The Saint Paul globe., 1905-03-29
TRANSIT COMPANY
HAS A NEW EXCUSE
Sewer May Keep 1t From Build
inu Lake Street Line for
Another Year

The prospects of street railway line
on Lake street and third interurban line
have gone glimmering, according to re-
ports. Last year the company explained
its failure to build the line as ordered on
the ground that il could not secure rails
and the Lake street and Marshall avenue
bridge needed Strengthening.
This spring when it secured a franchise
for a line from Minneapolis to Lake Min
netonka it was announced the line would
be built from Minneapolis to Excelsior and
the St Paul lines in order to make a
third interurban line and a cross town
line for Minneapolis.
Now a sewer is in the way. This is the
excuse the representatives of the COM
pany give. They say that because some
aldermen want sewer in Lake street,
from Oakland TO Nlcoilet avenues, 1t VIII
be impossible to open the line until after
the summer travel is over and the reve-
nues in the winter months would not be
commensurate with the expense.
The company has purchased 10000 tons
OF heavy rails, but it is announced that
these will be used on the down town loops
and on Central avenue and the long prom
lSed third 1nterurban and cross town line
will be delayed until after the connections
are made with Fort Smelling.
Power Company Delays
In this same connection the Minnesota
Power and Trolley company, which is an
ally of the street railway company. Is in
trouble. This concern. which has close
relations with Thomas Lowfys street cars
and possesses water power rights at Elk
Nfver, secured franchise on Jan. B, and
under the terms which would permit it
the right to transmit electric energy and
light to Minneapolis
1t was provided that the company should
file an acceptance of the terms of the
franchise within three months and also
give a bond in the sum of $4,000. The
three months expire April and no ac-
ceptance has been filed. There are re
ports none will be. The General Electric
company resisted the granting of the
franchise because the rates the company
proposed to grant the public were less
than those which are charged at the
present time
Promises Not Kept
Now it is said the power and light con-
Germ, which owns the old motor line right
of way from Minneapolis to Excelsior and
which has a franchise for a line from
Minneapolis to Shakopee and another from
Minneapolis to Anoka, has heard that the
General Electric company has sought to
develop the water power at TaylorS Falls
and therefore fears it cannot compete with
this concern.
Under the terms of the franchise granted
it by the county commissioners over two
years ago the company was to have cars
in operation last year, but up to the pres
ent it has done nothing toward developing
its power at Elk River, except the Of
views printed in the Minneapolis papers
which are friendly to the Twin City Rapid
Transit company. 1t has not laid tie or
spiked rail, and as for the development
of the power al Elk River not a single
sack of cement or a wagon load of stone
has been delivered for the concrete dam
which was to have been built over year
ago.
The prospects for cross town line have
gone glimmering for another year at least.