The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-07
she GETS Her VOIERC G. FLOUR hint FOR THIS CITY
Sightseeing Trolley Line Would
Help Minneapolis, Says Joseph
Chapman, Jr.
How Western Cities Have Profted
BY the Plan Rural Lines
Also Needed.

+. 4
Joseph Chapman, Jr., cashier Of the
Northwestern National bank, has just re-
turned from q months trip to the Pacific
coast, during which he heard many kind
ly expressions toward Minneapolis. He
heard 1t intimated by many business men
whom he met that Minneapolis is bound
to become a great commercial center.
s Several things which have aided
the growth OF western towns and which
would tend to increase the Importance of
the flour city. impressed Mr.. Chapman
greatly. Chief among these We're the sys-
tenn of sight seeing cars and interurban
and rural trolley lines.
/ In Denver Mr.. Chapman found tucked
under the door Of his hotel room cir
cular of the Seeing Denver Observation
Cars company. This is the II. j. May
ham Investment company's plan which is
IN operation in several cities Of the coun-
try, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles,
Milwaukee, Boston, New York, Washing
ton and Philadelphia. The Denver line
illustrates what the company does for
other cities and might do for Minneapolis.
Personally Conducted Trips.
Every arrival at the hotels receives one
Of these circulars, advertising a trip thru
the city for Is cents. The trips are made
twice day in charge of conductor who
explains everything to be seen. The trips
last two hours and cover about twenty
seven miles. When a fine residence is
passed, the conductor tells who the owner
IS, how he made his money, and all about
him. He shows where the first gold was
taken out of Cherry creek and points out
to the tourists other historical points, In
TACT, traveller who has not the slightest
idea What to do with himself, or how
| to get about the town, who places himself
In charge of one Of these conductors, gets
! more Information than he could out of a
! volume in days reading. The office Of
the company at the Brown Palace hotel
Is also bureau of information where a
stranger may learn anything about the
| city.
In his travels Mr.. Chapman has discov-
cred that nearly every large city, save
Minneapolis, has one of these sight seeing
lines The attention of the public affairs
committee of the Commercial club will be
| called to the matter as Minneapolis pos
sibility.
Los Angeles a Lively City.
Los Angeles" said Mr.. Chapman,
was, think, the liveliest city | Wis
tied They seem to have a great boom on
there. Los Angeles has profited greatly
| thru it's interurban and rural electric
lines. service which Minneapolis lacks.
These practically have made all the sur
rounding towns suburbs Of that city and
Los Angeles has profited in the business
! which it has thus secured.
! Ihey believe in Los Angeles, and it is
true. that if the people are provided with
facilities TO rtravel that they will travel
/ 1t has been said that these roads won't
make money, but they will. l made the
/ trip from Tacoma to Seattle thirty five
miles, in a short time and the company is
preparing to reduce that running time
I by improvement of the service"
i Why can't we have rural and interurban
lines here? This is question which
! strikes Mr.. Chapman hard. since his in.
1 vestigation of the benefits accruing tc
the western towns by increased business
derived from the trolley car service to ths
1surrounding country e17T#a
Mr.. Chapman admitted that he was be:
hind the times and that he did not know
I what progress had been made in the au
ditorium and arnlory plan since he lef
Minneapolis, but as an evidence Of tn.
public spirit of some western cities h,
mentioned a case in Helena, a town O.
lsome $4,000 inhabitants. At a. M ont
Monday the leading club burned.
I One Of the fine residences Of the cit,
was leased and before night service wa.
resumed. The club cost $780, 900 and tn,
Insurance was $65. 900, leaving $s5, 90,
which was raised by subscription befor.
Friday afternoon.