St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-04
Special Council Committee
Discusses Proposals Of the
Railway Company.
1t Is Proposed to Change the
East Seventh Cable to an
Electric Line,
Also to Connect 1t With the
West Seventh and Bou-
levard University.
All Changes Conditional That
No New Lines Be Ordered
for Two Years.

Messrs. Wolterstorff, DAILY, thinner
man, Franklin and Van Slyke, of the
special council committee Oh street rail
way matters, held session yesterday
morning. AS one of the members ex-
pressed it, the meeting was held to
bring the proposition of the railway
company before the public. The latest
proposition from the railway people, he
thought, was made in order to stave off
legislation detrimental to the compa-
ny'SlntereStS.
The meeting was we'll attended, Gen
eral Manager Goodrich and M. d.
Mum, attorney for the company, being
on hand to explain matters, and num-
Der Of citizens interested paid attention
to the informal discussion.
Mir. Mum opened the meeting by say
ing there had been considerable dis
cussion between the city railway and
the city council in connection with the
building of extensions to various lines.
and other matters. The street railway
company. he said, always had a desire
to carry out, as far as possible, the de-
mdndS of the city. The company, how
ever, was not Ill a position to do what
was desired, both by them and the city,
until recently. The company had now
reached a point where it could meet the
city on SOM Of the questions in way
that would be fair to both parties. The
conclusion reached WAS embodied in the
following propositions:
What the Company VIII Do.
The st. Paul City Railway company
will do the following:
First The company will build and
operate 'double-track line from Lake
Como to the center of the city, the same
to be built and in operation within
thirty days after the sewer now ordered
by the city is constructed; provided,
that no new sewer shall be ordered
along the remaining portion Of said
said line, so as to require the taking up
of the tracks or TO interfere with the
operation of the line for a period of five
years from the completion of said line.
Second - Change the East Seventh
street cable to an electric line. and con.
meet the East and West Seventh street
branches, and run the Maria avenue
cars down to the center of the city.
Third-Will place open cars OH all the
principal lines during the summer
months. provided only one license fee
be Charged for both open and closed
cars.
Fourth7rTransfers will be issued to
and from all lines. and to and from both
cable lines to ali other lines, providing
that no transfer shall be good on return
Ing, or OH parallel lines. or on any inter
urban line for through travel, but local
travel On interurban line shall have
transfer privileges in and out of the
city,
Fifth-The company will construct
safety device on Selby avenue hill and
place additional trailers on trains, thus
practically doubling the service on that
line.
SiXth-The present interurban line
Oh University avenue snail be boule-
varded to d width described in ordinance
1918 and curbing laid. The space
bouevarded shall be erased and at all
times properly attended to, provided
that said boulevard and curling shall
be uninterrupted for distances to be
agreed upon and stopping places fixed
for cars.
Seventh-The Merriam Park extern
sion Of the Selby avenue line will be run
around to University avenue.
Eighth-The city shall order no new
lines, including the Stryker and Maria
avenue lines, for period of two years.
Explained by Faunn.
The propositions had been prepared,
so Mr.. Mum said, by General Manager
Goodrich, and if the committee had the
time and was inclined 10 hear him he
would explain at length some of the
sections. The members OF the commit
tee were willing to hear, and MI Mum
proceeded. The company, he said, did
not want to lay tracks to Lake Como
until tue sewers along the route were
completed. as the tracks laid at once
would have to be removed when the
sewers were laid and put the company
to an additional expense. The residents
along the proposed line, he said, were
! not unanimous in their opinions as to
| the needs of sewer. Some thought
such an improvement was not needed in
five or ten years, while others SAID 1t
was needed at once. Without taking
| this matter into consideration either
one way OF the other, Mr.. Mum was Of
| the opinion that the line should not be
| built until after the sewers were COM
| pleted.
The proposition to change the East
| Seventh street cable to all electric line
! Mr.. Mum said would be an advantage
to the public, but would involve a great
loss on the company. The change would
| he almost equivalent to building a new
| line, as the present power house and
| the line itself would be complete loss.
The change wonld give a straight and
uninterrupted line to the Harvester
works, and would give the public much
| better service. AS to the ordinance re-
curing interurban cars to stop at every
| crossing, Mr.. Mum said the enforce
meut of the ordinance would destroy the
service on that line. 1t would mean at
| least half an hour more in making the
trip. TO stop every three blocks outside
the resident portion of the city, he
thought, would be quite sufficient for
the travel. The line to Lake Como Mr..
! MUM considered the most important to
| the city, aud as it was certainly needed
in time for the Hill celebration and
worlds fair, decisive action should be
taken at once. The company would
agree to have the line built thirty days
! after the sewers were completed.
| Aid. Zimmerman al this point asked
! j. j. Lawrence, resident of the Second
ward, if there was any objection TO
changing the East Seventh street line
from a cable to an electric line. MI
Lawrence thought the change would
meet with but little opposition.
Mr. Mum resumed by suggesting that
the taxation of $40 for each car the COM