St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-14
THEY TALK FRANCHISES.
Discussion of Street Railway
Matters by Ninth Warders.

Matters by Ninth Warders.
About $50 citizens of the Ninth ward
met in hall at Twenty-fifth avenue
discuss the proposed Anderson &
Douglas cable franchise. There was
considerable disagreement OH the part
of different speakers as to what should
be done, some opposing on principle
the granting of any franchises what
ever. Others didn't think there was
any need for granting franchise to
any one at present, and still others
thought it should be delayed. ReSOlu-
tionS setting forth that the present
accommodations furnished by the
Lowry company were entirely made
quate to the needs of the Ninth ward,
and requesting aldermen from that ward
TO use their influence in favor of the
Anderson d Douglas franchise, were
offered, and several persons spoke for
and against their passage, after which
Capt. Nelson offered an amendment
requesting the aldermen to secure the
addition of an amendment to the fran
chise making the sale of Anderson q
Douglas interest in the franchise or
any consolidation with the present rail-
way company sufficient cause for the
forfeiture OF the contract. After the
amendment had been favOrably acted
upon Alderman Bradish expressed his
position as follows:
/ desire to go. on record against granting
the franchise for the following reasons:
First-The only reason for granting fran
chise to build street railway system is
public necessity for such a system. A map
of the city will show that the present Lowry
system covers the city well, and that, with
certain extensions, which the company will
build as soon as ordered, the system will
be fully up to the wants of the community.
Second-The need of the Minneapolis pub
lie as to street car service is mott in the direc-
Transit Oh existing lines.
Third-The granting of the franchise to
Anderson and Douglas will cause litigation,
which will not only preclude the building OF
their lines for five years. but will stop all
progress and improvement on the part of the
existing system until the rights of the re-
spectiVe companies have been settled by the
courts The interests of the people in secur-
ing the extensions and Improvements will
thus be sacrificed
Foprth-The franchise of the Minneapolis
Street Railway company was intended to be
and is exclusive. and the city has no right to
put the company to an enormous expense IN
defending iEs rights in the courts simply be,
cause another Company is willing to assaii
company have proceeded for years in the be-
lief OF the exclusive character of the grant,
the council should be shown that it is not eX
elusive before acting upon that basis.
F1fth-The street car service of the city
has always been good. That in no instance
has the company ever neglected to construct
line or extension ordered by the council.
That it now stands ready to build such eX-
tensions as have been ordered or may be;
That it will cable any streets when ordered
SO to do. That 1t will this season put in an
experimental line equipped with electrical
apparatus. In Short if there is any fault with
the Service it lies a the door of the council,
and not Of the company.
siXlh--That the system of Anderson &
Douglas cOntemplates paralleling the present
the public for increased facilities. the
Bloomington avenue line runs on Washing;
80, ono.,' 81 a. twentieth avenue north, and
t t6a s avelHe can hp on that line
whenever the trade demands II.
son and Douglas line is contemplated On
Fourth street; two blocks distant where the
people are well served by the existing lines.
Seventh-That the council is clothed with
ample authority, and that the council is the
proper body for the people to appeal to TOR
better or censure for poor service. mat the
interests of the people can be more fully Sc
cured by the city awaiting itself or us rights
under the present system than by reslgnlng
those rights and trusting to the influences OF
another corporation.
Eighth-That the franchise of the existing
company must convey rights to both parties
if it has any binding effect. If it is not an
exclusive franchise it certainly cannot endoW
the city with those powers of dictation and
domination which are supposed to be the
price paid for exclusive privileges.
Ninth-Let the committee appointed to rec.
ommend new lines consider the interests OF
the whole city and recommend complete
and adequate system. and let the council
order them built by the present company If If
them to the company Offering the best terms
to the city.
Albert Knittle also spoke against the
franchise, and Capt. Nelson made re-
marks to the effect that the gathering
was for the purpose of asking the alder
men from the Ninth ward to take such
a stand as would serve to refute the
charge that Tom Lowry owned the city
council. This raised something of a
circus, but Chairman Dingman finally
quoted the troubled waters, and the
resolutions and amendments were passed
by large majority.