The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-04
A FIXE-CENT EaRE

In urban and suburban life one Of The
great developments Of the past few years
has been the greatly added facilities for
cheap and speedy transportation through
the use of the trolley Here in St Paul
We have not made as great advances
in that direction as have been realized
in communities of less population. But
such as we have been provided with
have already developed into good pay
ing properties.
One of the urgent needs Of the city
in this behalf is the establishment of i'm
proved passenger trafic between the
heart of the city and South st. Paul and
vicinity The Great Western Railway
company has for years served the public
wen through its motor service between
Inver Grove and the city. The amplest
depot facilities have been established at
. intervals along the line; and although
they have not been as well patronized
of late years as in the past, they are
Sun available and would be found OF the
greatest value should more perfect sys-
tenn of local passenger service be estab-
lished.
The managers OF the street rail-
way company have been urging on
local authorities the extension to
them of a franchise for the estab-
llshment of a suburban car service
to and from South ST. Paul One of the
conditions they have attached to the es-
Enlistment of such a line is so burden
some as to put the project out Of the
question. The people of South st. Paul
and the other places in the route will
much rather continue to patronize the
existing system maintained by the Great
Western rather than give the st. Paul
City Railway company the privilege 1t
seeks, They are now able to get to the
city on the payment of cents each
way Ia order to do this they are called
on TO buy ten tickets, which in the end
IS the same in point of outlay as q g.
cent fare to those who find it necessary
10 ride regularly on the route A single
fare costs only cents, and the service,
in point of speed and equipment, is not
a all bad
This problem of better service between
South st. Paul and vicinity and the city
is forcing itself steadily on the public at
tentiom 1t is on its face far from being
difficult one. The steam railway has
already supplied the great need of the
public; and with certain improvements
would meet all the requirements of the
situation.
A b-cent fare is a first requirement.
No thought should be entertained Of Civ
Ing a franchise TO any corporation which
was not willing to carry passengers at
cents a head. The advantages which
the existing system possesses in the esti-
nation of the people of South St. Paul
is that the existing population can be
best served along It's route and that there
will be no need to cut up its principal
street for the establishment of another
system.
The people Immediately interested would
probably be glad to have the Great West
ern authorities take this matter up seri-
ously and provide them with added trains
and establish a uniform 5-cent rate. If
that could be done it would not be diff
cult for that corporation to control the
traffic, giving to the public all the con-
veniences they seek through such a
service as the street railway people could
give. In any case the people of both COM
muntties and of all the intervening points
should not seriously entertain any pro-
posal to give franchise to any concern
without having scent rate established.