The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-18
ELEVATED INTERURBAN LINE.

Even the general public have long
recognized that the means furnished by
the Twin City Rapid Transit company
for conveying passengers between the
two cities is in every respect made
quate to the public demand. The serv-
ice is poor in almost every requisite.
The time consumed is too great; the
personal accommodations are INSULT
cient, and the charge is exorbitant.
Some months ago it was pointed out
by those competent to judge that with
the necessary franchise forthcoming
one or more interurban lines could be
profitably maintained on a charge of 5
cents each way. Such lines have be-
come a grave public necessity. The
packing of passengers, as at present
made necessary by the inadequacy of
the service and the absence of all sense
of responsibility on the part of those
in control, would not be tolerated in
any other community or communities
similarly situated to these two cities.
Of course the evil will be maintained,
with increasing proportions each day
as long as there is no prospect of op-
position. 1t is equally certain that
there will be no reduction in the pres
ent eXorbitant charge of 10 cents from
one city to the other, until the transit
company is obliged to make it. There
is no way in. which either result can
be accomplished except by the estab-
lishment of opposition lines.
The proposed establishment of an
elevated interurban line seems to fur
nish the solution of the difficulty. That
undertaking is now under way. The
Glo e is not able at this time to in
sIst that those in search of such a
franchise should have it placed at their
disposal. 1t is plain however, as a
business proposition, that the time has
come for the establishment of such
line or lines, and that by their estab-
ishment all the evils from which the
people of both cities and visitors now
suffer can be removed.
An elevated interurban line, carving
passengers each way for 5 cents a
head, and making the trip in a half
hour or less, instead of in fifty minutes
and often an hour and over, as at
present, would secure the limit of pub
lie patronage, and would be able to
establish enough local traffic to make
it very profitable business undertake
ing.
1t is not consistent with the public
safety that the surface cars should be
allowed to run through crowded thor
oughfares at the rate of speed which
would be necessary to making the en-
tire trip in thirty minutes between the
cities. The experience we now have
through the Saltwater cars of having
the limit of speed maintained certainly
constitutes standing warning against
the practice; while the public of both
cities have made it plain that the
schemes of the Minneapolis corpora
ton to run express cars at high rate
of speed on the surface of the streets
will never be sanctioned
T h e Glob be welcomes the project
of one or more overhead interurban
lines, and hopes that those who have
It in hand will succeed in carrying it
TO a successful issue. Whether it is
entitled to the public sustainment un-
der all circumstances must of course
depend on the extent of the privileges
sought and the concessions which its
projectors are ready to make to the
public to secure the necessary fran
chise.