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

Negotiations. which may In very short
time lead to the consolidation and sale
OF 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 IDEAS 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 wouid-be purchasers.
The deal which Is nov pending has sv-
cry indication OF bearing fruit. and 1t is
believed the day is not far distant when
a., OF the lines will be consolidated and
operated under one management. 1t was
reported yesterday morning that the capt.
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 coior by the
presence in the city of several Tacoma
street railway magnates. These mag
mates, while In the city. were in confer
ence with gentlemen who are heavily in
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 IL
would be finally c.osed up. One of the
most prominent street car magnates in
Seattle said TO a Post-Intelligencer re-
porter last evening, when approached re-
garding 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 I decline to make public at
present the names OF the wou!d-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 tho transaction. but today
you must excuse me from discussing the
details"
Another local street car magnate was
interviewed on the same subject. and,
while he admitted that dea: was pend
ing. he declined 20 talk for publication.
lie said to the reporter:
1T would not be surprising II all OF the
street car lines in Seattle would be con-
solidated ct 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 TO those people had fallen
through. Another deal is now pending
and may be closed up soon, but I am rot
N a position to disclose Il for publication.
The time has arrived when the street car
lines OF Seattle must be consolidated. as
under the system OF operation which Is
now followed there is not a company in
the city that is making money. and. fur
shermore, not a single one OF them will
ever be able 10 declare n dividend until
a consolidation takes place.
at is also acknowledged that the pres
ent street car service does not come up to
the standard that Is usually found I'm
city OF the same population. The serv-
Ice will never be any better than II is at
present until the various lines are con-
solidated and operated under one head.
It win therefore be seen that consoii-
dalton Of the various lines would result
IN immeasurab.e benefits to both the pub
lie and stockholders"