The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-31
HOW MUNICIPAL
PUBLIC SERVICES
ARE RENDE RED.
System Of Communication by Rail
and Wire Effective Means
Of Lighting.
Account of Street Railway, Tele.
phone, Gas and Electric Light
! Developments Of 1906.


and necessity, often referred to as the
public utilities, in manner which fire.
quently elicits the commentator Of
visitors who compare these things with
conditions in other cities in way very
favorable to the -four city.
The water supply Of Minneapolis is
handled by the municipality, but that,
with the exception Of some of the
minor services, is the only one of the
utilities managed by the city govern
ment 81
Next in Importance to water supply
is transportation. This s, vice is rem
dered in Minneapolis by the Twin CITY
Rapid Transit company, which controls
all the electric lines in Minneapolis, St.
Paul and Saltwater, as we'll as some
suburban lines. The total mileage of
the system, reduced to single track.
IS 3l7 miles, of which considerably more
than one-half belongs to Minneapolis
and her suburbs. The system is sup
piled with power from several gener-
ating stations, the largest Of which is
near the falls in Minneapolis and has a
capacity of $4,000 horsepower. The
electric current is conveyed to distant
parts Of both cities by means of cables.
This central powerhouse will cost, when
fully equipped, $2,500,000. The car
lines reach to every part of the city
and two interurban lines connect Min
neapolis and st. Paul.
During 1905 the company entered on
very extensive scheme Of extensions
and improvements and has expended
some $2,500,000 for new work alone
during the year. This does not include
the renewal Of old lines. The new work
consisted of mile or so of track in
the center of the city where an elabo.
rate "loop' system was constructed
to facilitate the handling Of cars in the
congested district; the construction of
a fine double track extension from Min
nehaha Park to Fort .Sne1ling: the
building of line to Lake Minnetonka
and some minor extensions. In addi-
ton, the Minnetonka line Of the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway
was purchased and is now being con-
verified into an electric line. Tho not
in Minneapolis, the construction of a
line on Smelling avenue, giving new
route to the state fair grounds, and the
beginning of extensive shops in the
vicinity, were Of value as an improve
ment Of the system.
Gas is supplied by the Minneapolis
Gas Light company, a corporation
which has developed a very complete
system Of mains and built up a fine
plant located upon the river bluffs near
the center of the city. It's central
Office is on Seventh street, near Henne-
pin. In this handsome building, erect
ed in 1903, are the general offices, sales
rooms for gas stoves, ranges and heat
ers, and store and work rooms. Gas is
supplied to consumers at $1.10 per
thousand feet and may be paid for
monthly Or thru the use of prepayment
meters--or slot machines as they are
sometimes called.
The year 1905 was an extremely busy
one for the gas company. The great
amount Of building done, brought out
a very heavy demand for gas connec-
lions and for large extensions Of mains.
Some thirty-fve miles Of mains were
laid during the year and thousands of
houses were connected with the serv-
ice mains. The company finds the
popularity of gas as fuel increasing
steadily, and. supplied, during the
y Cdly d ldIS0 uuulUC1 VI RdS SUUfCS duu
ranges for domestic use. It also placed
a number of gas engines and is being
very successful in the introduction of
gas for power purposes.
The Minneapolis General Electric
company supplies arc and incandescent
lights and electric power. Its main
generating station is at Third avenue
Sc and Main street, where both water
power and steam are used in general.
ing electricity. In the Office building g
on Fifth street, near Hennepin avenue
there is an extensive storage plant and
distributing station. The main station
has an output of 5000 horse power
when working at full capacity. The
J wires and cables of the company pass
thru conduits in the downtown district
and on poles in the outlying parts of
the city. The equipment is frst-class
thruout. With the gas company the
General Electric serves the city in pub
lie lighting Of streets.
At the present time the General Elec-
trio is engaged in most interesting
and important project which will enor.
mously increase it's facilities. Early in
the year the company secured power
river, forty-five miles from MinneapO.
lis, and is now engaged in installing a
} power plant and constructing trans
mission system which will cost, com
plete, somewhere in the neighborhood
of $3,500,O0O.
j The Northwestern Telephone Elk
change company has made very exten-
sive improvements and extensions dur
ing 1905. At the beginning of the year
j $1,000,00o was appropriated for i'm
provements and extensions in and out
Of Minneapolis. The work in the city
has been largely the installation Of
underground conduits and the string
ing Of new wires and placing Of new
i telephones. The increase in the mum
Der Of new phones in use has been very
large and constant. Besides these out
side expenditures the company is en-
i larging it's central Office building at
i the corner of Fifth street and Third
avenue s, as the present building has
been quite outgrown. The addition,
! which will be completed during 1906,
will give increased facilities for all
departments