The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-20
FROM ST. PAUL TO SUPERIOR
PROMOTER MCDONALD EXPLAINS
THAT MYSTERIOUS ORDI-
NANCE.
IS NOT A STREET CAR SYSTEM.
VIII BE Built at Cost of $2,5OO,-
600 IL Terminal FacrHttes Are
Obtained.

Cerday that the ordinance introduced
at the board of aldermen meeting last
Tuesday night, which grants a street
railway franchise over certain streets
in st. Paul, is not a measure designed
to establish another street railway
system in this city. On the contrary.
1t is the purpose of those parties seek
ing the franchise, to construct an cleo
trio railway line from this city to
superior, Wis. The ordinance, so they
say, was introduced for the purpose of
securing franchise to construct ter
minal facilities for the main line. The
names of the parties in the ordinance
were published in yesterdays Globe.
They are Attorney Elmer E. Mcdonald
Frank Spies, Charles A. Forbes and
Albert Allen. Mr.. Mcdonald when
seen yesterday gave an explanation of
the scheme as follows:
All We desire in st. Paul is to secure
terminal facilities for a line we pro-
pose TO construct and operate from
mere to Superior, Wis. 1t will be oper-
ated with electricity unless we find the
compressed air system better and more
economical This was experimental
with in New York a few months ago.
when an ordinary train was run q
distance of 10 hours in satisfactory
time, but the economy of the invention
has not. I believe, been demonstrated.
In case we secure the franchise per,
uniting us to use the st. Paul streets.
the company will be Incorporated
at once and begin Immediately to con-
struct its tracks within the city, in
Which event the work would be COM
pleted this fall
Questioned as to the identity of the
three gentlemen besides himself, named
in the ordinance, Mr.. Mcdonald said
that Charles A. Forbes is a well known
civil engineer in West ST. Paul, and
that Albert Allen Is a half brother of
hlS-McDonald'S-wh resides in Spo-
kane Falls. Frank Spies, the remain
Ing party, Mr.. Mcdonald described as
an Eastern man of some means. He
declined, however, to state the place
of residence of Mr. Spies
1T will require" continued Mr. Nc
Donald, ''at least 81, 100000 to construct
our proposed line to Superior, but we
are confident that the money will be
raised in time to enable us to begin
constructing the line next season. The
route of the line, after leaving the
north city limits at Smelling avenue, is
almost due north through Ramsey and
Anoka counties and thence north to
Cambridge, 1Sant county. From there
the line will continue north to Mora,
Kanabec county, and thence proceed in
northeasterly direction through Pine
and Carlton counties across the line
into Wisconsin and thence to Superior
We also propose to construct a branch
line from Mora to Mile Laos a dis
lance of about twenty-five miles. 1t
will be noticed that the proposed line
traverses busy and productive region
that at present is not in direct and i'm
mediate connection with ST. Paul
Mr.. Mcdonald was asked if he did not
expect that the ordinance granting the
franchise to construct and operate the
proposed line on certain streets in ST
Paul would meet with some opposition,
especially on the part of the street rail-
way company.
Il do not see why there should be
any," answered Mr.. Mcdonald CAS-
understand it, Mr.. Lowry has no
franchise to construct tracks on any
streets not now occupied by the street
railway company, and even as to those
streets, 1t is not so certain that his
franchise is exclusive. Such streets as
he has franchise to use are named in
the various ordinances which define his
rights. Our proposed line, running from
Second and Cedar streets, along Cedar
street to Central avenue, cut Central
to Lexington via Martin street, thence
on Langford to Hamline avenue,
thence to Smelling avenue ETC., does not
include any street now occupied by the
street railway company except for a
distance of four blocks on Lexington
avenue, that, / think can be arranged
satisfactorily. The other line starting
at Second and Jackson streets and run
ming along Second to Third and
Wabasha and thence along West Third
to Franklin and thence to Chestnut
street and the river is to be used for
freight purposes. as it brings us in
connection with the Union depot and
also the freight yards of the Milwaukee
and the Omaha at the foot of Chestnut
street.
Mr.. Mcdonald said that the uniform
speed of the cars outside Of the city
limits would be % miles an hour AS
for the $2500,000 required to build the
road Mr.. Mcdonald declared that the
money would be forthcoming provided
the cities of st. Paul and Superior
would grant franchises for the oper-
alton of the road within their limits.