The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-22
new LOOP PLAN
Up TO COUNCIL
THE PROJECT rs FORMALLY APP
PROVED IN COMMITTEE.
Alderman Powers Wants Six Fares for
Quarter, and Other Concessions, but
Is Voted Down-He Will Garry the
Fight to the Council Chamber-New
Lines Promised

Another street railway loop in the
downtown district is practically assured
by the action! of the special committee
Of the council yesterday afternoon, in
company be granted permission. to lay
tracks on certain downtown streets. AL
derman Fred M. Powers insisted on sew
eral conditions being inserted in the or
linance, but was voted down and the
Fifth fl street loop plan was approved; i,
way improvements will begin as soon
as the frost is out Of the ground, the
improvements including not only the re-
arrangement Of the tracks on the down
town streets, but the extension Of the
Minnehaha line to Fort Snelling,a cross
haha avenue to Hennepin avenue, and
possibly other improvements
! The new loop plans require tracks on
Fifth street from Hennepin to Fourth
avenue S; Second avenue S from Wash
ington avenue to Sixth street; First ave
nue. N from Washington avenue to- Fifth
street; Third street from Hennepin ave-
nue. to First avenue N; Fourth avenue
S from Washington avenue to Third
street.
Powers Not Vanquished. .
Alderman Powers proposed a whole
handful Of amendments. After four
had been defeated he gave up the fight,
but promised to get busy at the council
meeting tomorrow evening. His strong
est fight was for six fares for, a quarter.
He. called attention to the manner in
was in marked contrast to the
) general attitude Of the Minneapolis
) council toward street railway interests
The privileges sought by the street rail
way company We're worth upwards OF a
I IL 1o11 o4 Il, mo
He cited the case Of Los Angeles. which
had obtained $4,000 for the use Of one
block. Another company seeking ent
rance in Minneapolis would willingly
pay at that rate. for valuable terminals
in this city. He tried to arrange thu
might enter the CITY,. :, - :.
The streets included in the franchise
he argued, did not belong to the owner
Of property along those thorofares, bu
: to the whole people and. they were I'm
l willing to give away valuable privilege
without some compensation, particular!
;, ly in view Of the fact that the ordi
= nance would take all downtown street
: not already occupied by trolley lines an
:, would effectually prevent any. other lin
: from securing a franchise in Mime
apolis. 80. ..-
n HELD Promises New Lines.
= Willard J. Held, general manage
for the street railway company, Will
- inclined to admit that the use of tn
- streets might be more or less VALUABLE
- pointed out that the new loop woul
not bring in a dollars more revenu
=, to the, company, but would mean, on til
- contrary, heavy expense. The ne
I. loop would enable the company to civ
% better service, for which there was a
>, urgent demand. It was not the stree
"a "a railway, company as much as the me
:, chants and the patrons Of the stree
~ ~ cars who would be benefited by tt
in third loop. RI.
He moreover aEg4ed that i the con
e, For q quarter, it would reduce the re,
40 40 nues Of the company by 16 2-3 per cen
90 90 and such a reduction in the incon
~ would be an effectual bar to the in
in provements the company had in COZ
-, - temptation. He asserted positive]
J.. that. the company would extend i
- lines to Fort Smelling next spring ar
tn that the Lake street line would be lai
IS. regardless Of the company's success
ia securing permission to run a line c
a. Marshall avenue in st. Paul in ord'
to complete the third interurban line
: Lester B. Elwood, who obtained tt
n. names on the Fifth-street petitio
- spoke briefly on his experiences in ci
culating the paper. Not only had eve,
plan, but many had volunteered the
services in obtaining more names. T
e. denied positively that pressure had BET
n exerted anywhere, as charged by "A
~ derman Powers, but said every o.
iii signed because he believed that II
"a new loop would be of great. advanta,
a. to the city as whole.