The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-30

one car each way every hour. If the
service requires, any number of cars
can be started on the even hour for the
lake trip. Sets of two, three or four
cars may be operated. The company has
at present twelve Of the new, powerful
lake cars completed and ready for SER
vice. By the time the summer travel
of next year begins there will be enough
cars out of the shops and ready for
Work Still to Be Done.
The line is fully double tracked to
Hopkins and is an exceptionally fine
piece of roadwork. The entire 10O-foot
right of way is cleared and fenced and
the cuts and grades are clean and even.
Eighty pound steel rails are used
thruout and have been laid with such
care that the heavy cars move along
without the slightest jar, even over the
switch frogs. =
From the Hopkins station to the lake
the line is single track but the plans
tracking of the entire system, even
over the bridge. Sidings have been
put in to enable cars to pass on the
single track portion Of the line. Under
the hourly service, however, cars will
pass on the double-t track portion of the
line between Harriet ard Hopkins. Jack
sons siding, just beyond Hopkins, will
be used when a half hour Service is in
stalled. . s.@
Many improvements that will have
no other purpose than the identifying
of the line are contemplated. Sumac
and other hardy native shrubs will be
planted on the grades and on the walls
of the cuts. These will do away with
+ the bare sand walls and will do much
to make the line more beautiful, and at
the same time will prevent washing
away in heavy rains. / The task Of
double tracking will necessitate the
changing Of some grades beyond Hop
kins where the Milwaukee lake line
will be taken over andsits grade used.
While this immense amount Of con-
struction work is under way, the service
will be regularly maintained. ~, a.:: -
New Excelsior Approach. @.,5.
Next, spring the line will enter Elk
celsior over its new approach, which
will give the village what Minneapolis
has long wanted, absolute freedom from
dangerous grade crossings. A long fill
and two heavy concrete bridges will
carry the line over the st. Louis tracks
and one Of the village streets lust be-
fore the lake is reached This improve
ment alone will cost over 100000.
The street, railway company has been
Time TO hss ad s n t fed fE
completed. The contractors on
the Hopkins bridge, however, have de-
layed the opening of the line over thir-
ty days. The structure was completed
yesterday !. At 11:4O am. the contract
ors cleared the last piece of their ma
chinery off the bridge. The street rail
way crew at once closed in a gap of
two parts Of the line, and the first thru
car to 60 oyer the line left the Nicollet
hotel at 2 pm. with a party of engi-
neers, superintendent. and officials,
headed by General Manager W. J.
Held. .....<.s ,,..... G.. -
Leisurely Hour S Run. T.
No attempt was made to break any
records or to jam the car thru in the
| quickest possible time, but with stop
of nearly twenty minutes at Hopkins,
the party arrived in the center of Elk
celsior village at 8 pm. with a minute
or two to spare. The run from Hop
kins to Excelsior, nine miles, was made
in fifteen minutes. .gse 10 y
The advent Of the big yellow car in the
center of the village Of Excelsior Gre
few minutes a large crowd of residents
and Takers had gathered. #
nI've been on this corner twenty.
eight years. said E. L. Newell, the
druggist, "and all I can say is that it
looks queer to see big electric car
standing out there in the street. We
have been expecting it for some time,
but it seems odd just the same.'
DR.. E.. i. Perkins at once cornered
Mr.. Held and began arrangements for
a grand excursion Of Excelsiorites COW
ering all the points Of interest in Min
neapolis and st. Paul with Fort Smell
ing and Saltwater thrown in for good
measure Mayor i. #. Sampson, who
has been a friend Of the line, smiled o
satisfied one, and casually remarked
that Excelsior was beginning to look
like a city. A leading citizen who was
airing three fine setter pups gathered
them to their leading strings and re
marked, "You kids will have to keeI
out of the streets now. These electric
cars won't stand for any interference
from dogs =
Following the informal reception
about the car everybody was invited
| for a rid down the line and the big
/ car was packed to standing room only
/ The full load of juice was thrown
! on and the representatives of Excel
sior went tearing out Of the village al
a clip that surprised them. The triI
/ to Lake Harriet loop was made in TWEEN
ty-fve minutes with some delay al
4 Hopkins. Everybody was enthusiastic
On the return trip a little time was al
lowed for closer inspection of the work
along the line.
4