The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-05
THE NEW UNION DEPOT.
Railroad Officials Indicate Their Willingness
to Begin Work Without Further Delay.

The presidents and general managers of the
roads composing the Union Railroad Company yes
terday held their first meeting this year to further
consider the building of anew union denot at this
point and making other proposed improvements
here. The session was a secret one, but when
asked what should be said regarding the action
taken, James McCrea, general manage of the
Pennsylvania lines west Of Pittsburg, said: "sYou
may say that the Union Railway Company has
the money with which to proceed with the work,
and if the City Council takes prompt action on
certain ordinances which will be presented
them within a few weeks, the improve
ments will be commenced and pushed to compile
tion." In answer to the question, "What is the
character Of the ordinances which are to be in
troduced?" Mr.. McCrea said: Zone will be the va
eating of certain portions of Louisiana street;
another will be the privilege of building a via
duct over.the Meridian-stree crossing" To the
remark that possibly there might be opposition
to viadicting Meridian street. he answered:
well, we will then build further south, where
the Belt road. The Union Railway Company
propose to experd nearly a million dollars in inn
provements, and do not ask one cent of money
e. St. the city 3 Or s amy individual haa sn Tns
~, ~ Lii % L. COUuDduH has Spcut
in the last two years at indianapolis $475. 900 in
improvements, and asked no donations. Now,
if they will not allow us to build a viaduct over
Meridian street crossing if we find it necessary.
there is not an officer or director OF the Union
Railway Company who would not favor
going out on the Belt road or up on East
Washington street, whore there will be ample
room to build, and where improvements OF the
character contemplated will be appreciated. "
The viaduct, if built, would be a handsome,
49, $3.50 81 h~-AGk L.. .~>@.@
both on the north and south of it, and the Union
railway would construct it without any expense
to the city.
M. E. ingalls,, president Of the c., l., st. L. &
G.. said: I'VE have the money; we are paying
interest on it, and we propose to use it
be commenced on it within four weeks, If the
City Council acts promptly on ordinances which
will be placed before them as soon
as they can be prepared. possibly at the next
meeting. Tn question Of location is not defin-
itely settled, and depends on what figure two
pieces of property can be purchased for" Regard
ing the construction Of q viaduct over Meridian
street, he said if one location was selected,
which had been considered. such an improvement
would be necessary.
VIM. r. McKeen, president of the Vandalia.
said it looked to him as if work would be COM
menced on the new depot within thirty days. He
was confident the city would readily vacate GER
tain streets promptly when the matter was laid
OolOr0 tn0m. mere was a OlSpOSltlOn SHOWN TO
build near the present site. Mr.. McKeen said he
would be over next week, and the question of
location would then be settled upon, and the ex-
ecutive committee, which consists of Messrs. Nc
Keen, Malott and ingalls,, would then be pre-
pared to say what action the city would be called
upon to take.
Another president who was present, but who
preferred not to have his name mentioned in
connection with the subject. said that the whole
matter now rested with the city. The Union
Railway Company did not ask for money. They
already had it. and would this year build a
union depot somewhere in Indianapolis, and pre-
ferred to build it near the present location, but
before they did it the City Council must pass an
ordinance allowing them to build a viaduct over
the Meridian street crossing. This was q mere
police regulation which the Union Railway Com
pany and the city were called upon
to make for the protection Of the citizens of
indianapolis, and it was an Improvement that
the citizens should demand. The Union Railway
Company did not propose to expend q million of
money in this direction. and have to, at the out
set, encounter SO dangerous a railroad crossing
as that on Meridian street, one of our busiest
business thoroughfares. Paying S., 600, $40, 900 or
So, 600 damages every few days for personal in
juries, which they might be obliged to do, was
no encouragement for them TO build near the
present site.