The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-14
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.

DeeH IHuCH slower III CfyStdlliAlI5 ohu
in getting itself expressed than we
could desire, and Is still not sufficient
'Iy unified to strike the hammer blows
that it ought. Enough has been said,
however, at the various meetings, and
tions to tell the city council what the
public needs and what as a whole it
desires.
The Dale street route is the one that
should be adopted for a cross town
line, because it is obviously the best.
Not another street has been named
which is not open to serious objec-
tions. Not another street that could
be followed would serve SO many
people or give SO much convenience to.
travel. In furnishing cross town
transportation the Dale street line is
incomparably most suitable.
The objections raised against it have
neither public spirit nor good, sound
reason behind them. They are urged
by property owners, whose idea Of the
effect of cross town line is based
upon their prejudice or their fears.
rather than their judgment. That
such a line would injuriously affect
property values, that it would in any
way detract from the comfort Or the.
profit Of property owners along the
line is a pure delusion. Dale street
can never be a strictly residence thor
oughfare. That was settled long ago..
Whether the street car line is built
along it or not, it's general character
is fixed and will remain the same.
We cannot imagine the origin of
the fanciful notion that the building of
a car line is a detriment. Take Grand
avenue, for instance, which Is fair
illustration because 1t, like Dale
street, runs through residence. por-
ton of the city. There is more busi-
ness on Dale street today, more shops
and stores and business interests,
without any car line, than on Grand
avenue with one. The building of the
Grand avenue line was OF great value
to property most intimately concerned.
There is more building going on on
property facing upon this street or
anywhere else on the hill. Ask the
Grand avenue property owner about
the destructive effect of the car line,
and he will laugh at you.
The same will be true of Dale
street. Business has already got a
good grip on the thoroughfare. Prob
ably the building of a cross town line
would not cause the opening Of any
other store anywhere. 1t would not,
because it could not, interfere with
ordinary traffic. The objectors argue
as if the building Of car line put a
veto on all other use of the street.
This is absurd Neither would the
cross town line deteriorate the value
of residence property, as can be shown
from Grand avenue and elsewhere.
We are compelled to believe that the
objection to this route has no better
foundation than the mere disinclina-
ton of few people to have a street
railway line run past their property.
OF course if this is valid, not a foot
of new line can ever be built again
anywhere in this city. Ought any
such proposition be allowed to stand
in the way of the public interest?
Ought these gentlemen not to waive
their personal feelings and desires in
view of the larger stake?
The great majority of the people in
the hill district want this line. The
argument from availability is all in
it's favor. Nowhere else can cross
town line accommodate so many peo-.
pie. The people of the Fifth ward ask
1of IL there, anu the people or the
northern section of the city will be
best accommodated by having it there.
No bridge needs to be built. No
driveway will be ruined. No approach
to the park will be spoiled. The street
railway company is understood to-
have practically declared that it will
waive the condition of having sewers
put in before it builds it's line We
certainly think, in view Of all the
facts of the case, that the council
should order the cross town line on
Dale street without a dissenting vote.
and that all those concerned should,
like good citizens and public-spirited
men, acquiesce in what is so advar-
tageous for the whole people and what
cannot, if they look at it dispassionate-
ly, injure them an ieta in pocket or in
comfort. Cannot st. Paul get together
for once and do tfe~right thing for the
whole community without encounter
ing local or individual protest?