The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-03
HAS MANY ENEMIES
ORDINANCE ALLOWING FAST IN
TERURBAN CONDEMNED BY
PROPERTY OWNERS
COMMITTEE HEARS PROTESTS

Attorney Nj. ID. Mum Pleads for n
Trial of the Fast Line, and If in
Three Years 1t Does Not Prove
No Action Taken by the Alder
manic Committee on Streets.
An audience of 500 persons packed the
council chamber last evening to protest
to the aldermanic committee on streets
against the passage of the ordinance
granting to the street railway company
the right to operate fast interurban
line on University avenue There were
over score Of speakers and but two
of the number spoke in favor of the
ordinance. The two who thought 1t
would be good thing were M. D. Mum,
attorney for the street railway company,
and Pierce Butler Mr. Mum was out
spoken in his views, while Mr.. Butler
touched the matter very delcately, TAX
ing the ground that rapid transit was
desirable If 1t was possible to have it
without impairing the present interurban
service or damaging the property along
the avenue. He intimated that by hav-
ing the ordinance properly drafted both
these objections could be overcome and
the city benefited materially by faster
service between the two cities AL the
other speakers were opposed to the ordi-
nance and for various reaso2s
Il. w. Peet, one of the last speakers,
made a suggestion which appeared to
strike the members of the council, the
audience and the street railway repre-
sentatives very favoraby. 1t was that
the fast line be operated on the Selby
avenue line to Marshall and Prior ave-
nues, and from that point the company
build new line on Marshall avenue to
connect with its line which now runs
from Minneapolis to Minnehaha
wee President Goodrich, when asked
by q reporter as to the feasibility or pos
sibility of such a line, after the meeting
adjourned, said 1t was both feasible and
possible, the only objection being that as
the fast lnterurban line was Ia ~gely an
experiment the Marshall avenue scheme
would necessitate the construction of
over three miles of double track
The committee, after hearing the
speeches and receiving the petitions both
for and against the passage of the ordi-
the matter again until its next regular
meeting, which is scheduled for Oct H.
1t is not likely that the ord nance in
It's present shape will be recommended
by the committee for passage, and even
should this be done there are enough
In the board of aldermen who have openly
stated they would not vote for it to pre-
vent its passage.
DETAILS OF THE MEETING.
The meeting was called to order by
Aid. SHEPARD, chairman of the COMMITTEES.
and after the ordinance had been read
M. D. Mum was called upon to explain
the position OF the company to those
present.
Mr. Mum said the company desired the
discussion free. The company felt the
ordinance interested the entire city, more
than 1t did the property owners along
the avenue. When an ordinance allowing
the line to be built; was presented in 1889
there was OBJECTION by owners. The fast
line was an experiment. There had been
demand by the business peopie for faster
transportation between the Twin Cities
for some time.
The speed of the cars under zhe erdi-
nance would not be On the average any
higher than at 1present. The actual run
Z ming tine OF the epresent cars was <but
twenty-four minutes. There were now
on an average sixty stops between the
cities. and the time was lost on the stops
Ely eliminating the stops the distance
col.d Ice made in thirty minutes. The
question was frequently asked. Mr.. Mum
continued, why charge fifteen cents? The
reason for this was that local travel
would not bring any revenue to the line
The company only asked for three years
and If it did not prove satisfactory it
would be discontinued The ordinance
could be amended so as to provide for
only two years.
AS to the avenue, it was a public thor
oughfare, and if he owned property
along the street he would probably OBJ
iect The line would be of advantage to
| the entire city and the city at large
| would be benefited. The privilege of
| stopping the cars at Prior avenue could
| be put ir and the cars stopped there if
| if the council so desired
| George +. Rowland questioned If the
| company had not violated it's franchise
| by running its cars at a rate of twenty
| five miles per hour.
FIGHT in THE COURTS.
Jared How said he appeared as a paid
attorney, the same as did Mr.. Mum. Mr.
Mum, as the attorney of the railroad,
| put cogent reasons why the line should
be ordered. He appeared ior the prop
|
AS a proposition of Justice, Mr.. How as
serted, 1t was not right to take away the
i street given by the owners to the public
and give 1t to a grasping Minneapolis
monopoly. Thare was he demand for
the fast service. Petitions had been pre-
! scented asking for the passage of the or
| dinance. He guaranteed that inside of a
week he could get petition signed by
more names to hang Thomas Lowry In
the course of his remark: Mr.. How stat
| ed that the East service would never 80
| into operation Until after an appeal ID
the courts.
F. L. McGhee said if the benefits from
| TIE line Were IN the interest of the busi-
| ness men and merchants of st. Paul, 1t
would be a good idea to have the bust
ness men arrange with the steam railway
| companies and have trains run from Min
! neapolis to ST. Paul. The company claim
| ed that the extra nickel was asked for
| becaues of the increased cost He has
| been informed that it cost less to run a
| fast car than slow one. 1t had been
argued that the local people should be
willing to be delayed in order to accom-
nodate the BUSINESS men of the Twin
Cities The poor ]aboring man was en-
| titled to as fast transportation as tho
business men. It was impossible to run
! six fast cars an hour and not4inlpair the
rate Of speed of the local cars. The peo-
Die Of the Eighth ward. and particularly
| hn