The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-01

NEGOTIATIONS, which may IN very snort
time lead to the consolidation and sale
os all of the street car lines In Seattle.
are in progress and may be closed up at
any time. During the past six months
several street railway deals of great mag
nitude, involving local street railways.
have been talked OF. but not one OF them
was ever contaminated, for the reason
that the money necessary for the pur-
chase Of the lines was not forthcoming
from the would-be purchasers.
The deal which Is now pending has ev-
cry indication of bearing fruit, and 1t is
believed the day Is not far distant when
all Of the lines will be consolidated and
operated under one management. 1t was
reported yesterday morning that the capi-
talists, who are interested IN what Is
known as the Traction Company of Ia
coma, are negotiating for the purchase
OF the local lines. and that report was
given a decidedly truthful co,or by the
presence in the city OF several Tacoma
street railway magnates These mag
mates, while In the city, were in confer
terested in the local street car lines.
Both the Seattle and Tacoma magnates
refused to talk for publication. but ad-
mitted that deal was pending. 1t was
impossible, they stated, to say when it
would be finally Closed up. One of the
most prominent street car magnates In
Seattle said TO a Post-Intelligencer re-
porter last evening. when approached re-
gariing the pending negotiations:
1T Is true that Tacoma parties are here
after the Seattle street car lines with
a view OF purchasing them ana operating
every system in the city under one man
agement. ] decline to make public at
present the names of the would-be pur-
chasers, as 1t might possibly interfere
with the sale of the property. When
the deal Is finally made | Will tell you
the story Of the transaction. but today
details"
Another local street car magnate was
interviewed on the same subject. and.
while he admitted that dea; was pend
ing, he declined TO talk for publication.
He said to the reporter:
lit would not be surprising II all Of the
street car lines In Seattle would be con-
soiidated at any time and then sold.
Several parties from New York and Chi
cago have been in Seattle looking over
the property, but according TO the last
reports 1 received the expected sale OF
the lines 10 those people had fallen
through. Another deal Is now pending
and may be closed up soon. but 1 am not
IN a position TO disclose it for publication.
The time has arrived when the street car
lines OF Seattle must be consolidated. rs
under the system Of operation which Is
row followed there is not a company In
the city that is making money, and, fur
thermore. not a single one OF them will
ever be able to declare n dividend until
a consolidation takes place.
1T Is also acknowledged that the pres
ent street car service does not come up to
the standard that Is usually found in a
city Of the same population. The serv-
ice will NJ yer be any better than 1t is a,
present until the various tines are con-
soIidated and operated under ore head.
II VIII therefore be seen that a consol-
dalton OF the various lines would result
in iulmeasurabie benefits TO both the pub
lie and stockholders"