The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-28
MERRIAM PARK RESIDENTS
THREATEN TO DO SHOPPING
IN MINNEAPOLIS
UNLESS THE CITY COUNCIL
GIVES THEM BETTER STREET CAR
SERVICE INTO ST. PAUL'S
CENTER.
so HOT RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
O
Which May Bring the Council to &
Realizing Sense of Its Critical
Position.

Woodruff hall was crowded last night
with the citizens of Merriam Park, who
came in answer to a call for a mass
meeting to discuss plans for the OBJ
tanning Of better street car facilities
between Merriam Park and st. Paul.
Attorney J. F. Hilscher presided, and
after a few Introductory remarks call
ed Aid Shepard, the father Of the ordi-
nance now before the city council,
which would provide the Merriam Park
people with through car line to st.
Paul
Aid. Shepard gave a detailed account
of his efforts to secure the passage Of
the ordinance. He said that the main
obstacle in the way of it's passage was
the opposition of the residents Of Sum-
nit avenue, or, as he termed it, the
highway of the gods" He said that
his ordinance provided for an electric
line which would occupy Summit ave-
nue. between Dayton and Selby ave-
nues, and in this way the Selby ave
nue. incline would be overcome, but
that it's passage had been defeated so
far by the six or seven people who re-
sided on that portion of Summit ave-
nue.. He deplOred the fact that they
were successful, in so much as their
only arguments were that it hurt the
appearance of the street. Mr.. Shepard
said that the only practical argument
offered against the proposed electric
route was that it would be impossible
to mount the grade with electric power.
In answer to this he mad presented
letters from city engineers in other
cities where the electric cars mounted
grades of from to II per cent, while
the grade in question would be but
trif1e over per cent. He concluded
by saying that the citizens of Mer-
Ram Park had been very loyal to ST.
Paul under very trying circumstances,
and that it was a disgrace to the city
that 1t allowed some six or seven
jewellers on 1.-The highway of the gods
to dictate the movements of the city
council.
Aid. Shepard was followed by 8. L.
Howell and E. J. Hodgson. Both adj
vised call for mass meeting of all
the patrons of the Selby avenue line
Both said that the only way to get
the ordinance through was to keep at
it with 'never-let-up" air and finally
it's passage would be secured, if for no
other reason than that the city council
would be glad to pass it to get rid of
it.
The following resolutions were then
introduced by G. M. Magnuson:
Whereas, The people of that portion Of the
city of st. Paul, residing in Merriam Park
and vicinity, have long and patiently suf-
fered the inconvenience of defective and in
efficient railway service;
And whereas, The Selby avenue cable line,
50 called, is the only practical means Of
transportation to and from their homes in
the daily transaction of their business in
said city, and said line is VIGOROUSLY and
confessediy inadequate, defective, inefficient
and dangerous to the life and limb Of its
citizens;
And whereas. The so-caI!ed Shepard ordi-
nance now before the honorable city coun-
ell of said city points out a practical method
and suggests an entirely feasible means of
removing the inconvenience and eliminating
the dangers to which our people are now
subject, and securing to them as efficient
railway service is secured to the people
of other portions of the city without impos-
ing upon any one unjust unlawful
burden;
Therefore, be is resolved by the people Of
Merriam Park, in mass convention assem-
bled, That, relying solely upon the justice
and right of our reasonable claim, we de-
mand the immediate passage by the said
city council Of the said ordinance that we
may without delay obtain that which is
justly due us as citizens and taxpayers of
said city;
And be it further resolved, That in the
unreasonable and indefensbe opposition with
which said ordinance has been met by some
members of the said council, we recognize
menace to good government, an unwarrant-
ed denial Of our rights, an unjust discrimina-
ton and a blow to the material interests of
the city of st. Paul, richly deserving the
condemnation Of her citizens
Whereas, The retail merchants of st. Paul
have been repeatedly asked to assist in hav-
ing this line changed to a through line, so
that 1t might be more convenient for their
patrons to reach their places of business;
and
Whereas, They the retail merchants, have
failed to assist in securing this change, it