The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-17
NEW 'IONKA
TROLLEY PLAN
Joseph Kiichli Said to Back a Pro-
ject Not Opposed by the
T. g. r. T. ~
Rapid Transit Official Admits Having
Heard of Plan of Mr..
Kiichli.
Thinks Such a Line Could Secure
Running Rights in the ...
City. -.....

Joseph Kiichli is understood to be
back Of plan to build a trolley line
to Lake Minnetonka, a plan which the
Twin City Rapid Transit company
will not oppose. c. G. Goodrich, vice
president of the Rapid Transit COM
pany, in New York, yesterday, said
that the company had considered the
matter of building a line to Mime
tonka, but the point had not yet been
reached where the plan appealed to
the company as paying proposition.
He had heard of the Kiichli plan and
thought it likely, If the North Side
man actually went so far as to build
such line. it would not be difficult to
arrange for running rights into the
city. His company, however, would
not be able to furnish power for such
line. This would necessitate building
power-house for the Minneapolis
MinnetOnka line.
Somebody Is Figuring. ~
Without doubt the promoters Of
some line are figuring on road to
the lake by using the roadbed of the
old Hutchinson branch Of the Great
Northern road from Hopkins to Elk
celsior on the south shore Of Lake
Minnetonka. abandoned when the
Great Northern extended the Spring
Park line on the north shore to Hutch
lnson thru Mound.
IL 10 5uSSeSleu lIldI the promoters
OF the enterprise are the men repre-
sented by DR.. G. O. Straub, who OBJ
tanned franchises from the county
commissioners for q line to Anoka and
for line to Chaska, for the operation
OF which from 5000 to 10000 horse
power has been secured at Elk River.
Mr. Goodrich, as stated, says the
Rapid Transit company is not ready
to put into execution a plan to build
TO the lake. President Lowry neither
affirms nor denies the company's con-
nect1on with the present plan. But a
county commissioner admits that GER
tain interests are figuring on obtain
ing the old right Of way which was
bought by the county about two years
ago last spring and which has been
used for a cycle path to the lake. No
definite proposition had been made,
however, for the purchase of this
property.
Legal Nuts to Crack.
Should proposition be made to the
commissioners, a whole hornets nest
of questions will be released on the
county attorney. Has.1nust determine
whether this right of way, not haE-
ing been used as a. county road, can
be sold at all by the county for this
purpose. Whether the railway COM
pany can exercise the right Of eminent
domain and condemn the property.
Whether, because "a road cannot ex-
ercise: the right Of eminent domain
In the case of a street, it is trus pro-
hibited from condemning the right Of
way. Whether, altho.. in name a
cycle path, by the falling away of
wheeling and the comparative disuse
of the path, it is a street or road in
any sense and therefore cannot be
condemned. He must decide whether
the commissioners have a right q
sell the property, and whether if they
do not sell the attorneys for the rail-
road can institute condemnation pro-
Ceedings at all. -..-- =. 49,
Around the Lakes.
Developments of important moment
are likely to follow the acquisition of
the roadbed by the proposed electric
line. This would be the first step in
establishing a2abelt line around the
upper and lower lakes. From near
Chowen's corners the line for the
north shore would branch toward
Wayzata and the other line might be
extended from Excelsior to Tenka
Bay to circle the lower lake and also
around the upper lake from Manitou
to Mound and Spring Park, meeting
near the narrows the line betting the
lower lake thru the Beach and Fern
dale to Wayzata., ..- 80, -.
From Hopkins to Minneapolis the
Walker line could be utilized to Hen
Hepin avenue. Naturally, from this
point the company, which is said to
plan other extensions, would depend
upon the street railway to interchange
service. The refusal of Mr.. Lowry in
New York to either affirm or deny the
rumor in regard to the Minnetonka
s{project indicates that he knows Of it
1t is presumed that Mr.. Iowry's com:
pany in building across Lake or Thir-
ty-frst street from the Selby line al
Prior avenue in st. Paul to Nicollet
would be glad to make a thru connec.
ton to Lake Minnetonka and inter
change service, with the new company
in return.
: It is understood that the stree,
: railway company. intends to make nc
effort to block the purpose of the
Straub lines to land Anoka and Chas.
ka; people in the heart Of the city by
using It's tracks from the city limits
and for the same reason would be
glad to make similar arrangements fol
the lake line, whoever is back Of it.