o regulate it, and because it is so heavy I doubt whether it ever can
be systematized in any satisfactory way. The best thing in the long
run would be to tunnel under the river; but that is such an expensive
proposition that, as things are now, we are in no position to undertake
it. The traffic on the North Side does not warrant it. It really does
not warrant the reconstruction of the three bridges which we now use at
State, Dearborn, and Clark; yet, if we introduce the cable system,
which we now propose, these bridges will have to be done over. It
seems to me, seeing that this is an enterprise in which the public is
as much interested almost as we are, that it would only be fair if the
city should help pay for this reconstruction work. All the land
adjacent to these lines, and the property served by them, will be
greatly enhanced in value. The city's taxing power will rise
tremendously. I have talked to several financiers here in Chicago, and
they agree with me; but, as is usual in all such cases, I find that
some of the politicians are against me. Since I have taken charge of
the North Chicago company the attitude of one or two papers has not
been any too friendly." (In the Chronicle, controlled by Schryhart,
there had already been a number of references to the probability that
now, since Cowperwood and his friends were in charge, the sky-rocketing
tactics of the old Lake View, Hyde Park, and other gas organizations
would be repeated. Braxton's Globe, owned by Merrill, being
semi-neutral, had merely suggested that it hoped that no such methods
would be repeated here.) "Perhaps you may know," Cowperwood continued,
"that we have a very sweeping programme of improvement in mind, if we
can obtain proper public consideration and assistance."

At this point he reached down in one of his pockets and drew forth
astutely drafted maps and blue-prints, especially prepared for this
occasion. They showed main cable lines on North Clark, La Salle, and
Wells streets. These lines coming down-town converged at Illinois and
La Salle streets on the North Side--and though Cowperwood made no
reference to it at the moment, they were indicated on the map in red as
running over or under the river at La Salle Street, where was no
bridge, and emerging therefrom, following a loop along La Salle to
Munroe, to Dearborn, to Randolph, and thence into the tunnel again.
Cowperwood allowed Haguenin to gather the very interesting traffic
sign