The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1917-05-19

The even in municipal circles
this week was the meeting held
in the city hall Wednesday aft
ernoon in the matter Of the troll
ley line extension to New Du-
luth.
The meeting lasted about all
hour and a half. Mr.. A. M. Rob-
ertson, president Of the street car
company was present from Min
neapolis, accompanied by vice.
president Warren and director
Luther Mendenhall. T. T. Hud-
sou and L. R. Taylor represented
the New Duluth interests. City
attorney Samuelson, G. Roy Hall
and Edward A. Silberstein also
were in attendance.
The impression was received by
those Of open minds that, had liti-
CATION not been started, the line
would be under construction
today.
President Robertson stated that
the extension depended on a
favorable decision in the 10-cent
fare suit, now pending. When
asked if the extension would be
made if the suit were held back
for two years, Mr.. Robertson said
that the point would be consid-
cred by the directors and reply
made to Mr.. Hudson as soon as
possible.
Commissioner Phillips spoke
loudly and vehemently against
delay and a 10-cent fare. He
and lawyer Taylor Of New. Du-
l'lth, clashed as usual. It's case
of granite striking flint when the
TIVE meet.
Oscar Mitchell said that, as at
torney for the street car COM
pany, he would enter into every
possible stipulation with Mr.. Fry
berger, opposing attorney for the
Hartley-Gar interests to get
the case quickly up to the su-
preme court. The plaintiffs in
tie suit against the street rail-
way company announce that no
concessions will be made and that
the case will be fought right
through to a finish.
If New Duluth is fortunate
enough to get the extension this
year, it will be just before the
coming of winter. The outlook
could be much more promising.
President filed written state
ment with the city council, dated
May 16 and signed by him, foc
the company, as follows. viz:
The Board of DIRECTORS of this
Company have given careful consid-
Grafton to the matter of constructing
an extension of its line of railway
from the Morgan Park Loop to Nc
Cuen Street in New Duluth, and have
approved of the recommendations
made by the writer, as President, Mr..
Herbert Warren, as General Manager,
and Oscar Mitchell, Esq, General
Counsel for the Company, that this
extension be built if assurance could
be given that the agitation against the
present ten cent fare to Morgan Park
would be stopped, the rate of fare
to be charged to be five cents from
West Duluth to McCuen street in New
Duluth and intermediate points
The Company has not heretofore
been in a position to agree to build
this extension at a date certain, for
the reason that it has been unable to
make contracts for rail with delivery
promised earlier than the third quar-
ter Of 1918. The Company has con-
: tracted with the Illinois Steel Com
pany for its requirements of rail, but
has been unable to. obtain an agree
ment for an earlier delivery than
stated above.
Because Of our inability to secure a
contract for the delivery of rails for
this extension this year, we have not
felt warranted in arranging with the
Steel Company for the preparation of
a right-of-way through its property
between the present Morgan Park
Loop and Commonwealth Avenue
during 1917.
Y During all our negotiations with
the officials of the Steel Company, we
have been met fairly, and every dis
position has been shown to assist in
the building Of this extension at the
earliest possible date. We now have
assurance that the right-of-way from
: the Morgan Park Loop to Common
wealth Avenue can and will be pre-
pared this year in time for us to lay
the rails before the construction sea-
SON closes. We also have the assur-
ance Of Mr.. w. A. McGonagle that
the affiliated companies Of the United
States Steel Corporation will do every
thing possible to secure the delivery
Of enough rails to build the New Du-
ltuh Extension in sufficient time to
permit this Company to lay the track
and put the line-in operation before