The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-21
WAY CLEAR FOR
1ONKA TROLLEY
Rapid Transit Officials Announce
the. Route They Will
Follow. -.
EXCELSIOR TO GRANT -
FRANCHISE TONIGHT
Withdrawal of Kenaston-P Phelps
Syndicate-Cars Promised
by Next July.

Next July will see electric cars run
ming between Minneapolis and Lake
Minnetonka.
The village council of Excelsior will
receive tonight the final proposals of the
Twin City Rapid Transit company for
the entrance Of it's new Minnetonka
line into that village. The not
altogether unexpected withdrawal
Of the Phelps Kenaston syndi-
cate from the field, makes it compare
lively plain sailing for the Rapid
Transit, which is in complete control
Of the situation. Its officers, therefore,
announced today that the route to be
followed from Minneapolis would be
the one already mapped out IN the 1904
with. It shows that the Harriet line
will be the one extended and that the
new line will run due west thru Hop.
kins, striking Minnetonka first at Cot
tagewood and then southwest to Excel
sior. A branch to Wayzata and the
north shore is projected, crossing the
Gray's bay bridge. It is not likely this
will be built till next year.
of entrance to Excelsior, and it is az
pected this will be solved tonight: It
IS probable that the village council will
accept, without division, the offer Of the
company, but precautions will be taken
! to SAFEGUARD the interests of the village
| in the deal. A demand for substan-
! tial bond will be made and assurance
| has been given that the company was
willing to put up $4,000 to be forfeited
| il the line is not completed within
poriO6
The proposition which probably will
be made to the council tonight will
place the extreme limit Of six months
| from the time of granting Of the fran
chise, or until about the middle Of Au-
gust. for the completion Of the work:
| It is believed that if. the company IS
| favored with good weather and no un,
foreseen bad luck intervenes, the ROAD
will be completed early in the summer,
/; for it will be to the interest OF the
| company to rush it thru as fast as pos
sible, SO as to get the advantage OF the
summer business. It is predicted to-
day by those who have been watching
the deal, that Minnetonka and Mime
apolis will be connected by trolley early
in July. =,
! The requested ordinance will ask the
yiilage for the right to cross only those
streets that the council desires the com,
pany should use and traverse. A special
provision will be made in regard TO-
Water street, the business street OF the
village. If the line is built on that
street, the company, it is understood,
will pr omise the village to take up its
tracks and place them in the same con.
dition it was before it's occupancy. IT
at the end Of the year the council be-
| interests. The exact location OF the
| entrance and passage thru the village
will be settled before the ordinance is
passed.
Further than this, the ordinance will
bind the company to give the. Rapid
| Transit company frequent service be-
tween lake points and Minneapolis, the
most improved and adequate equip
ment and reasonable rates. Continu-
Gus service without transfer between
Excelsior and downtown districts of
Minneapolis will also be granted. The
ordinance, as it has >been read to the
village council, is understood to meet
! with its approval.
VIII Protect Lake Front.
Excelsior is determined to save it's
lake front as a parkway and in the
making of the grant to the company
this will be one Of the chief points con-
sidered. The town has not considered
definitely the routes proposed, but
there is controversy over the water
front. The amusement interests are
said to be working to get the line on the
lake shore and past their pavilions, but
the residents are up, in arms against
this plan. Should the council vote to
give the company the use of the lake
front, the matter would be made po-
litical issue and probably carried into
the courts.
Vice President g. G.. Goodrich and
General Manager w. J. Held spent
today in Excelsior going over these
routes carefully studying their ad
vantages and trying to ascertain the
| sentiment of the village.
The withdrawal of the Kenaston
resentatiyes Of the Excelsior council
!; and the Twin City Rapid Transit com
pany late yesterday afternoon. II
came as, big surprise to most of tn
champions of the new company at Elk
) celsior and Hopkins. Those who have
followed the negotiations closely, how
ever, believe that under the circum
stances it was the only thing to do, Al
the Twin City Rapid Transit company
and would have line in operation be
fore it could hope to do so. The fgh
to enter Minneapolis would have beer
a long and hard one with prospects O.
success doubtful and the company ha,
failed to find ground for legal action
, in protesting against the recent action
of the village council resembling tn
: franchise granted.
To Encircle Lake Harriet.
Altho the map shows the new lin
Joined onto the Harriet line, there ar
indications that an extension of tn
\ Bryant avenue ines out to Fiftiet
street and then along Fiftieth to Pen
avenue and the Harriet loop may b
used instead. This would relieve tn
congestion at Lake Harriet and woul
}. "houk VI" with the new cross tow
s line on Lake street from st. Paul Jus
e as well. A petition is circulating t
: have the city grade Upton avenue fro1
} Fifty-second street to Forty-third
r, which would carry it to the loop. Thi
q taken with the recent opening Of Fl
It tieth street from Lyndale avenue I
It Penn avenue and the contemplated fu:
n ther opening to Upton avenue, is take
to mean street car extension