Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-11
LOCAL TRACTION PROBLEMS.

lhe local street railway situation, while it has
reached an acute stage, is not at, all peculiar to
Grand Forks, for it involves. facts similar to those
which exist in most of the cities of the country, and
in practically every small city. The street railway
business throughout the United States is, and for
several years has been, in an exceedingly precarious
situation. Many street railway companies are in the
hands of receivers, and many others have managed
to stage off receiverships by the use of devices the
success of which is still ~problematical. q
The facts as they apply to the Grand Forks
street railway may be very briefly stated:
For thirteen years the Street Railway COM
pany has maintained herea creditable and salts
factory service which has been a convenience
to the inhabitants, and which has contributed
largely to the building up Of property values in
various parts of the city.
The money invested in the enterprise-all
of it contributed by local men-has never Weld
ed the owners adequate returns, and with the
exception of two or three years has Welded no
dividend returns at all. u" i
50 Purchase of>new equipment and other nee
essary expenses has made it necessary for the
company to borrow money until its borrowing
capacity is exhausted.
The revenues of the company are not now
more than are necessary to meet current ex-
penses. and nothing is left for betterments.
The company has no funds, nor can it raise
y funds, with which to meet charges growing out
OF repairs on University avenue, to which other
Nildl SSS lIuoI NC ~ ICW dIC dn0
new construction on Walnut street and Eighth
avenue if the line is to be continued in the dis
trlct now being paved. 8
The city has no funds with which to pro-
vide for this new work in the south end of the
city. 41 .
The contract for paving in the south end
district has been let, and the work is now in
progress and must be completed as rapidly as
possible.
These are the essential facts TIE, -. ,,;.:h1.
undeniable, and must be faced. Unless means can
be found for financing the new construction through
the district now being paved, the pavement must
be laid without rails, thus cutting out all that por-
ton Of the street railway from Fourth avenue and
Walnut to Lincoln park.
In the district which would thus be deprived Of
street railway service are many of the best resi-
dences in the city. New homes Of the best type are
being built in that district right along, and the small
area OF vacant property there, is rapidly being oc-
cupied. The ABANDONMENT Of street railway service
to that section would be a disastrous blow to the
city's reputation. and would have an Immediately
injurious effect, not only on that particular district,
but on every part Of the city.
The Herald is not at this moment suggesting 4
solution Of the problem. IT wishes Just now to in
Iyite attention to the fact that a problem exists which
involves the vital interests 81 every resident of
Grand Forks, and That this problem demands ssoll-
ton, IN one way3or another, at once. If# the city is
10 have the advantage Of street railway service
through one Of its largest and most important dis
Etrictstfle track must Be laid with The new pavement,
[Aftetstfle pavement isslaid II ,wsiilhe too late. And ii
is thr bnssii,ess ..of Ahes*eontractor - lay the pavement
lust - fast Is he can.
HE ness thats5o,Ooo people III dead IL tic
ESwafow fyrtoon causes iets comment ~ TIE United
EStstes TIN lie death 81 ten peryons III i railroad
EgrxsFE d I'm eccnitsy ssspethv ntalses aslot 81
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