The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The NIeridian-street yiaduct.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
Your erudite and gorgeous reporter tells a
suffering public in Fridays Journal that the
union depot project is moving grandly along
No doubt he was informed so by parties who
ought to know. The grand movement alluded
to is the contemplated erection of new depot
upon the site of the old structure, and the circu-
lation of petitions among the interested prop
erty owners for the vacation of Illinois and
Louisiana streets and the viaducting of Meridian
street south of Georgia street. The expectant
multitude, signing for the new depot, not
told that the grand movement contemplated, if
successfully carried out will virtually divide the
city, and transform the South Side int switch
yard the grandest and finest in the whole
country This will inevitably be the case, If the
movement shall succeed. Let it be supposed
that the property owners along the lines
cheerfully consent to the proposed
ton and viaducting of the streets named.
and that the al-powerful railroad
syndicate, can have its sweet will, what will be
the RESULT Simply to establish an almost per-
manent blockade from Tennessee to Noble street,
more inconvenient and infinitely more danger
than big stream with ferriage across.
Such movement is called grand in the columns
of the leading paper of the city, which generally
advocates progress and prosperity. The
injury inflicted by the grand move
ment would be fatal and beyond
remedy-all the Dragging and advertising will
not lift this railroad-cursed city above the level
of switchboard of the lines passing through
here. To the ordinary observer there seems to
be prospect Of relief As long as passes are
generously distributed, where they DO the most
good, the city government will suffer, and con-
cede everything, rather than forfeit that ines
mand the right to run double
track on Meridian street for tho
purpose of erecting a round house in the Circle
unless Mr. English would vigorously interfere
it would be Immediately granted, and the city
government would lick its chops and handsomely
wag its tail for nod of approval from the great
man. There is the source of the trouble of the
innumerable concessions to railroads in this city
The heated term is approaching, and there is
s sreas nogS S ssa' v.es ton
mand, unless old Street-car johnson
would resist account of interference With
his elegant transfer car. Perhaps the great In
gals, if he chose to do it, could even prevail
upon the County Commissioners to vacate the
court house to be transformed into round
house. freight depot and Office building. Any
thing to propitiated him and his associates, or
the city is doomed. The unblushing subservency
to railroads, and all other monopolies,
in this city, is disgusting. There is hardly
weekly report of the Council published without
the grant of some street for switch; and when
a concession is once made the railroads hold on
with frmer grip than the Cleveland Street
Railroad Company, if such a thing would be con-
the continual reminder of the incalcuable bene-
fits conferred upon the city, but the everlasting
fact that not track would have been laid but
for the advantage of the railroads is entirely
overlooked. Just do talk about colossal IN
vanished cheek!
But there is CLEAN Of hope left Some Of the
real estate owners on Meridian street do not
seem to relish the proposed destruction of the
finest business square of the city, as a viaduct
will surely do and they kick. and appeal to the
courts, whose sense of justice is not yet obliter
ated by the lavish distribution of dead-head
passes. Our State courts are the last refuge,
and the people trust them.
The proposed scheme. if successfully carried ons
will not only permanently injure the city for the
benefit Of a few interested individuals. but will
disfgure the whole immediate neigh 0orhood by
the erection of lot of unsightlv sheds which
will be worse drawback to surroundings than
the disgraceful depot which they are to replace.
IT. by some means the plan adopted for
njuring the city should miscarry the
railroad hirelings of every description will
make Rome howl. with their subsidized indigna-
ton. AS such matters running and have
been running, if not in some way arrested, the
question will arise whether the city and
citizens have any rights, which the railroads and
other monopolies are bound to respect.
SOUTHSIDES.