The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-07-25
bids for the construction Of eleven
proposed lines Of street railway to

proposed lines Of street railway to
carry passengers at rate of fare not
to exceed 8 cents. The bids received
were opened few days ago in the city
clerks office and to the surprise of the
city officials present, it was found
that there We're but two bidders, and
these covered only one route each.
leaving nine routs without bids. The
result III this case would indicate eth
er Il combine on the part of the bid
ders. or lack of confidence on the part
of those desiring to invest in the wis
dom of the undertaking. Those op-
posed to 3-cent fare would argue
from this, that capital was deferred
from investing, because the returns
would not compensate for the outlay.
Th1s argument might apply in the case
of Cleveland and other cities where
there are more than one street railway
system operating the city lines, but in
cities like Minneapolis and st. Paul,
where one company controls the en-
tire trackage, there is no reason why
Il 3-cent fare could not be introduced
with profit to the company as we'll
as to the street car patrons. Some
time ago Alderman Gerber, in our city
council, gave notice that he intended
to Introduce an ordinance calling for
Scent fare during certain hours of
the morning and evening, but the
ordinance was never introduced. This
was later explained by the fact that
the company's charter provides for
minimum rate of cents. Thus it is
optional with the company to favor it's
patrons with a 3-cent fare. This be-
ing the case it becomes the duty of
the city to show to the satisfaction of
the company that such a change would
be Il benefit to them as we'll as those
who patroniZe their street cars, and
there is no doubt that this can be
done. The street railway company is
not disposed to stand in the way of
any change that would result in
swelling their funds. and now it is up
to such public bodies as the city
council and the Commercial. club to
bring about this much needed change.
When the question of an all-night
service OH the principal car lines of
this city and st. Paul was first dis
cussed it was the unqualified opinion
of the street railway management
that it was impracticahle and unprofit-
able, and was not demanded by any
considerable number of citizens, and
when it was shown that the points
raised by the company were not we'll
taken, the latter agreed to make an
experiment anyway, promising to give
the scheme a trial, and in the event
of it proving success, would be con-
tinucd. The results have so satisfied
the company that both cities have an
nll-night car service which has proved
a money maker from the start, and
great blessing to hundreds of people
whose vocations keep them at work
till the early hours of the mornin.
Let the Scent fare be taken up and
agitated as was the night service, and
the street railway company will not
stand in the way. 1t is very doubtful
If the company will agree to do any
thing for a year or perhaps more in
view of the fact that it is about to
begin the construction of large and
cOmmOtliOus shops in the interurban
district. The shops and power house
at Nicollet avenue and Thirty-first
street have long since been over
crowded, and the company, finding
itself powerless to increase it's facili-
ties there, bought some thirty acres of
unocc,lpied land in the midway dis
trict, where it will concentrate it's con-
Struction and repair plant in the near
| future. This means large outlay of
money and until these proposed inn
provemcntS are completed the COM
pany doubtless. will not consider any
proposition looking to a reduction in
car fares But. just the same, this is
the proper time to begin agitating til"
question. All changes for the hotter.
no matter in what direction. require
an amount of time for thought. DELHI
Grafton and discussion in proportion
to their magnitude and Importance.
Subjects of small moment are easily
taken up and quickly disposed of, but
it will take time to get the street rail-
| way company to adopt the :'-ccnt fare,
and the sooner the ball is put in mo-
ton the better. The Commercial club
can do Il great deal in bringing about
this change for the better if it will.
AsSHssilEtiOns seem to be in order
again in Kentucky. Recent advices
from that state Indicate a sad and de-
plornble state of affairs. 1t is said
that Il. l.. Even who testified some
time ago against the assassins of
MArcunl. Jet and White. has already
made his will and arranged all his
affairs. 1t is well known that after
testitying against these two men his
hotel was fired. and to show their APP
probation of his fearlessness in testi,