The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-05
DISCUSSING THE DEPOT PROJECT.
The Various Opinions Expressed BY Citizens
at a Conference Yesterday Afternoon.

A meeting of the Council committee, together
with the Mayor, city attorney. city civil engineer
and number of citizens was held in the Coun-
Gil chamber yesterday afternoon. The meeting
was held for the purpose of getting the varying
shades of opinion regarding the vacation OF
streets and alleys as asked by the Union Railway
Company, contingent upon the erection OF the
new union railway station.
Judge Martindale suggested that the matter
be taken up at once and acted upon He did not
think the people present came for the purpose OF
obstructing the depot project
V. T. Malott, OF the Union Railway Company,
said the petitions we're in the hands Of the rail
ways attorneys and could not be brought during
the afternoon, to the meeting
Councilman Pearson moved that the petitions
on behalf of the company and those of remon-
strants be furnished to the committee by II
o'clock this morning, which was carried
A numbered citizens spoke, among them Dr. p.
Fl. Jameson, Edward Dear, l. s. Gordon, Peter
Bryce, Mr.. Griffith, NJ H. Spades Judge Mar
tindale, Adolph Seidensticker and DR.. Denke-
Walter, giving various opinions for and against
the proposed street vacations and viaducts
Mr. Bryce said the Meridian-street viaduct
would materially depreciate the property north
that it was only an experiment at the best, and
the folly of vacating the street might be illus
trated by pointing to the Delaware street bridge;
that at time the tunnel was considered the
one thing needful to the happiness of the South
Side and now the Street-car company enjoyed
monopoly of its benefits. He held that what the
city needed as much as new depot is better ia
ciities for travel and connection between the
north and south. and the way to get it is not by
closing any street, but by viaduct IN addition
to the streets now had. The Meridian street
crossing is the best and is the least dangerous
A visduct east of Meridian street and footbridce
along the east line of Meridian street he believed
would best serve the wants of the public.
DR.. Denke Walter protested against giving the
Union Railway Company any more of the streets
and alleys than it occupies already. II the
Union Railway Company did not remove the
freight depots, he insisted that the company be
forced to build viadncts after the Chicago style.
at the points the tracks cross on East. Alabama
Delaware. Pennsylvania, Meridian and Tonnes
see streets. t
There was ripple of laughter at the Doctors
sweeping demand /. 8 Gordon said he was in
favor of viaduct any place in Indianapolis ii
it would result in new union depot. He was
not afraid of being bothered about room to do
business on Meridian street He said he was
rot afraid of crowd If people want room and
don't want railroad tracks, they ought to live in
country towns and not in cities. He said he had
once refused to sign petition against street
railway track on South Meridian. street. He
held then that the street was too wide and
roomy, and that he would like to see the street
filled up with something that looked like busi-
ness. tAsgens
DR.. p H. Jameson believed that to place the
depot on the sight proposed it would be neces-
sary to close Meridian street He held that some
property would be damaged-it was Unavoidable:
and, if damaged somebody would have to pay
for it He thought it would be worse damaged
by a viaduct than in any other way at Meridian
street. and favored foot bridge.
MIR. Dean thought if the Union Railway Com
pany charged as much as they propose for the
Abandonment of Meridian street By the c ty, the
tax was altogether too much. Let them use the
money in widening the tunnel That will hurt
nobody.
John A. Buchanan thought the public could
get along with vladuct on the alley east OF Me-
ridian street. and allow Meridian street to be-
closed. Ho said he would rather thousand
times drive around to that alley viaduct than
take his chances crossing Meridian street it
now is.
Adolph Seidenstcker remarked that. nothing
had been said in the interest OF the property
owners whose property would be ruined by the
proposed Meridian street viaduct. II two of the
principal streets closed, property there will
be greatly deprecated. If there was a fair and
square proposition from the railway company to
the citizens whose property was to be injured
and taken away. he did not believe there would
be half the opposition there Is. When settle
ment comes it will be found that the city is liable,
and not the Union Railway Company
1t was suggested that plats be brought show
ing the number of feet that each remonstrant
holds Mr. Malott explained that the ordinance
provides that the Union Railway Company shall
not enter into the use of Meridian street until
the viaduct Is constructed. This was in answer
to fear that expressed that if the street
was vacated the company might do as it pleased,
and there could be no recovery of the street by
the city.
The meeting adjourned to meet this after
noon, at 2 o'clock, at the city clerks Office.