The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-01-16

l.
drama, Honesty is the Best Policy
} A MAGNIFICENT SPREAD.
Leading Men of the Twin Citiee Tender
81 Mr.. Lowry a Banquet.
Last Monday evening number OF
citizens of Minneapolis and st. Paul
rendered Thomas Lowry, president OF
the street railroad companies of the
Twin cities, a magnificent banquet at
the West hotel. Governor Merriam
acted as POSTMASTER, and speeches were
made by the governor, Archbishop Ire
land, Mayor Winston and others.
| Gov, Merriam spoke in a very happy
mood. recounting at length the many
incidents connected with the building
of the electric lines that entwine the
cltiesof Minneapolis and st. Paul. He
paid glowing tribute to che guest Of
the evening, Mr.. Lowry, for all that he
had done in the building up Of these
two great cities, The governor was fol-
lowed bv Archbishop ireland, who said:
Thomas Lowry-The representatives
OF two cities, the imperial emporiums of
| the Northwest, obey this evening the
solemn command of duty. Justice and
gratitude alike hold speech. Honor be,
1t is said, to whom honor is due. Honor
be then to you. A great work has been
accomplished by you in our cities; a
work made possible only through the
noble gifts Of mind and heart belonging
to its promoter. Thanks most sincere
be to you. We know and confess the
serious and lasting benefits which have
come to us through you. There falls
upon us heavy debt Of gratitude; we
most cheerfullv acknowledge the obi
CATION. Your work. 1t is visible to all
eyes. Words are not needed from me
to make it known. Not two years have
yet gone by since the first Car moved by
the electric spark sped over our Streets
Heretofore, apart from two Or three
short lines Of cable, we had been going
our way as the slow pace OF the man
aud weather beaten street horse led us.
The first day of last March babe fare
we'll to the last horse car. To-day we
have IN Minneapolis aud st. Paul 2l5
miles Of cable and electric liues One
thousand cars journey speedily over
them. covering ground at the rate OF
eight or twenty-one miles per hour. as
the freedom of the thoroughfare ger
mits. Only few steps from his horne
need the traveller. go to spy a car, and be
'Vhlrled by it near. to any point ia either
OF the two cities. From the farthest
part Of one he can journey to the most
distant part of the other, twenty miles
or more, and the highest fare he is re
quired to pay, in sweeping over this
widest territory, is one single dine.
Whatever its size no one city in America
has so many miles of electric lilies as
MINNEAPOLIS and st. Paul. Indeed, If
I am to credit an article ia the Deem
Der number Of the Cosmopolitan Re-"
view. we have to-day ia our two cities
an electric mileage nearly equal to that
in all other American cities united.
No large City outside of our ownstwo
has as set been able to discard it's horse
cars.
We have the best system of electric
roads in the whole country. No city
approaches us In excellence of equip
ment, in the application Of the latest
developments Of sciences. in the psrfec-
tlon of all details. We lead America;
we lead the world. Strong words, but
absolutely true. Neither is there an
other city in which so much travel is
allowed at so small a cost-so many
miles traversed for one dime. In other
places a street Car company transfers,
as ours does, it's passengers from one of
its lines to another. But in other
places there are two or more separate
companies, aud there i, no transfer
from the territrry Of one to that OF the
other. Here one company reigns, and
it's travellers, one fare paid, are lords
and masters of ali they survey. The
announcement of the sum Of money
spent by you in your operations is stu
pendous. l am told, on most reliable
authority, that the total amount OF cap
ital which you have invested in the two
cities Is 1880, of which no less
than $l2,OO0,00O has been absorbed in
the construction and equipment Of
| cable and electric lines.
What boundless confidence you must
have had in the future of the two cities
! when making this large investment!
How great your personal power to have
been able to gather under your coutrol
so much capital!"
Mr.. Lowry followed the archbishop,
saying:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: I am
at a loss for words to express to you,
one and all, how deeply grateful / feel
for this expression of YOUR esteem and