The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-20
CENTRAL-AvENUE EXTENSION.
The High-HsDded Proceedings of the Street.
Car COmpany-Laying Track With
out Authority.

The property owners on Central avenue are in
q ferment 90 indignation over the extension be-
ing built by the Citizens Street-railway Com
paDy, and a remonstrance against the construo-
zion OF the line is being very largely signed.
An appeal YES made to the superintendent of
police to have the work stopped, but he refused
to make any arrests without the authority of a
warrant filed by some of the property owners,
and as there is no one willing tn undertake the
fight against the street-ear company, together
with the responsibility Of the expense which
would be entailed, the work of construction can.
not be arrested. The action of the street-car
company is denounced by the taxpayers along
the street as an outrage, and the superintendent
of police, the supposed conservatOr of law, is
severely criticised for not giving them the pro-
lection which they have a right to expect.
There is no man, they claim, who can afford to
risk the expense OF fighting a mOnopolistic con-
Germ, and 1t is the duty of the police to give them
the protection OF the law.
Superintendent Robbins Yesterday stated to a
journal reporter that after the complaint had
been made TO him, he notified MIR. Johnson, OF
the street railway company, that the extension
on Central avenue was being built without the
requisite permission or authority, and that the
company would be held liable for transgresslon
of the law. Mr.. Johnson claimed, In response,
that there was no violation Of law, as Central
avenue was an extension Of Fort Wayne avenue,
and the COMPANY already had the right of way
for the last named thorOughfare. The superin-
tendent says that he VIII take pleasure in stop
ping the work, which, however, is now about
complete, when a warrant shall be placed in his
hands authorizing him to do 30,
WHAT COLONEL JOHNSON SAYS.
Colonel A. W. johnson stated to a journal re-
porter yesterday that when the Central avenue
line was first proposed all the citizens on that
street. so far as the company knew, favored it,
and urged that it he built. Since the work was
commenced, however, some interested persons
had been trying to get the property owners to
take some steps toward stopping the work. but
nothing had been done besides talking. On Fri
day Mr.. johnson said that Superintendent Rob-
bins telephOned him that the work must stop by
IL o'clock. When the authority for this order
was asked Mr.. Robbins said it came from the
mayor, but he said, go Colonel John
son understood, that he would stop the
work when he got a warrant or a formal
order from the mayor to do so. The company
received no such official notification and con-
tinued the work.
When Mr.. Johnson was asked by what author
ly they put down a line in any street, without
first having obtained permission from the City
Council, he said that the company considered
that their charter allowed them this right, and
1t had never before been questioned. Nearly
every new line in the city, with possibly one or
two exceptions, had been put down without a
special ordinance, and nobody had before ques-
toned the legality Of such proceedings.