The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-31
SMELLING line
DELAY EXPLAINED
CONGRESSMAN STEVENS SAYS HE
IS LOOKING INTO FUTURE.
Declares He Is Not Treating Question
for Benefit Of Either City, but Wants
+ the Fort Provided With Steam Rail
way Facilities Position of r. 9. r..
T. Company Defined. 4 &

congressman r. u. Stevens or ST..
Paul explained to II b Journa this
morning his attitude toward the extern
sion Of the street railway across Fort
protests that he has no purpose to inter
fere with the construction Of the Min
neapolis line, and that he Is not treat
ing the matter from the standpoint of
any advantage to be gained by either
city. What he is looking out for is the
interests Of the fort.
He says that some mistakes have
been made there in the location Of
buildings, and in the construction OF
others, which will require some
changes; furthermore that large i'm
made are contemplated. The growth Of
the fort and the interests of the govern
ment require that it shall have better
electrical railroad.
It appears that the government is not
satisfied at all with the, business rela-
tiOns it has had with the milwaukee,
road, and is not disposed to remain
entirely dependent upon that line fol
its railroad facilities. In order to got
additional facilities, however, better
vided, and it is Mr.. Stevens idea that a
new bridge should provide for. steam
trackage as well as accommodat fol-
the trolley line and other traffic.
Would Be Forehanded.
He has recommended substantially
this view Of the matter to the war de-
Partment with the appreciation that the
war department will undertake to as
sumo part Of the expense for the con
struction of the new bridge. The Street
20 1ruo
willingness to bear a share Of the ex
pense, and the Ramsey county delega
tion will secure legislation authorizing
the issue of $3.50, 900 worth of bonds fol
this purpose. It is estimated that such
a bridge as is desired, which would
cross the south end of the island just
above the old bridge, will cost from
100000 to $250,000.
Mr.. Stevens is DESTROYS of having
all these details with regard to the To-
cation of the bridge, the participattiion
and the share Of the street railway
company fully determined before any
track is laid on the reservation, SO that
consistent plan may be carried out
He says that this plan of the street
railway company to build to a point
opposite the fort end of the proposed
new bridge is all news to him. He ha:
| never Deen CONSULTED Will ieRd1u W IL
and had no information with regard
to the matter until he saw the newspa
per publication. It seemed to him de
sirable, before anything of this kim
is done, to get all parties interested
together upon definite agreement al
to the plan to be carried out, and THU
is his reason for having asked the de
nartment to defer action on the per
mission granted by the department
| commander until the general plan hat
been perfected.
William Regan's Opinion.
William Regain, chairman Of the spe
oVercautious IN the matter; that tn
permit given to the street railway com
pany Is subject to change at any tim
by orders of the department command
er; that the trolley line tracks can b
shifted to new location at any tim
when the plans Of the department., wit
reference to the fort, may require 1t
and that the only effect Of Mr.. Stevens
intervention would be unnecessary &c
lay.
The Company's Position.
Mr.. Held, general manager of tn
. street railway company, confirms MI
pany 8 permit is really only a license
they have no rights upon the reserve
ton which the department may not r.
woke at any time; and that, while tn
concession made does not permit thel
to run where they would like. to, the
line to the point agreed upon with Ii
understanding that they must shi7
their track at any time to suit tn
:. plans Of the war department with r
Y spect to the fort. He thinks, with M
Regan, that there is no justifcatio
s for any interference on the part Of M
J. Stevens or anybody else with an a
J. rangement which is calculated to be {
so much advantage to the people at tt
fort and which the people Of this cit
have desired for long time to hay
. consummated.