St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-09
RAPID STREET TRANSIT.

The success of the Grand avenue
electric motor line has had the effect of
making our citizens restless because OF
the delay in substituting electricity for
horse power on the other street railway
lines. Even those who ride on the cable
cars feel that they are not getting their
moneys worth, after having ridden on
the smOoth-running electric line. 1t
would hardly be possible, even If it were
desirable. for the street railway con-
pany to abandon the cable plants and
substitute electricity on the cable lines;
yet there is no apparent reason why
all the horse car lines should not be
immediately converted into electric
lines. There is degree of Impotence
manifested by our people also to know
the purposes of Mr.. VILLARD's proposed
visit, particularly with reference to
whether his movements mean further
delay in the matter of improving our
street transit, or whether his coming
will facilitate the work. There is but
one opinion in our midst as to the need
of better facilities for rapid transit in
this city. We have been encouraged
to believe that the time is near at hand
when we are to have everything we
want or could reasonably ask for; yet
there have been so many disappoint-
ments in the past, and there are the
evidences of so many bitches in the i'm
proyements that have been contracted
for this year, it is not matter of sur
prise that spirit of restlessness and
anxiety should prevail in our COM
munity. Still, there is no reason to
doubt that Mr.. LOWRY intends TO fulfill
his obligations to the letter, and there is
really no ground for Impotence or skep-
ticiSm. AT the same time. We insist that
the street railway company could have
scored good point for itself, and have
allayed all uneasiness, by moving in adj
vance of contract time, and when the
Grand avenue line proved to be such an
eminent success to have at once gone to
work replacing the horse car transit
service with electric motors.
While we are studying the problem of
street transit there is one feature that
has not vet suggested itself to our at
tention, but which will have to be met
and disposed of when st. Paul mas
doubled it's business and population.
There will come time wheE : will be-
come necessary to abolish street transit
altogether, and to provide some way of
finding rapid transit either underground
or through the air. The time will come
when the business of the city will de-
mand the exclusive use of the streets
lust the condition the New York people
find themselves In now. A few years
ago it was thought the problem had
been solved in New York by building
the elevated roads. Now the elevated
roads are declared to be nuisance, and
a movement is on foot to get rid of
them. One plan proposed is to put all
street railways under ground. Another
Is to build the elevated lines over the
tops of the houses. 1t is anything to
get exclusive possession of the streets
for the use Of local commerce. We are
not driven to that extremity in st. Paul
yet: still, in the wholesale district, the
horse and cable cars are, even now,
sometimes found to be nuisance. They
will be found to be more and more so as
business increases: and the time will
come, sooner or later, when we will be
forced to the necessity of studying the
street transit problem in the light the
New Workers are now studying 1t. In
view of these facts, it occurs to us that
It might be wise policy to establish Il
separate municipal department to have
charge and supervision OF all street
transit improvements. A street transit
commission, composed of competent
and upright men, could serve the city
very useful purpose, and might prevent
as from making many mistakes Of