The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-29
Union Depot.

involve all the lines in the Central Traffic Asso-
citation.
Union Depot.
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis jon rnal:
The Journal fails to realize that Indianapolis
covers more territory than the few squares i'm
mediately surrounding the site of the old Union
Depot Its advocacy of erecting the new depot
would almost convince anybody that a change of
location would be fatal The arguments ad-
vanced are fallacious from beginning to end. and
some time even the astute Journal will discover
that there are some other locations which con-
tribute to make Indianapolis what it pretends to
be. There are other people and parts OF the
city which pay taxes as well as the projectors
and property-owners Of that locality. The peo-
pie of the South Side will use all legitimate
means to resist the contemplated division of the
city by a corporation which cares nothing for
anybody or anything except to build up huge
money making monopoly.
When the present Union railway corporation
law was pushed through the LEGISLATURE, the
press of this city was almost unanimous in Civ
ing its support to that far reaching scheme, and
it may be confidently asserted that not one of
the city papers has the faintest idea of its con-
tents A fearful clamor was raised because
Governor Gray withheld his approval for few
days. which it was said delayed the immediate
construction of the new depot 1t was obstruction
to the growth of tae city and unfriendliness. If
anybody dared to suggest critical examination
|. into IT, ; scheme of a selfish syndicate, whose
effort. ere directed to make money out of it.
1t was proclaimed from the housetops that with
in thirty days from the passage OF the act the
erection of the new structure would be begun,
md MOI
passed and what has been done2 Eight
cen more months will pass before any
thing will be done. The syndicate is
now ready with its formulated demands upon
the city government. which is to ask for every
thing in sight II this iniquitous demand should
be complied WITH what assurance has the city
that nothing more will be demanded2 But the
demand to divide the city and vacate some of
its most important thoroughfares will be vigor-
ously resisted. If liberal distribution of passes
should accomplish this, there will be an appeal
to the courts, and the matter will be litigated
upon every ground, until the scheme will die Of
old age. 1t is infinitely preferable to get along
without a new depot than permit this ravenous
syndicate to appropriate the whole city for its
private use. Even the weighty opinions of the
journal will not convince disinterested people
that this project conceived and brought forth in
iniquity can result in any benefit to the city.
The assumption of the Journal that the estab-
ished trade of Indianapolis would be injured by
a removal of the depot from its present site. is
too puerile and utterly unworthy it's reputation;
it requires no discussion. Surely, if Indianapo-
lis IS dependent for its existence upon a few
squares it is high time for the abandonment of
the rest to whoever may want it 1t Is surpris-
ng if the Journal really believes what is said in
to-day's ISSUE that 1t does not advocate the dis
tribution of chromos and ham sandwiches to all
who will come to trade here The contingency
of having to walk few squares in the city is ap-
palling and monstrous, and unless speedily
averted will arrest all progress Pursuing this
course of reasoning the journal should 90 q step
further and advocate stores and warehouses In
the magnificent depot, which will be built some
day, and then people who como here will have it
still more convenient
The opinion is rapidly spreading that instead
of one large passenger station for all the roads
centering here, there should be several stations
When the present depot was built Indianapolis
had "a population of about IL. 900, and there were
only Ave roads entering it, To day Indian
apolis approxmates $4,000. and sixteen roads
center here The city now covers a territory
nearly five times as large as in those days, the
center of population has changed. but the astute
press of the city fails to see it. What would the
Journal say If it were told, get subscriptions
and advertisements around the Union Depot.
whore it declares the trade of the city is located
and we will patronize paper which advocates
the other parts of the city, whose existence it
ignores. The Journal makes itself ridiculous in
its advocacy of the old depot site.
While 1t is honestly believed that the contem-
piaIeu plan OF Vacating StreotS Will seriously IN
jure the South Side and damage its interests.
there is another view to be taken of this matter
which concerns the whole city. While the pro-
posed course would impair values, and. conse-
ouently, lessen taxation, the judcious distriou-
ton OF railroad interests all over the city would
enhance and increase values for taxation In a
few years large sums would be realized for city
purposes without increasing the present rate of
taxation Indianapolis would survive q larger
income.
Th;s +urc;r1 ovor tho c;tv "a ,cococol,.. ,v;1I
result disastrously. There is hardly another city
IN America which is cursed with more odious,
grasping monopolies than Indianapolis. and its
press exerts its influence in that direction. The
people are firing of this, and will not tamelv
submit to it much longer. The course of the
city government will be closely watched and
more rigidly scrutinzed than ever before in its
grant of privileges to favored corporations All
such matters will bear watching these days.
SOUTH SIDE.