St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-27
RAIL WAY ON The HILL .
a Movement Seeking to Sc
cure a Lateral Line Of
Railway
To Run North and South, Con-
Meeting the Grand and
University Lines.
Public Necessity Demands
That Lowry Do Some
thing Of the Sort,
And Even Summit Avenue
Property Holders Must
Give Way.

A decided movement is on foot to sc
cure lateral line of railway-eiectric,
of cOurse-on st. Anthony hill. The
city railway company has, it is con-
ceded, carried out its agreements to the
letter, and furnished the city Of st. Paul
with street railway system that call-
not be eXcelled in the world. The
change in the past year has been a
marvellous one, and cheap rapid transit
is an accomplished fact. But the devel-
opment of this system has made clear
Rn urgent demand for a line running
north and south on st. Anthony hill.
connecting large and populous districts
now accessible only by traverSing the
two long sides of an acute triangle. A
glance at the accompanying diagram will
make this entirely plain. From point,
for instance, on Laurel avenue at ST.
Adams it is two miles to point on the
latter street above University, and the
trip between the points can only be
made by electricity by long detOur
down to WabaSha. and thence out Uni
Yerslty. Some weeks ago Gen. Andrews
offered, IN the chamber of commerce, a
resolution requesting that the council i'll
struct the city railway company to con-
struct such north and south line on
st. Adams, Grotto or Victoria; but. as
the chamber has undergone committee
reorganization since that time, nothing
has been done, though the resolution
will again be called up on Monday even
Ing.
There is decided sentiment in favor
of such line. 1t may go on any of the
three streets mentioned, or as far out as
Lexington avenue, but public necessity
do fIs, 81 AAnA oI,a -,
probable that such a line might not
pay-at least at present-but it would
bring within distance such vast
amount of available building territory
that within short time, it would GER
tainly become profitable. Every city
railway company, for the perfection of
Its system. is compelled to operate lines
that are not lucrative. Boston, for in
stance, finds that % per cent cost of its
lines are not profitable; and while this
lateral line might be urged, whether
profitable OF not, the sentiment is that
it would rapidly develop into valuable
connection. When the celebrated COM
promise ordinance was adopted, Sept.
10, 1889, provision was inserted as fol-
lows:
Section 1S-The common council reserves
and shall possess the right at any time, and
from time to time after Jan. l, 1892 to order
anu COmp by ShlQ SI.
Paul City Railway company of any new lines
Of railway or the extension of any present
Or future lines of railway upon any and all
streets in the city of ST. Paul upon which
sewers shall have been constructed and all
lines or extensions SO ordered shall be con-
btructed and in operation within one year
after such orders are made.
While it is in the power and province
Of the council to compel the city railway
company to construct this line, it is be-
lieved the company will be willing to
undertake 1t without compulslon when
the proper showing is made, but prop
erty owners in that section declare
they will pay no more bonuses for
street car construction. 1t is sug-
gested that such line should extend
from Mlnnehaha street to Randolph
street, meeting on the latter the line
now building. This will make it two
and half miles in length, and give con-
nectiOn with West Seventh, Grand,
Selby, Rondo and University lines.
When the time arrives, property in
terests will clash as to the street to be
selected, and Lexington is chosen for
the diagram merely for the purpose of
Illustration. The street finally selected
must be graded and severed, and must
bridge the Milwaukee tracks. 1t is also
possible that there will be a lively OBJ
lection from property holders where
the line will cross Summit avenue, but
private welfare must give way to public
good.