The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-26
OPPOSE HIGHER FARE
MERRIAM PARK CITIZENS OBJECT
TO GIVING STREET RAILWAY
MORE CONCESSIONS
MASS MEETING FOR TONIGHT

MASS MEETING FOR TONIGHT
One Is Called to Be Held at the
Council Chamber to Present the
Views OF the Public on the Street
Railway Question as Regards the
Proposed Ordinance Providing
for Fast Interurban Service.
The citizens of Merriam Park to the
number of twenty-five met last evening
at 1857 ST. Anthony avenue to DISCUSS
the proposed ordinance granting to the
street railway company the right to oper-
ate a fast interurban line between the
Twin Cities and charge l5-cent Iare Luz
passengers riding on the fast cars
A resolution introduced by Rev. w. Z.
Covert was after some discussion passed
unanimously, and committee Oh hlleeil
announced a willingness to present tne
same at meeting Of the aldermanlc COM
mittee on streets to be held Saturday
evening, at which time the proposed ordl-
nance will be discussed. The resolution
was as follows:
That we are opposed to granting any
further concessions in the way OF extra
fares, express trains, ETC., to the Twin
City Rapid Transit company on Uniyers-
fly avenue.
c. A Magnuson was chosen chairman
and F. j: Cropey secretary. The cha1r-
man stated that the object Of the meet
ing was to discuss the proposed ordinance
and the question was whether the peo-
pie Of Merriam Park wanted the kind OF
service provided by the measure. If not,
then the alderman Of the ward should be
notified so as to govern his actions &C
cordingly.
Aid. Shepard, the representative OF the
ward In the board, informed the audience
that he had not been advised as to the
ordinance further than such mention as
had appeared in the papers. He sug-
gested that perhaps it would be better to
discuss the measure at the meeting OF
the committee on streets to be held Sat
urday evening, rather than at the pres
ent time. There had been. he said, con-
siderable protesting against the ordinance
by residents of the Eighth ward, and
particularly by those who did not own
any property along the line. In answer
to a query as to the benefits to be de-
rived by fast line to Merriam Park,
Aid. Shepard declared that no ordinance
would go through which did not provide
for the fast cars stopping at Prior avenue.
Aid. Shepard read from the ordinance
presented two years ago by the COM
pany clause, which he had inserted at
that time, to the effect that the fast cars
would have to stop at Prior avenue, both
coming and going. If the proposed ordi-
nance should pass Aid. Shepard said 1t
would contain a clause similar to this.
He further explained that as the cars
were run now f1fty-two stops were made
between Rice street and University ave-
nue. and Oak street in Minneapolis. Each
stop meant loss Of one-half a minute,
and If no stops were made a saving In
time Of twenty-six minutes would be
made in the running time.
E. A Paradis suggested that perhaps
it would be better to know what the
ordinance was before any very strong
kick was made against it. Rev. w. G.
Covert inquired what the company was
to pay for the concessions granted 1t I'm
der the proposed ordinance. Any valuable
concession to a line which as now oper-
ated was a perfect bonanza, he thought,
should be opposed unless some compensa-
4
presented and secured the passage Of a
resolution to the effect that the meeting
oppose all increase Of fare on the inter
urban or any other line He followed
this up by introducing another resolution
which recited opposition to any fast limo
on which transfers were not accepted
from the Selby avenue line at Prior ave-
nue., and which did not provide for the
stopping of cars at Prior avenue.
q. G. c. Waller opposed the resolution for
the reason that it gave the Midway dis
trict the best Of it, as against other parts
of the city. He agreed with Mr.. Covert
that it was mistake to grant any fur
Their concessions to the company unless
such concessions were paid for The
people should not grant further conces-
sions to any monopoly unless the city
was paid we'll for them. If the resolution
introduced by Mr.. Paradis was adopted
the word would go out that the residents
of Merriam Park favored anything that
would give them the best Of the bargain.
There was no demand for the line, ex-
cept from the company, which hoped to
increase it's receipts so per cent by the
proposed ordinance.
Mr. Paradis thought there was a de-
mand for the fast line, but as 1t would be
better for the Midway district not to have
one, he withdrew his resolution and ia
vored the one drawn UP by Mr.. Covert.
given above, which was adopted.
G. w. Larl1in wanted a committee ap-
pointed to present the resolution to the
council and suggested the circulation Of
a petition protesting against the pas
sage Of the ordinance. Chairman Magnu-
son argued that a big delegation from the
ward would have more effect on the
council or committee on streets than a
petition or even the eloquent oratory Of
former Attorney General Childs.
The allusion to the oratOrical ability Of
Mr.. Childs brought that gentlemen to his
feet with a statement that the question
Of q fast line should be considered on
broad grounds, and the masses should be
considered rather than any district Of the
city. 1t was question whether the fast
line would not be Of benefit to the city
and the citizens. He was not prepared to
say that 1t would or would not, but he adj
vised careful consideration Of the ques-
ton.
Chairman Magnuson suggested that the
same end could be attained by having the
cars run more frequently and by so do
ing do away with the necessity of q fast
line.
Aid Shepard did not believe that more
cars would remedy the fast transporta-
ton question. The demand for the line,
he said, was by the business and pro-
fessional men, and particularly the job
bers.
The Eleventh ward alderman was in
terrupted at this point in his remarks
by Nick Weller, Of the Eighth Ward
Citizens union, who declared that there
must be some mistake as to the demands
of the business men, as he had made a
careful canvass of the business district
and found no such expression.
Aid. Shepard hedged a bit by saying
that he knew when a similar ordinance
was presented some years ago the bust