The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-28
STEAM ROADS TO
FIGHT IR0LLEYS
WAR FOR LAKE BUSINESS WILL
BE "A SHARP ONE.
Lines to Minnetonka Prepared to Meet
the New Competition, as Railroads
Have Done in Other centerss Still
Competing for Business Between tho
Twin Citles.

"War to the knife is apparently
the slogan Of the steam railway com
panies in their attitude toward the cleo
trio line invasion OF the Lake Mime
tonka territory The railroads are mum,
but it is q pretty correct prophecy that
will meet the street railway company
in it's plans to secure much lake business
thru the frequent operation OF electric
trains to the lake.
This is not sporadic case Of steam
opposition to the electric lines. It is
| in a widespread movements including
Ohio, Illinois, and other states where
steam lines have been paralleled by
tracks for nimble electrically propelled
nois Central road, the Chicago s. Alton
and the Rock Island companies have
taken steps in Illinois to offset the com
petition Of the new giant of transporta-
ton which has suddenly ribbed the cen
trail states with steel bands and copper
wires. The lake lines have been inocu-
lated with the fever, it is said, and will
share Of the traffic to Minnetonka.
The gasolene car is the probable
refuge Of the steam roads. The St.
Louis and the Great Northern lines
seem to be lying back to permit other
systems to test the qualities of the new
car. 1t seems to be the only substitute
for heavy steam trains, which cannot
feeter and more economically and easily
operated electric trolley cars. The
Union Pacific or "Omahan car seems
to have been recognized as the solution
of the short line traffic getting question
for the steam roads. It has been ac-
copied by the Alton, and if successfully
tested will undoubtedly become factor
| =, o,,1,
Ibe FFback to the raiIroads.'' FoPular
lily early stamped the electric interur
ban lines with approval.yet the steam
i roads have held out some inducements
in the way of comfort, absence OF
1 crowding, and speed which have met
with response by the travelling public.
i Use Trains to st. Paul.
In point it is noted that the short
lines between Minneapolis and st. Pau
are coming into favor again, notWith
sanding the rapid steps the trolley com
pany has made in the way of improve
ment Of line and equipment, and in IN
Of facilities The question is Ct
Paul9' The trip costs more, but it il
made faster, and for ease and comfort
it is not matched by the electric inter
urban. About eighteen years ago the
4 short line'' trains furnished the trans
portation communication between the
!; twin cities. Frequent steam trains were
run and were patronized heavily. With
the advent of the electric line railway
travel fell off and finally the commute
tion rates were called off and the serv
| ice was reduced to the normal standard
Of regular trains. It is noted that the
demand for this service has so increased
4 that railroads are again selling commu
| tation tickets between the two cities
Frequent service is offered by means o.
the regular trains, which have increased
in number heavily in the last two de
cades. The steam roads seem to b.
making a successful bid for a return
to popularity and it is said that will
1.-The extra effort to be made by Mime
i tonka lines the street railway compan,
is not to have the lake travel all it.
own way. Z ~ ..r
Meanwhile the public is interested
and pleased at what is going to be dom
for it's comfort, for which it will un
grudgingly pass over shekels, and tina
, is what the transportation companie
are after. =.