St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-14
LAYS DOWN THE LAW.
Mr.. Lowry Shows the Iron Hand
Beneath the Velvet Glove

To the Honorable the president and Com
mon Council of the City of st. Paul, Mimi
Gentlemen: When the ST. Paul City Railway
company applied to the city council for the
right to operate portion of its lines by cleo
tricity, the designation of such lines was
made TO conform 10 The wishes OF interested
property holders in districts wholly unset
tied, and for the purpose of bringing their
property into market At a conference be-
tween these parties and the street railway
company it was agreed that they were not
demanded by public necessity, and could not
be made to pay operating expenses IN many
months, if tall This being the case, it was
conceded that the company should receive
a bonus to indemnify 1t against certain
loss. 1t did not occur to the company
or the property owners that the common
council would make objection, inasmuch as
our company asked no privileges except to
use a neW motive power We have perse-
vered under great difficulties in our endeayor
to maintain the street railroad interests of st.
Paul. We are endeayoring TO give the city OF
st. Paul rapid transit, and within short
time have built. equipped and completed two
magnificent cable lines We are ready and
willing to change from horses to electric, ca
bic or other satisfactory power. and to ac-
cOmmodate the requirements OF the city in
all needed directions. We are not asking the
right to lay track in any of the streets of st.
Paul or across bridges, for these privileges
we already possess. While not attempting
to dictate, would respectfully suggest that
it might not prove unWIse for your
common council to enter into nego-
tiations with our company to release
few, at least, of its streets from liability
to occupancy by street car tracks and opera
ton of cars thereon. i think Dayton avenue
should be released, and perhaps other
streets which cannot now name We will
treat you fairly and make all necessary and
needful concessions, but we will not consent
TO have our property contiscated because of
threatened opposition. We will meet your
committee and agree upon streets on which
street cars should be operated and upon
needed lines which should be built. We will
also agree upon proper system Of transfer
checks and, III fact. to any provisions that
are reasonable and fair. For these conces-
sions we ask the right to use the most ap-
protect itself and will continue to give the
best service possible under the motive power
allowed by the common council. This is
new question. The corporation attorney no
doubt understands the situation fully. l
make these statements in the spirit of can
dor, and with no intention to antagonize the
city of st. Paul or its interests
In order to correct an erroneous impress
sion which seems to prevail in st. Paul, de-
sire TO say that the present franchise to the
granted to me, as many people suppose, nor
did have any part in securing the legislation
which gives it its socalled iron-clad features.
This franchise was granted to George L.
D.. ".
NJ Gilman. William Dawson, Charles II.
Lienau, E. F. Drake, H. L. Carver, Horace
Thompson. William Lee, Louis Roberts, ".
f. Davidson, A. H. Wilder, Peter Berky, P.
F. McQuillan, George Culver, James NJ. Win
slow, Bartlett Presley. A.: Vance Brown,
J. A. Lusk and W. 5. Wright all Of st.
Paul. These were at that time your most
popular and wealthy citizens. The road
failed and was sold on foreclosure
of mortgage Your citizens would not
purchase and it passed into the hands of
Eastern parties. Frem these parties it was
purchased by Hon. William r. Merriam, An
Sci Oppenhelm, Frank B. Clarke, Herman
Greve and myself. Owing to the tact that
the last four named gentlemen did not have
faith and confidence enough in the property
to develop it, became the purchaser of their
interests. Since that time you know the his
tory of the road and the great Improvement
and large amount of money that has been eX-
pended under my management About three
years ago I sold my stock in the road and
some of your prominent citizens became in
terested. Among these were A. Il.
Wilder, P. H. Kelly, T. F. Cakes, Crawford
Livingston, j. b. TarboX Thomas P. Wilson,
d. c. Sheperd, Col. G. B. Lamborn, George
B. Harris and others. They have nearly all
dropped out, and at their special and urgent
request l became the purchaser OF their
stock. Many OF the gentlemen above named
are yet residents Of st. Paul. and the names
of some Of them are connected with the new
franchises. If my operation and manage
ment of the street railway system is not sat
isfactory. | will sell a controlling interest to
either the city of st. Paul or to The honorable
gentlemen who desire to enter the field of
competition, on fair terms. The proposed
ordinance amounts simply to forfeiture or
surrender of our present franchise. and we
will not accept it. Respectfully,
THOMAS LOWRY, President.