The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-23
DEMAND A FORFEIT
MIR. Helm OPPOSED TO ANY SUR
RENDER TO STREET RAIL-
WAY COMPANY.
ITS FRANCHISE voIDED.
COURTS WOULD SUSTAIN THE FOR
FIXTURE AS TO THE CABLE
LINE.
THAT INTERURBAN EXPRESS.
The Aim in the Present Negotia-
tions for New Rights in ST.
PnuPs Streets.
V0IDED.
THAT INTERURBAN EXP

MI. MOrltz Helm makes plain that
gentleman's opinion that the city
should be firm IN its declared inten-
ton Of forcing forfeiture Of the street
railway company's cable line fran
chise. He considers the present nego-
tiatfons for new ordinance only an
attempt on the part of the street rail-
way company to secure rights for an
express line on University avenue, a
move which would destroy the value OF
property along that thoroughfare. Mr..
Helms letter is as follows:
To the Editor of the Globe.
l.: In 1872 the common council passed an
ordinance granting to certain persons
way nS right IL this s9 d 5RT by aP h4 of powell E
known as the ST. Paul Street Railway com
pany. In 1877 mortgage on the property
was foreclosed and the property purchased
corporation now operating all our lines of
railway in this city. In 1882 the municipal
government. by an ordinance. continued all
the rights in the present company.
II. In 1883 special act OF the legislature
confirmed and validated the last named oFdI-
nance. The passage Of this special act legal
ling the last named ordinance Is the first
sin OF the company, recorded at large in a
decision rendered by our supreme court in
1887. through which the people were perhaps
for the first time apprised Of the fact that
that by a special law, quietly passed, the
city railway company obtained an exclusive
franchise TO run street cars in this city.
III. Almost ever since the horse cars were
discarded and the cable and electric systems
substituted in their place, the company ceased
to do business here, and outside OF keeping
its legal department and a nominal office In
the city the people have derived no benefit
from its existence. It's labor, material and
provisions are not purchased in this city, and
1t keeps here only a temporary bank account
OF the moneys collected in st. Paul. and
when the account is Of sufficient size 1t is
taken to Minneapolis and it escapes more
taxes than it actually pays.
~. Within the last few years 1t obtained
valuable franchises. mortgsged the same and
1t converted the bonds into money; and we
have no evidence that the funds realized out
of the same were used for improving the
street railway system in this city. We don't
know how much the franchises are bonded
FOR, who are the creditors or who may be the
stockholders We are dealing with corpor-
alton that constantly demands new fran
cbtses and privileges, and we know not whom
We are dealing with.
VI. The company Is by the charter re-
CURED TO clean the streets between the tracks
from snow, etc; and upon its failure to do so
the city does the work at the expense of the
company In what instances has such OBJ
struc5ions? and in what cases has it paid the
city for its failure to do so? Remember the
condition of the East Seventh street last win
ter Resolutions have been introduced in the
council time and time again to compel it to
VII. The retail trade in this city would be
trebled had the company years ago constructed
loop at the union depot from which
point cars should run into every direction in
welcomed by runner; working for
boarding or lodging house and timId woman
will not repeat her experience the second
time to visit st. Paul for shopping pur-
poses. .,a- i7i}
TX. The assembly, under the leadership OF
Mr.. A;brecht, lawyer OF ability and man
of integrity, fathered a resolution to forfeit
the company's cable franchise, and while no
reasons are assigned in the resolution for such
proposed forfeiture, it would be only repeat
ing history to mention more than the we'll
known fact that the company in accepting
the franchise covenanted to pave Fourth and
Third streets between the tracks and repeat
edly postponed and never has done such
paving; that it never gave sufficient service
on that line; that 1t failed to comply with
every reasonable agreement on its part to be
performed under that particular franchise.
The resolution passed unanimously. But when
it reached the board of aldermen, where the
company Is not wanting in friends 1t was
'jockeyed" and referred to It's committee on
streets. It is an open secret that at the last
conference OF that committee the company had
the impertinence to suggest that if the coun-
ell would grant the proposed infamous and
pigeon-holed Express line" on University
avenue the company would put In the Broad
way loop. Such proposition was made in Sc
cret session. I mention this because the COM
pany's promise not to- change the Robert
street loop to Broadway loop is one OF the
covenants" on its part not to be depended
on; and if the people on University don't keep
wide awake they will yet have an express
line.
x The union loop has Been ordered by
the council some time ago. The so called
'Kirke-Sanborn ordinance" changing the
cable to electric line, has also passed the
council. Now when the company is con-
fronted with the forfeiture of its franchise
along the cable line, it brings out an ordi-
nance similar to the Kfrke- Sanborn ordinance
and is willing to put in union loop" and
at a secret session it is willing to put a
loop on Broadway II it can get an ordinance
for an express line on University avenue.
That means nothing less than the company
has been watching its opportunity to make
a grab for University avenue and convert
that avenue into a third class street. and
build up fortune upon the ruined homes
Of our citizens out Of its proposed express
business.
XI. My idea is that there should be no
compromise with the company The Albrecht
resolution to forfeit the franchise should be
passed. The city attorney and the bar Of st.
Paul are Of the opinion that the supreme
court will sustain the forfeiture of the cable
franchise. Then the people can dictate terms
to the city railway company.
XII. The present charter commission should
insert in the proposed charter a provision
that the rights Of the public in its streets and
thoroughfareS are inalienab1e; that hereafter
no franchises shall be granted except for
twenty-five years to the highest bidder at
public sale, apd that the proposed ordinance
for charter privileges shall be published for
several weeks. and that upon the failure OF
complying with any provision OF such fran
chise by the party holding 1t the same shall
be forfeited and that the city, or any of its
residents, may for cause bring suit to for
felt such franchise. NORTH Helm.
Runaway on Bridge Square.
F. H Glenwe, living at Inver Grove, mar
rnXlY eSCaned serious injury In runaMdY