On Oct. 23, 1918, St. Paul reported 1,442 suspected influenza cases. St. Paul did not suffer the heavy losses Minneapolis had at the beginning of the epidemic.

In Minneapolis, officials first wanted to put more streetcars into service to relive congestion. The city attorney pointed out that it would take time to legally compel the streetcar company to increase the number of cars, whereas an order limiting the number of passengers on each car could be put in place immediately by fiat.