The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-19
do NOT LOOK FOR
UNION OF CITIES
PROMINENT CITIZENS REGARD
IDEA AS IMPRAOTIOABLE.
While II Is Admitted THAT Consolida-
ton Urged by "A. B. stickney Would
Be Of Benefit. the Scheme Is Looked
Upon as Not at AL Likely 70 Be
Realized.

IL
once accomplished, the political union Of
Minneapolis and St. Paul would be- Of
great and lasting benefit, Minneapolis
citizens do not consid der as at all practi-
cal A. B. Stickney's suggestion that it
would be advisable for the two cities
to become united under one central mu-:
nicipal government. The scheme seems
to be looked upon in Minneapolis as q.
plan that may some day come to q prac-
tical realization, but not for many
years, and not until the two cities are
,solidly built into one great metropolis
by the filing in Of the midway district.
- It might be good thing if Spracti-,
eable,1 said Judge Loren w. Collins,
but 1t certainly seems impracticable.
It is not q proposition comparable to the
cities which united in making up Great
er New York. There the dividing lines
of the cities were only imaginary, but
here the business center of one city is:
ten miles from that Of the other. There
are also large interests which are doubt.
less opposed to 1t and would fight such.
tical purposes st. Paul and Minneapolis
may be considered twenty-five miles
apart. The uniting Of the two cities has
been talked Of for years, and it, will
be many more years, I believe, before
any effort will be made to carry any
such plan into execution. Z,
t"The question has been brought up
off and on, for twenty years, said W.
G.. Nye, secretary of the public affairs
committee Of the Commercial club.
!H.Commercially, it would no doubt be
Of great advantage for the two cities
to be known, turnout the country as
one. They would then be recognized
as one commercial center equal In i'm
portanoe to st. Louis, and surpassed by
not over half "a dozen commercial cen
tiers in the United States.
"I see no necessity, hewever,o said
Mr.. Nye with some sarcasm and a
smile, - for an early controversy over
the selection Of name for the com
bined city, j. {{|
John A. schlener represents not
small class which is strongly opposed
to the furthering Of any scheme for the
uniting of Minneapolis with st. Paul.
: IT don't believe in it now. and I
was first broached,'' he said. "There
is not a condition of affairs today ex-
listing which demands anything Of the
sort. I am Of the opinion that the dis
advantages and difficulties which
would arise from o combination Of the
two cities would outweigh what little
advantages the combination might
bring forth. I believe that to- GER
tain degree, the fact that the two cities
have ever been distinctly separate has
been a source of competition and RI
valry in the interests Of the two, which
has worked to the distinctive advan-
tage Of each municipality. There is
also another factor. that should be kept
in mind; the experience Of other cities
which. have become associated under
one municipal head government is that
such combination has been cause Of
increased cost Of governments. and ac-
'cordingly Increased taxataion.H This
was true especially in the formation Of
Greater New York. - $780,. = s.:
Lets Cooperate" Says Mayor.
GAS to the legal proposition Of unit
ing the two Cities" said Mayor D. P.
Jones, "that is a subject on which I
important consideration. The question
must be decided as to whether two
cities in different counties can come
under one central government without
much delay and probably special state
legislation. =
"But outside Of this legal aspect Of
the proposition, would say there
should be a growing demand for a
working agreement and cooperation
between the twin cities for the fur
Their advancement and upbuilding of
both cities. Let cooperation be sub
stituted for competition; for the bet
terment Of business interests; for the
good Of the people and for the moral
uplift of the cities. s @EL
In this way Minneapolis and st.
Paul may secure the benefits of united
efforts to build up common center,
even tho they. are not united under one