The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-03
The Union Depot.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal
The opposition, from the South Side, to the
plan of destroying the principal north-and-south
thoroughfares of city, in the construction of
the new Union Depot. was certainly to be ex-
pec,ed and is pre-eminently just They
are not only justified in their pro-
test from all reasonable stand-points, but
they may compel, by resort to the
courts recognition of their rights and, if not
enioin tho vacation of the streets, they may
compel the payment. by the city, of vast sums of
money as compensation for injuries sustained.
despite the legislation already had and the pas
sage of the contemplated ordinances. Fer it
must be conceded tnat all property south of the
depot, for many squares, will suffer great depre-
citation in value, and the city become liable
to respond in damages to the property
owners. This proposition is clearly calculated
and fully sustained by the recent case of Elias
Cohen VIZ. City of Cleveland First Western Re-
porter, page 60. The number of lawsuits and
the extent of legal demands is almost beyond
computation. 1t would he far better for the
city to appropriate the requisite million of dollars
to build the depot on one OF the many sites
east of the city than to venture upon the
course suggested by the Union company. 1t is
admitted that to construct the depot upon, or
near, its present site will necessitate the closing
Of two or more long established and constantly
used streets, and consequently entail great loss
improve
ment; then why tins defiant effort To so locate
the depot the answer is inevitable: that there
are interests other than disinterested at work.
Personal purposes to subserve.
The absurd reason assigned that the city has
grown and conferred about the present site, and
business Justice demands no change is as evan
escent the tail of comet As well might it
be insisted that enterprising pioneers of from
1880 to $780, having invested their toll and
money on and near the banks of White river
simple justice demands that we turn
hack the wheels of progress and
build the depot there This, with
far more sense than that in the interest of tho
junk and pawn shops Of Illinois street If tae
business interests of the city confined to
four squares of Illinois street. the reason has
some force; nut if, on the contrary, Washing
ton, Pennsylvania, Delaware and other remoter
thoronghfar-s have drawn, fostered and kept
the better class of business. the reason is fala-
cions. What is the evidence of the city's prog
resse
Public sentiment for years has tended, and
has now become fixed. to the idea that private
interest. and not public good. would fix the site
of the depot; and no greater proof is needed than
the idle reason assigned for retaining the old
site. Meridian, with its tributary Streets does
not require or demand the depot to affect it's
business. It is fixed in it's charac-
ter as a wholesale street and moth
ing can change it. He who argues to the
contrary writes himself igrorant Of the lessons
remain the retail thoroughfars OF the city with
or without depot. These are fixed facts. Then
whence comes the cry of injury to the business
centeri If not wrong In my surmise it comes
from southwest of the present depot and It's i'm
mediate vicinity.
The logic of the city's growth-the trend of its
future point to one site for the depot-ftted in
every way for 1t, and suitable from every point
of view.
The intersection of the Union tracks and
Washington street should be fixed upon as the
site, and no selfish, personal interest should
stand in the wav. Public sentiment should de-
.mand this location aud the press voice il until
privats ends are made to yield. g.
INDIANAPOLIS.