The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-19
EXPRESS line FlGHT
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. LEADS
THE BATTLE ON THE NEW
ORDINANCE
EIGHTH WARDERS AROUSED

Mass Meeting Called to Assemble at
WeiIer's Hall Tomorrow Evening
to Protest Against the Passage of
the Ordinance-It Is Expected
That the Measure VIII BE Intro
duced Tonight.
With the publication of the provisions
the street railway company will have pre-
scented at the meeting of the council this
evening has come a violent opposition.
A committee of Eighth ward residents,
and especially of University avenue resi-
dents or property owners, has taken the
matter in hand and called an indignation
meeting to be held tomorrow night at
Weiler's hall. Dale street and University
avenue, to protest against the granting Of
the privileges which would be conferred
on the company by the passage Of the
proposed ordinance.
The Chamber Of Commerce, after a
lively discussion yesterday. decided to APP
point committee, too, to appear at the
council meeting tonight to protest
against the passage of the ordinance.
The subject was introduced by H. Hol-
bert in the following resolution
Whereas, The Twin City Rapid Transit
company is about to ask our city council
to grant them the privilege of running
so-called through express trains between
st. Paul and Minneapolis on the Univer-
slty avenue route. and of charging Is
cents fare instead of 10.
Therefore, We respectfully ask our city
council to withhold and refuse to grant
such privilege, believing it to be detri-
e. II. Morphy moved, which was sec
onded by E. w. Peet, to make the sub
Ject special order for next Monday.
Maj. John Espy said: ''This resolution
should be passed immediately CONNER
cial interests are at stake, and no action
tending to their safety can be too imme-
date. 1t is not practicable to talk of a
faster service under present conditions.
The service Is as fast as it can be made
Vice President A. H. Lindeke, who pre-
sided in the absence of r. A Kirk. said:
years has endeavored to get possession Of
University avenue. If this proposed
franchise is granted we might as well
expect to fence In University avenue for
the use OF the company. After the citi-
Zens OF st. Paul let the matter drop some
time ago, Minneapolis took the question
up. Mayor Gray vetoed the action of the
council of that city in favoring the ex-
press line. An attempt to pass the resolu-
tfon over his veto was a failure. Now
the question is taken up again in ST.
Paul. There is no practical way of hav-
ing express service along that avenue ex-
cept by an elevated road. Fifteen years
ago company endeavored to get a fran
chise for such a road. University avenue
must not be covered with switches and
In time, with other lines of rail"
Mr. Lindeke spoke of the burden that
would be Inflicted on students of the uni
versity, who would have to pay a 15-cent
fare. He pointed out that the company
would make it a point to lessen the speed
of its ordinary interurban trains, thus
making their use impractical.
Capt Peter Berkey said that the COM
pany had franchise of great value and
while other cities were securing a de-
crease in street car rates he could see
no reason why St. Paul and Minneapolis
should commit themselves to a PROPOSE
ton which would mean an increase in
fare.
w. L. Chaplin was epigrammatic: '"The
company cannot run two lines on one
track on two time tables
E. w. Peet favored delayed action
so that the members might investigate
E. S. Durment thought that the ques-
ton was generally fully understood. He
was inclined to the opinion that the COM
pany would devote all its attention to the
speed of its express line and that, by the
provisions Of the proposed resolution
granting the franchise the company
would be permitted to lessen the speed
of its regular line as much as 1t de-
sired
]. H. Weed thought that a reduction
of fare, and not all increase, was needed.
It was the many and not the few who
ought to be accommodated.
J. G. Quinby was opposed to the ord-
nance.
W. R. Dorr pleaded for the safety of
University avenue. To grant the fran
chise meant to release all hold on the
highway between the Twin Cities.
Mr. Morphy's motion was lost, and Mr.
Holbert's resolution unanimously adopt
ed The committee appointed to wait on
the council consists of A. H. Lindeke, E.
S. Durment, E. w. Peet, J. D. Ludden
and w. L. Chaplin.
CONSOLIDATION IDEA FRAMED.