The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-26
THE PROPERTY OWNERS PROTEST.
The Proposed Vacation of Streets for the New
Depot Site Vigorously Denounced.

A large meeting of owners of property in the
vicinity of the proposed site of the new Union
Depot was held at Mozart Hall last night to take
action on the proposition of the Union Railway
Company to the city authorities to vacate certain
streets in the immediate neighborhood.
Prominent among those present were
Austin H. Brown, Emil Martin. Peter
Spitzfaden, Henry Emmerich Adolph Seiden-
sticker. j. H. Vajen, Charles Lauer, Charles
Kuhn, and Aldermen Schmidt and Laut Adolph
Seidensticker called the meeting to order Capt
Thomas Madden was made chairman and Louis
Esmond secretary.
Mr.. Seidensticker addressed the meeting, stat.
ing that the object was to see what could be
done to oppose the seven ordinances that
had been introduced into the Council for
the vacation of certain streets. He did
not believe the law passed by the last Legs
lature comforting certain powers on the Union
Railway Company and on which the PROPOSE
ton to vacate the streets was based was consti-
tutiona or that it would be upheld by the
Supreme Court The plan to vacate the streets
was unjust to the prOperty-owners, and to peo
pie who should pass those streets. The traffic
that usually went along those streets would 60
elsewhere, and the property adjoining would de-
preciate to 25 per cent. of its present value.
The railroad companys engineer had drawn the
plans and, of course, fixed them to suit the
company. The city would be burdened with
lawsuits as the result of damages to property.
Austin Fl. Brown said he was in favor Of
new Union Depot, but until lately nothing had
been said about vacating the streets. He had
signed the petition of the Union Railway Com
pany, but had been deceived. He urged every
one present to use his influence on his council
man for the defeat of the ordinances.
Charles Lauer said he had signed the compa
ny's petition, understanding that only Illinois
street was to be vacated Other members
spoke briefly, and emphatically. some Of
them remarking that the Union Rail.
to Southport or any other place on the Belt, but
that they would fight to the bitter end the vaca
ton of streets. On notion committee on reso
lutions was appointed, consisting of A. Seden-
sticker, Austin H. Brown. Christ Renner, Jacob
Wachstetter and Charles Kuhn. The committee
presented the following report, which was unan-
imously adopted:
Whereas, The Union Railway Company propose to
vacate and close portions of Meridian, Illinois. Nc
Nabb and Louisiana streets, and take possession
thereof for heir private use if the Common Council
and Board of Aldermen of Indianapolis will pass the
ordinances prepared for them to that end and where
such action would block up the two main north and
south streets of the city drive travel and trade
from them, and depreciate the value of property
said streets and their respective neghborhoods and
would almost cut off connection between the southern
and northern parts of the city; atd
Whereas, Numerous and expensive suits and
heavy damages against the city must be expected in
the of this conversion of public streets into pr
vate property; therefore, be it
Resolved That we earnestly protest and remon-
strate against the proposed vacation and conversion
OF Meridian Illinois, McNabb and Louisiana streets
by the Union Railway COMPANY.
Resolved That we call upon representatives in
the Common Council and Board of Aldermen to re-
member that they the guardians of the property
rights of all tax payers and citizens that take away
the property rights of single x-payer without
compensation would be violation of their trust but
that to take away and destroy the property rights of
great number for the benefit of q big CORPORATION
would be colossal wrong
Resolved, That while other cities expend large
TO provide themselves with direct unobstructed
ana commodious streets and avenues and thus to ac
commodate increased intercourse travel and trade
seems absurd for city to block up a number of
principal streets and to cut off nearly onehaf of the
people of the city from intercourse with the other
and also from railroad travel except by devious out
otthe-way and dangerous passages.
An executive committee to circulate a remon-
STRANGE against the ordinances among the prop
erty holders, and 10 urge the Council not to pass
them, was appointed, consisting of Charles
Lauer. Henry Climber Emil Martin, A. Seiden-
stcker Austin H. Brown, Thomas Madden and
Louis Esmond. The remonstrances were signed
by nearly all the hundred or more property
owners who were present. after which the meet
ing adjourned.