The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-14

the extension:
John W. Thomas, of the John W. Thomas
& Colt Is high time that the street railway
company extended it's system from Mime
haha Park to Fort Smelling 1t is a remark
able fact that Minneapolis hasn't had street
railway communication with Fort Smelling
Tor many years. AS a business proposition,
It would mean much to both Minneapolis and
the street railway company. With the grow
ing importance of Fort Smelling as an army
post the need for street car service to Min
neapolis is becoming more and more crying
need. Hardly day passes that people from
the Fort, who make weekly excursion to
Minneapolis to trade, don't complain Of the
inadequate transportation facilities between
the fort and this big center of population. It
was only last week that army officer at the
Fort told me this city would get the balance
Of trade from the post II people could get hare
by street cars.
Frederick E. Powers of the Powers Mer-
camille Company-I am heartily in favor of
the construction of the Smelling line as soor
as possible. AS it u.s. st. Paul gets most
Of the trade which Of right belongs to Mime
apolis The people of the post would prefer
to come here If the city was Of convenient ac-
cess. II the street railway company really
wants to open UP a new lire Of business
don't know of any other extension which
could be made in any city in the country
which would prove profitable. The cost of
such an extension would be insignificant and
ought not for a moment to outweigh the bene-
fits to follow to both municipality and cor
poration. " - = Il i
l.. S. Donaldson of Donaldson's Glass Block
You cannot quote me too strongly in favor
OF street railway communication between Min
neapois and Fort Smelling. The business in
forests Of this city have realized for years the
value of such connection, and the sub
ject has been strongly agitated from time to
ina Ther To hut hat
be a paying investment for the street railway
company, from this end of the line alone.
Considering the profit that would thus accrue,
I am at a loss to understand why this extern
sion has not been made long ago. The new
line Of business which would thus be opened
UP to Minneapolis merchants would be a very
considerable item. BY all means let us have
through line to the Fort, and as soon as
possible: ~ -.'- 60.
John F. Evans Of the New Store-It Is
strange that the street railway company, with
such smart man as Thomas Lowry at its
head, cannot realize the good business sense
of putting Minneapolis In touch with Fort
Smelling. There are hundreds and thousands
Of people in this city who would make Fort
Smelling their constant objective point as a
place OF strikingly picturesqueA scenery and
historic interest if they could get there with
out going all around S.. Paul: and half way
gack to this city. Go to Minnehaha Park Of
| summers day and watch the crowds hoof1ng
1t over a rough path to the Fort and you will
appreciate the situation. The Fort is hecon-
ing one of the most important army posts in
the United States and We must cultivate
closer relations with it. The extension should
be-; built Immediately. ~ . I ~
= G. IS. Gordon of the minneapolis Dry Goods
Company-Women shoppers from the Fort
who do manage to get here somehow-even
! If they have to walk two or three miles-are
constantly asking me why Minneapolis is the
victim of such rank discrimination, opposed
| to St. Paul, in not having a street railway
| line to Fort Smelling It would cost the street
! railway comparatively little to put in two or
| three miles Of track. This would permit a
| through line to the Fort and would give us an
advantage over ST. Paul because the West
Seventh street line only reaches to the east
end Of the bridge. AS an investment 1t would
| be big thing for the railway company, and
| Minneapolis business interests generally
| would be greatly benefited. i believe St.
Paul influence has prevented the extension
Of the Minnehaha line SO far
| = HI. Burton of the Plymouth Clothing
| House-If the continuation OF the Minnehaha
line to Fort Smelling would really be a pay
ing investment for the street railway company
I cannot understand why 1t has not been bull:
| long before this, I can hardly say that l
would care to profit at some one else's ex-
pense. But am in favor Of the extension if
|
that addition to It's system-even at loss.
As a general proposition, extensions Of the
street railway to all nearby resorts help bust
ness by opening up new trade feeders,
| w. l.. Harris, President of the New Eng.
land Furniture Company-I feel that the Fort
| Smelling extension of the street car lines
ought to be built as soon as possible. Tho
. connection ia a logical one and would prove
| advantageous to both the transit company )
and to the business men Of the city generally.
| There is large amount Of business at Fort
Smelling which belongs to Minneapolis, and
which would come here if there were sufficient
faculties for reaching the city, and this trade
| should be secured by our business men at
once. In view Of the proposed Improvements
that are to be made at the Fort, there is q
| still greater need OF the extension. I feel
that where one company controls the trans
portation as does the Rapid Transit company
here, such needed connection as the Fort
Smelling extension should be made without
delay.
E. j. Phelps-The business interests OF this
city-aside from the street railway company
have long been at a. loss to understand
why the Minnehaha line has not been com
pleted to Fort Snelling-its natural terminus
No one whom have ever talked with doubt:
but that it would be an excellent business
| Investment The only argument have ever
heard advanced against 1t by the street
railway people was that they would have
trouble getting permission to construct track.
age through the government reserve on which
the fort stands. That Is finnsy argument
for 1 have no doubt but that such permits
sion could readily be granted. Fort Smelling
is United States institution; it does not
belong to st. Paul, Minnesota or Minneap-
oils, but surely a great city so closely sit
uated should have some means OF commune
cation, other than telephone or telegraph
without going twenty miles through another
city. When I was in Washington recently, ]
questioned Congressman Fletcher on tina
score. He said there was nothing, in his
Judgment, to prevent the construction of The
extension, so far as governmental objection
was concerned. No one doubts but that the
extension would mean much for Minneap
oils and the people of the fort which is be
coming one of our great army posts. W.
have tried for years to secure this improve
ment, but thus far the street railway com
pany has managed to dodge the issue.
William Regan of Regan Brothers-Yesr
ago Minneapolis business men were SO i'm
pressed with the value Of transportation IA
cilites between this city and the fort tina
, we seriously considered building an extension
ourselves and operating horse cars thereon
We were defeated in this plan because thu
street railway company refused to lend Vi
the CO. cooperation without which such schem
would have been failure. felt then, ant
, still believe that st. Paul interests were in
. huential enough to keep the people of tn
, fort away from Minneapolis. The compan.
! would make money by the extension. jus
think OF the people who would go to the for
to see guard mount IL there was any direc
way of getting there. There are enough his
toric associations clustering about the oil