The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-08
BYBR AL7
REASONS
GIVEN.

fused to accept the ordinance passed
| by the council changing the Selby aV-
enue line from cable to an electric
lire. The council was officially noti-
fed of this action by letter from
President Lowry, which arrived via a
special delivery messenger just in
time to be read at the board of alder
men meeting.
Acting on the intimation in the
Clio that this would be the case
or from a premonition, several mem
bers of the council at the meetings of
the board and assembly had concealed
about them resolutions directing the
street railway company to pave be-
tween the tracks on Fourth and Third
streets with asphalt, and these were
duly introduced. The retaliatory res
olution went to a committee in the
board for consideration, as some of
the members explained, but the assem-
bly, pushed the resolution through af-
ter considerable discussion.
The board of aldermen met promptly
at 7:30, with President BigeloW in the
chair, and all the members present eX-
cept Aid. Lindahl. A resolution was
introduced by Aid Sanborn reciting
that the street railway company had
refused to perform the. conditions of
a certain contract dated May /, 1895,
requiring it to pave with granite blocks
on Fourth street, between Broadway
and Seventh street, and had refused
to comply with a resolution of the
council, approved May 10, 1897, direct
ing the company to pave at once the
street The resolution then declared
the contracts mentioned forfeited and
annulled and rescinded, and directed
the company to within ten days from,
the passage and publication of the res
olution pave with asphalt, on a
concrete foundation, between it's
tracks on Fourth and Third streets.
The resolution regarding the paving
having been read, Mr.. Sanborn said
he understood a letter had been sent
to the council by President Lowry
stating that the ordinance recently
passed would not be accepted. He
asked that it be heard at this time,
and the following, under date of Oct.
6, was read:
have received a copy of Ordinance No.
1851 recently passed by your honorable body,
relating to the change of the Sel6y avenue
of the fact that the st. Paul City Railway
company cannot accept this ordinance, L
deem it proper as well as courteous, 10 your
honorable body to state the reasons.
First-The ordinance requires that the
company shall make such change ana nave
the so-called cable line operated as an cleo
trio line on or before Dec. 81, 1897. 1t VIII
be impossible for the company to make the
change within that time. 1t is necessary TO
first arrange for the money required to make
the change, and the work should be under
! fFSaS1T fi100n hnfn
to set in SO that the change may be COM
pleted and the line in operation before the
winter season begins.
Second-The ordinance by its terms per
mits the operation of the line by electricity
for the period of forty-two years. While
the ordinance does not in terms reduce tne
franchise to that number of years, it would,
If accented have the effect of so reducing 1t,
because after the abandonment of the cable
system it would be impossible to relnstate
it without great financial loss.
Third-The company has bonded the sys-
tenn and these bonds cover that portion OF
the system known the Selby avenue cable
line We have been notified by certain or
the bondholders that they will not consent
to the terms of this ordinance, and II tne
company should accept, we are conhdent 1t
would be enjoined from so doing by the
bondh0lderS.
Fourth-The ordinance requires the COM
pany to make the line continuous one 10
Prior and University avenues ana TO oper-
ate the cars to the last named point inns
is perfectly proper for the present, but the
| company hopes, some time in the near fu-
ture to make of this line another interurban
line running out Marshall avenue, via Lake
street and thence to Minneapolis, S, and the
ordinance should contain a reservation OF
such right. The last objection could be readi,
ly removed by providing that the cars snail nan
be operated as above indicated until the line
is changed to the nteruTban one.
Fifth-This ordinance requires the company
to issue transfers. to various lines designated
in said ordinance which neither con-
very largely increase the expense OF the COM
pany and decrease its earnings, but subject
it to great inconvenience and annoyance in
regulating its transfer system, without re-
cefving any benefit to offset such additional
expense.
If your honorable body can see It's way
clear to pass an ordinance removing the above
objections, the company will be very glad
to accept the same and carry it out just as
soon as possible the coming year. We would
also say to your honorable body, as well as to
the citizens of st. Paul. thHt the st. Paul
City Railway company and all its officers
are desirous Of complying with every reason
abe demand of the citizens of st. Paul in
the way of improving the street service.
| We have always endeavored in the past to do
this and shall continue to do so in the fu-
| ture.
The company regrets that during the past
! year and a half local interests or demands
! have given rise to discussions of proposed
! changes in the street car system which we
feel would be detrimental to the best inter
eStS OF the 6nIlT6 Guy, dS well do d great
inconvenience in the operation of the strest
| car system. We wish to assure your honor
| able body as well as the citizens of st. Paul,
| that any reasonable demand made upon the
company for any change or Improvement IN
! the street car system, which will inure to the
! benefit of the entire city, will be recognized
! by the company and carried out provided 1t
| lies within the power of the company so to
| do Yours very respectfully,
Thomas Lowry President.
Aid. Donahower asked that the reso-
luton Of Aid. Sanborn and the letter OF
! Mr.. Lowry be referred to the commit
tee on streets.
| Aid. Sanborn opposed this, saying it
would do no harm to pass the pavins
resolution. The objection of Mr. Lowry
| as to money could not be remedied by
! the council The other objections men
! toned by Mr. Lowry had, in his opinion
| been obviated by the ordinance. AS TO
! the objecting bondholders, he did not
think there was anything to 1t. The
| ordinance was fair one and should
| have been accepted. The quicker the
! contracts for the paving We're let
| the better it would be for the city.
Aid. Donahower urged the reference
of the paving resolution to a committee.
He said he did not want any outside
| aldermen coming in and using the
| having of Fourth street as whip to
| compel the railway company to do
something. In his opinion, it was not
| practical to pave Fourth street this
N1S canho,n admitted that tha