The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-05
STREET CAR STRIKE
One Of the Kind in Which Axes Are
Welded Takes Place
..> r. Here.
Cars of Ancient Patterns Are the
Victims, and Women Do
g.. the Striking, -.

She simply seized an ak and chopped in
the side Of the electric car. One blow de-
stroyed two windows. The next rendered
several seats less comfortable than the
highest and the most wildly swaying
strap. The third so exposed the internal
anatomy of the coach, its stiffened can
vas and other surprising substitutes be-
meath the fair complexion of green paint,
that the womans assertion that "nobody'u
ever ride in that old car again. was en-
tirely accurate.
A splendid privilege hers. 1t would often
crafty other women whom the conductors
carry beyond their corner or whom no
But the feminine Attilla welding her ak
no matter how long the ladies have stood
on the corner wigwagging gently with
small kid glove. -.
avenue, south of Thirty first street,
was seeking firewood yesterday morning,
and not revenge: II II she gloated over her
dismembered victim, her chuckles were
echoed by the, conductor and motorman
standing above, her on, the track at Bryant
mere Carrie Nations at practice. Two
and looking down from the street ennbank
ment into the vacant lot east of Bryant
avenue. Along this lot "resounded the
crash Of many axes. Nor were all the
Saracens welding their valiant weapons
mere, Carrie Nations at practice. Two
men and numerous boys were reducing to
their1lowcst terms ancient and dismantled
+ street cars, sent to the scrap heap ceme-
terry by the Twin City Rapid Transit com
pany. -. -' g..
Car No. 1852. 49,
The grass for many square rods through
out this lot is thick with strips of rusted.
tin, scraps. or painted canvas, fragments
of, broken glass; and bits of distorted iron.
Elsewhere the turf Is yblackened by the
fires set. to separate from the rejected
woodwork what iron, the company cares to
take away. Alongside these vertfble ele-
ments of transportation stands upon it's
head to-day No. 152, a dumpy green car,
| whose outlines. still surviving yesterdays
descent of the suburban Huns, show glist
ening evidences that the venerable little
| car had painted shamelessly In its old age
| For No. 152, although subsequently, al
| tered to admit of electric propulsion, was
once upon a time half torpid, half spas
modic horse car, that traversed Washing
| ton avenue at the mean rate Of six miles
! almost every hour. Two horses, and, at
times two mules, ~spattered through the
mud off, the unpaved street, jerking this
car gradually forward with the aid of rope
! .'traces' and the drivers nimble whip.
If promptly hailed, the driver would re-
volve rapidly the shining, solid iron head
OF his single brake. The horses needed no
other hint to stop. They started again,
| equally automatic, upon hearing the rat
leling "ge-up" Of the unwinding brake.
Within the car the passengers occupied
hard wooden side seats, destitute of car
pet or other covering. If the streets were
muddy, the aisle, having no lattice work
carpet was muddy also, and slippery
| No conductor accompanied the ancient
bob tails" The passengers poked their
nickel through slot in the door into a
receptacle over which the driver kept
watch, or else they inserted the money
into glass and brass box at one side Of
:. the door, and: took care that the dropping
coin rang bell before descending to join
the heap of nickels at the bottom.
| Not until No. 1852 was several years of
age did it acquire this very modern fare
bank, and a brass tube was placed
| all along the car sides above the seats, so
that passengers could deposit their fares
! without coming forward, No. 152 was held
to be a triumph Of urban convenience.
| = One Of the First EIectrIes.
/ But No. $50, one Of the first electric
cars proper, lies wrecked and forgotten
beside No. 1872 Another car left to
perish is numbered as high as 1916. I'm
fact" said a street railway employee,
! we're getting rid of all the old, small
and bone breaking equipment on the
line" ..- r. -. 1899 49, ;.
Six cars have gone to the scrap heap
within the last few days. and. a score of
cars have been broken and burnt of late
] in the vacant lot on Bryant avenue.