The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-20
Thomas Lowry Says Work
Will Soon Begin.
PROBABLY BY LAKE ST.
Only a Three Mile Gap Between the
Systems There.
A LINK IN THE MINNEToNKA LINE
The Extension Up Lake ST. Would
Also Ultimately Give "a Cross
Town Line.

Thomas Lowry, president of the Twin
City Rapid Transit company, has finally
admitted that work will be begun upon a
third interurban line either this winter
or next spring. Heretofore Mr.. Lowry
has contented himself with the state
ment that the line would be built as soon
as the traffic seemed to warrant it, but
yesterday, to a party of New York capi-
talists, he said that the time had now ar
rived for the company to increase it's
interurban facilities, and added that work
would begin shortly.
Moreover, although he declined to dis
cuss the matter Of route, he admitted that
the additional track to be constructed
was only about three miles in length; and
that means one Of two things 1t means
either an extension Of the Prior avenue
line in st. Paul, or an extension to the
present Grand avenue line.
A Start on the 'TOnka Line.
In all probability the former route will
be the one utilized, as it would send the
cars into Minneapolis over Lake street,
thus forming the first link in a through
line from St. Paul to Minnetonka, a plan
which the company has had under con-
sideration for some time.
The extension, then. will probably con-
tinue out Marshall avenue to the river,
cross the Lake street bridge, and continue
on Lake street to Minnehaha avenue,
where the Minnehaha tracks will be used
to Washington, and the Washington
tracks into the central districts of Mime
apolis.
This means a route considerably shorter
than the present Como interurban, and
will permit at least as fast time as is now
possible over the University line. The
connecting link covers distance of about
three miles, and thus comes within Mr..
Lowry's statement.
Ultimately the plan contemplates an
extension of the line along Lake street TO
st. Louis Park and thence to Hopkins,
over the present tracks. From there a
line will be built4to Minnetonka, striking
the lake somewhere near Hotel st. Louis,
| ana probably continuing on to Excelsior.
White Bear Results Encouraging.
1t is said that the company's deter
mination to begin work at once upon this
extension was reached after careful con-
sideration Of the returns from the through
| Minneapolis-White Bear service last sum-
mer 1t was argued that if Minneapolis
residents were willing to make the long
trip to White Bear via street cars, they
| would patroniZe a Minnetonka line in
large numbers, and that the St. Paul
erably more than had been expected.
Naturally the first step in the construc-
tion of such a line was the building of
tracks between Selby avenue and Mime
haha avenue In this city, and in all prob
| ability that much will be accomplished
before next fall. There appears to be only
one difficulty in the way of the plan, and
that can be obviated by utilizing the
present Merriam Park extension, which
runs from Marshall avenue to University,
| as spur track, with transfers from the
main line, good anywhere in the Merriam
Park district.
In addition to other advantages to be
secured through the construction of a
through st. Paul -Minnetonka line, there
| has long been a need of cross-town line
in Minneapolis, and this need would be
supplied by the Lake street route.
The earnings Of the Twin City Rapid
Transit company have shown steady in
crease during the past few years, and for
that reason the officials of the company
feel that they are warranted in extending
the service.
The much-discussed Fort Smelling route
Is believed to be too roundabout to be
of any value as a means of travel be-
tween the two cities, and what is more,
would traverse a district only sparsely
settled. The Grand avenue line is open
to the same objections, and consequently
it seems almost certain that the Lake
street route will be the one selected.