The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-05
CAPITAL IS WAITING
FIGHT BETWEEN THE CITY AND
STREET CAR COMPANY BE-
ING WATCHED.
THE INTERURBAN GOLD MINE.
LOCAL AS WELL AS OUTSIDE CAP
ITALIsTS WOULD INVEST
THEIR MONEY q:
INTO ANOTHER INTERCITY LINE,
suggestion of the Possibility of nm
Elevated ROnd-NO Franchises
Against 1t,
THE INTERURBAN GOLD MINE,
VITO ANOTHER INTERCITY LINE,

Inc 1nterurban street car line is a
suIdr hlondlke,' was the comment
made by Assemblyman Albrecht in an
interview with G l o reporter ves-
terday. Mr.. Albrecht then went on IN
say that there were other capitalists
who had had an eye on this fact for
Some time. They came here from other
cities and have had representatives.
looking over the ground, and the sight
Oh the large and commOdious interur.
pan cars, crowded with passengers on
every trip and the evidences that ST
Paul and Minneapolis were constantly
bulldlng towards each other, convinced
them that it was only a question of a
very snort time before additional trans
portatlon facilities between the two
cites would not only be a paving in
VeStment, but an actual necessity.
Inc action of the assembly at its
meeting Thursday evening, is a straw
showing TO what extent this has been
under consideration The street raiI-
way company has, with good business
foresight, been seeking to secure adj
oitlohaI privileges, which would enable
IL 10 extend its line on SeIbv aVenue
thence to Marshall avenue. and now n
develops that this was but the fore
runner OF a plan to continue on to
4AIIIhSdpOilS, mus anordlng another in
terurban line to relieve the steadily in
creasing travel on the University ave
nue. line, and which would also omen IN
a new district. In return, however. the
company has not shown a disposition
TO grant the concessions demanded NV
the city, and the result has been told
In the o e-the assembly. bv
unanimous vote, decided to repeal the
ordinance (No. 704, which gives the
company the power to operate the chile
line, and also the two amendatory ordi-
nances by which it was enabled To ex.
tend its line from Dale street TO St
Aibans, and then from St Adams tn
Fafrview avenue.
If the board Of aldermen takes SIM
liar action, and Mr. Albrecht is of the
opinion that it will the matter will he
carried into the courts which will raise
the question whether the council in
passing the original ordinance gave
the company a perpetual grant to the
use of those streets, no time limit for.
its expiration being stated, or whether
II is merely license revokable at any
time
Mr.. Albrecht, in the interview. also
said that there has been a desire man
lfested by number of St Paul bust
ness men, to organize a company and
DulId a street railway along this line.
In case the franchise was revoked. that
one man of considerable wealth had
told him he would put all his money
INTO an enterprise of that kind and
that a company would be organized
within ten days. AS stated above,
there have been inquiries and inves-
tigation by out-of-town parties. but he
faVors home company. In case such
a company is organized, the intention
is to continue the line to Minneapolis.
and by acting Jointly with the Min
av~I
the trip would be secured for the pub
lie. The line itself is really shorter
than the present line on University
avenue.
The question has arisen whether the
street railway company has the ex-
elusive right to the streets on which 1t
runs its cars; whether the council can
grant an exclusive franchise. "Theo-
rettcally, it has not" said Mr.. AL
brecht, but practically, in most cases.
the company has the exclusive right
for surface lines-it would be mani
testify impossible to have four tracks
on most streets. There is nothing tn
prevent the council from giving a new
company the franchise to build an
elevated railroad directly above the
surface lines; neither have the prom
erty owners any grounds for damages
IN case one was built, except possibly
from the smoke in case locomotives
were used, or from any claim for shut
ting off the light to houses on narrow
streets"
This brings up another phase of the
matter which has been under discussion
for several days-the possible solution
of rapid transit between the cities by
an elevated road, the motive power to
be electricity furnished by the dam at
Minneapolis Competent engineers,
when talking Of this. said that it was
perfectly feasible, and that the only
question would be whether the returns
would pay a dividend on so necessarily
extensive an investment The outside
cost of the track system is roughly
estimated at $50 a running foot, or APP
proximately 81, 100000 for the line, ex-
elusive of the rolling stock and equip
ment.
Still another route is suggested for
a surface line, by way of Como ave-
nue. and near the Great Northern rail-
road tracks, entering Minneapolis over
the steel bridge. There is a long strip
of unimproved land on this route, so
that right of way could be secured
and the greater part of the route the
c0mpany's cars would thus run over
its own land. The councils could then
so amend the ordinance regulating the
speed of railway trains within the city
limits, so that an unlimited speed
,nhf he tot cd