The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-19
THE VIADUCT QUESTION.
Gen. Fred. Knefer's Plan for Arranging the
Tracks, and Locating Depot

II understand, General" said a Journal re-
porter to Gen. Fred Knefer, 'that you have
some ideas on the viaduct question. and the sew
eral interests that impinge upon that question.
If so, would like to hear them"
''The viaduct problem" said General Knefer
sis becoming one for serious consideration, and
the naturally increasing traffic makes it daily
more go 1t would seem to any impartial OBJ
server that some remedy for this evil must be
within reach. Of course it may require large
expenditure of money but this should not be
suffered to outweigh for moment the lives
which are constantly imperiled, and the ipcon-
venience occasioned, by the existing condition.
Ccnceding the willingness of the several railroads
to diminish these features by means of safety
gates and other make-shifts, the growing
necessity for protection of more permanent
character must be obvious to every resident of
the city who is of necessity brought in contact
with these distractions There must be some
further steps taken to insure the safety and con-
venience of the people who are daily and hourly
compelled to cross the many tracks On most fire.
frequented thoroughfares. wish to ask. he con-
tinued, whether it is not possible to lower the
tracks in the half circle from North street on
the east to North street on the west2 No doubt
it can be done, and perhaps the attempt to COM
pei the railroads to do so would be vigorously
resisted on account of the cost involved in such
an improvement Resistance to such an inn
provement would be very short-sighted policy
few years immunity from lawsuits, court
costs and lawyers fees would pay for it ALL"
"Do you think the railroads should share with
the city the cost of building viaducts9'
why should the city be required to build
viaducts for the security and convenience of its
citizens, whose passing to and fro is endangered
by the railroad9 II vaducts are necessity it
is equitable and just the railroads should be
CURED to erect them. and not the city; and via
ducts are only makeshift in comparison with
the increasing necessities of railroad traffic
The puerile talk of the insurmountable difficulty
of lowering the tracks on account of Pogues
run. or the peculiar character of soil, is mere
bOSh, not merltlng moment OF serious thought
Are we to be told that American engineering
talent, which has surmounted the most stupen-
dous difficulties, has built a Pacific railroad
proposes to build ship railroad across the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and has constructed
jetties combining the Mississippi is to be baffled
by such difficulties? That is all child's talk. If
the authorities Of the city, mindful of their
duties, would determine upon such an improve
ment it would be built; but from s1ch people as
are in authority nothing be expected. Let
us not talk about elevated tracks which, aside
from expense, would perhaps be impracticable
on account of private switches. There is one
way of getting rid of these difficulties, the cost of
which, IN comparison with the lowering of the
tracks, or building Of elevated tracks. would be
trifiing. Let the companies erect union pas
intersection of Washington and Noble streets,
iustead of its present location This would solve
the problem, in a very great measure, and relieve
the central portion Of the city from daily increas
ing obstruction and peril. 1t would enable at
least one-haf OF the roads who are naturally so
situated to avail themselves of the Belt road and
enter the city and depot on one common track.
The other roads entering the city could, without
any particular difficulty arrange it to use the
Belt and the common track. Two tracks through
the city wonld be sufficient for all purposes of
through trains. passenger or freight
''Of course vigorous howl would be raised
by interested parties if the location of the
union passenger depot would be changed, and
perhaps the railroad authorities would hate to
encounter the clamor and that is all it would
amount to. They are generally not particular
about the complaints of the people
of this town. The advantages of this
proposition are very obvious, and it is very
strange that the railroad authorities have never
considered it. To erect passenger station suit
able for present and prospective needs of the
traffic will require the acquisition of great deal
more ground than the Union Depot now occupies.
and the price of real estate in the vicinity of
Meridian, illinois and Tennessee streets is so
much higher than in the vicinity of Noble street
that The railroads could, with the difference in
price. pay for all necessary improvements and
changes necessary to como in on the Belt road.
In my opinion this would solve the question of
elevated or underground tracks; at least that is
more about railroad matters than do"