The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-29
No Third Interurban Likely
in 1902.
THUS QUOTH Mr.. LOWRY
Some Straight Talk About the Rail-
road Merger.
COMPETITION is NECESSARY
Hill May Guard the Northwest, but
Is Not ImmOrtal-SOO Remains
independent.

Thomas Lowry, president Of the 500
railway system, and head Of the Twin
City Rapid Transit company, returned
this morning from New York Mr.. Lowry
said that his trip east had no connection
with construction plans of the street rail-
way system for next year as had been re-
ported. He said that the general policy
Of reconstruction followed by the street
railway company for many years would be
continued next year, and that this means
a large outlay of money as has been the
case during the present year. Twin City
Rapid Transit improvements for this year,
he said, would cost over 100000. For
many years the annual expenditure has
been from $1,000 to $600,00O. This year
the company has added sixty-two new
cars to it's equipment at a cost Of $4,000
each. He says that the big cars are being
placed on all lines as fast as possible.
No Third Interburban In 1902.
1.-The story that I went east to attend
meeting of the directors of the Twin
City company is wrong" said Mr.. Lowry.
There was nothing to demand such
conference. No decision hasSbeen reached
as to the building of the third interurban
line. That it will be built during 1902 is
not probable The Minnetonka line will
not be built next year"
Mr.. Lowry admitted that the next inter
urban line would probably be an extension
of the Selby avenue line in st. Paul across
the Lake street bridge and from there
across town to the Harriet line by way of
Thirty y-f1rst street, as has been predicted.
He said that while in the east he had
given no Interview nor made any state
ment that this line was to be built soon.
Talks About the Merger.
Mr. Lowry was asked whether he con-
sidered the Northern Securities merger
actual railroad consolidation. He said
that that was legal proposition, ques-
tion for the lawyers, He did not, how
ever think It would affect the acturl op-
Grafton of the roads Involved.
In answer to the question if the elm
ination of railway competition in the
northwest, which was the end sought in
the organization of the Northern secu-
rifles company, was detrimental to the
interests Of the northwest, Mr.. Lowry
said:
Generally speaking the elimination Of
competition is detrimental to the inter
ests Of the country-or the theory Of all
of our laws is wrong"
There was cited to Mr.. Lowry the ar
hot ho of T
Hill. president Of the Northern Securities
company, had been the development and
Improvement of the northwest; that his
policy toward northwestern interests had
never been Destructive that having been
instrumental in developing the territory
traversed by these lines, he could be de-
pended upon for just policy toward it
in future, notwithstanding the fact that
he might have absolute power in trans
portation affairs in the northwest. Mr.
Lowry answered:
Mr.. Hill Great, but Not immortal.
"Mr Hill is undoubtedly a great man.
He has done much for the northwest. But
as question of general policy, cannot
bring myself to believe that placing the
northwest under the power of one man or
set of men is anything but wrong. Grant
ing all that is said in favor of Mr.. Hill,
and his good intentions toward the north
west, it must be remembered that he will
not live always, and thus the northwest
would have no real security for the
future"
There have been reports, Mr.. Lowry,
that the 500 and the Canadian Pacific
were to be brought under the influence Of
the persons represented in the community
of interest arrangement. Is there any
foundation for this talk?''
500 to Remain Independent.
None that know of. AS far as l know,
such a state of affairs is not probable.
think its results would be detrimental to
this section. AS long as the 500 remains
independent, the. northwest is assured that
competition between railroad systems is
not to be entirely eliminated, and the 500
as an independent system has bright pros
pects.'
Mr.. Lowry said that he spent but few
moments with President Roosevelt while
in Washington and that he did not men
tion the Northern Securities merger nor
any kindred subject as had been reported
in some papers.
General Manager E. E. Pennington. of
the 500, said that he did not believe that
the community of interest" as applied
to the three roads in which Mr.. Hill is
interested would result in any detriment
to the northwest. He said that the tend
ency of rates was downward; that rates
have been reduced so per cent since 1880;
and that any attempt toward unreasonable
action on the part of the roads would re-
suit in the construction of new lines.
There were many influences, he said.
which would dictate just policy on the
part of the roads.
President Lowry said that 500 exten-
sion plans for next year were not COM
plete The program had not been de-
cided upon.