonds.
Our associates are thoroughly practi-.
cal men in this line of business, and
after reading the statements made by
Mr.. Lowry showing gross earnings OF
$743, 035. 10 in one year. our associates
will attempt by moderate issue of
bonds and stock and judicious business
management to give to the city of MIN
neapolis first-class system of rapid
transit, and we will not insult our rep
resentatives in the city council by as
Stunning for one moment that they Will
be hindered by the threats or be in
duced to accept the tiattering but in
definite promises held out by Mr.. Low
ry's communication and reject bona
fide business offer of competition, the
benefits of which are all so apparent
and which give promise in the future of
lasting and untold benefits to the city
If anything more is lacking to prove
that competing system will continue
to confer great benefits in the future.