St. Paul daily globe., 1889-06-16
BUILD YOUR OWN LINE.
Another Way to Spend the Amount
of the Proposed Bonus.

Since the appearance OF new Rlcn-
mond in the field of stree railway con-
struction, in the form of a syndicate
with unlimited capital which is seek
ing from the city council of Minneapolis
charter to build cable line in that
city under proper restrictions, the cry
has been raised in st. Paul, why not
have competition here? st. Paul people
have grown rather tired of the eX-
elusive and perpetual franchise busi-
ness, and the question has arisen,
Would it not be better for them
selves ard the city at large if the
boomers of the bonus scheme were to
organize company. subscribe 100000
in stock (the amount asked by the city
railway company, ask the city council
for charter, and, having secured 1T. do
as Mr.. Lowry has done, bond the fran
chise for sufficient amount to build an
independent cable line. They could
then own their own road, and Mr.. Lowry
would probably be compelled to extend
his cable line, thus inSurlng rapid tran
sit to the suburbs and the development
of these localities now clamOrlng for
better transportation facilities. Answers
to all these queries may be found in the
following expressions of opinion:
Hon. Theodore Sanders-My opinion
is that there never will be a satisfactory
street car service in st. Paul until this
monopoly is broken. Competition is
the life of trade. Therefore, it would
be decidedly better, if there IS to he
bonus of 100000 to build cable out to
the Midway district, that it should be
given to any company but the Lowry
corporation.
Prof. T. Ii. Kirk-I am as anxious as
ANYBODY to see the street car service
extended, but in general | am opposed
to Subsidizing any company. The busl-
ness seems to warrant the establish
ment of a line without such aid. L
believe, however. that if any bonus is
given, it would be a favorable Oppor-
tunity to bring in competition in our
street car service.
Hon. c. P. Bailey-l am opposed to
monopoly; believe in healthy compe-
tition, but not that competition which
will prevent companies from making
living
Gen. c. Brandt can put ME
down as opposed to this one-horse street
car service. We want cOmetition; and
if the company is to be brought in now's
the time. Why give 100000 to a cor
poration which citizens grumble at.
wants of the city?
Prof. Fletcher Williams-Give the
100000 towards the formation of an
other company, by all means. l do not
believe in concentrating too much in
the hands of one corporation. 1t is
better to divide things around little.
Rev. Hastings II. Hart-1 should be
glad to see other street car companies
brought into this city, but the question
as to how this 100000 is to he disposed
of is IN after for the property holders
concerned to decide. l can well under
stand the feasibility of allowing this
money to 90 as the nucleus for the for
nation of another street car company.
We can do with competition.
Hon. }. S. Hughes-On general prin-
ciples am in favor of competition.
Hon. Bert Chapel-Competition is the
life of trade, and to give bonus of
100000 to monopolistic company is
foolish. Means should be devised to
bring in another company, and the
present is favorable Opportunity.
Hon. r. ii. l.. Jewitt-Why, it's just
the thing we have been waiting for.
Give the 100000 to some other corpora.
ton. There is nothing to prevent this
being done, so far as | can see; and
when once competing line is brought
into the city, we may expect something
like an adequate service.
Capt. Braden-There has been so
much interest manifested by people,
representing, as they claim, ample cap
ital to build rapid transit lines between
the two cities, that it seems to me ab-
surd to keep them out and then propose
to give 100000 to get some other COM
panv to build line.
Hon. Herman StockenstrOm-lf it can
be done, the 100000 should certainly be
devoted to the formation of another
company. Competition is absolutely
necessary.
M. Bruggeman-The res no question
as to which of the two methods is
most desirable. l am in for the stock
company idea from the word 60, and be-
lieve that it will be unhealthy for Low
hBve competing line. Let it be built
that way, say.
Henry Martini favor the idea
strongly, and must admit, as any sensi-
bic man will, that prefer to chip in
500 to a local company which doesn't
want an exclusive franchise, than to
help swell bonus for Lowry of 100000
to build it with an exclusive franchise
and all future profits of the system.
Let's have a company.
F. B. Doran-Undoubtedly I favor
any such move as that proposed for the
organization of company to build the
Merriam Park or any other line which
will promote competition, and obviate
the necessity for this exclusive fran
chise. o far as the cost of the pro-
posed line is concerned, don't see why
we couldn't bond our franchise as
we'll as Lowry can or any other indi-
vidual. l say organize local COM
pany by all means. am stock pur-
chaser if l see the thing is practicable
Joseph Minea-You bet your life
that's good scheme. l am down on
monpolies, and / guess Lowry has all
the privileges he ought to have from
this city already. believe in the local
company scheme, and will do all can
to promote its successful launching.
&. H. Hosmer-I should like to see
that line built by local company, and
don't see why it cannot be. | am in for
everything and anything that will break
the monopoly at present existing in the
matter of street railway service. / be-
lieve such company could successfully
build and operate cable line.
Henry Horman-I should think there
could be but one opinion in the matter.
The privileges granted the Lowry sys-
TEN are already too great, and am un-
alterably opposed to the granting of any
mere exclusive franchises. l hope the
scheme will be carried out, and Will do
all in my power to further it.
George Reis-A little competition be-
tween street railway lines would be a
mighty good thing for this city. We
have had too much of this one-sided
business, and it's too bad that the city
council ever gave the franchise as they
did.
William Pitt Murray-It is not at all
probable that any company will build
a line this year. The citizens out there