The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-13
THE CABLE ROAD TO BE BUILT. !.
Directors of the Construction Company Look
Favorably Upon the Project.

The business in the interest of the cable rail-
way which calls j. Creighton Webb and d. F.
Floyd. of the New York Construction Company.
to this city will probably keep them here until
tomorrow night. This is their first visit to In
dianapoiis. and what they have seen has I'M
pressed them strongly with the belief that
in no other city can . cable road
be operated to better advantage. They
regard the broad streets a particularly favor
able condition. which, with the little or no grad
ing to be done, will make the investment less
costly. But there is another consideration in
these conditions. The road can be made less an
obstruction to general travel than il the streets
were narrow In St Paul, whore these gsntl e.
me d nave just completed road, they had moth
ing of this kind to favor them. The severe win
tiers also retarded their work. sWhen we come
to balance our accounts on the St
Paul venture" said Mr. Floyd, last night,
to q reporter, ssthere will be about $40, 900
in expenses for clearing of snow. We had to do
that before could complete the work within
the time specified in the contract went there
about the middle Of last October, expecting to
remain only week or two. but 1t was not until
a few days ago Mr.. Webb and could leave. The
road is completed and turned over to the local
company"
II presume the items of cost there are much
larger than you will find here" was suggeste
by the reporter
I'm several respects, yes Unskilled labor
costs So per day. Here, understand. it
can be obtained at 81 30 per day. In ST. Paul
work can be had by laborers for the asking.
Some years ago was connected with one OF the
leading trunk lines of railway, and it came with
in my duties to weed out the laboring force now
and then. In no instance did do this with
out having strong and fearful appeals
made to restore the men When
a man was discharged from our ST Paul work
he would laugh if twas joke. throw down
his shovel or pick, cross the street and perhaps
get another job at once. Freightage on great
deal of the material we used there was another
expensive item. Here that will be avoided"
yes said Mr.. Webb, II spent Saturday In
visiting the Indianapolis foundries and machlne-
shops, and find that great deal of the machinery
and iron-work will need can be made here.
Jt is our purpose to have all the material manu-
cannot be done in Indianapolis shops. The road
will be built, and am certain 1t will be very
profitable Investment"
"Do cable cars lessen materially the business
Of the ordinary street railwaysW
ITO some extent, for wherever cable roads
exist they are popular" said MIR. Floyd. IN
ST. Paul nothing else is talked about but there.
as IN Indianapolis, there will be sufficient BUSH
ness for street railways The ST. Paul company
though, has monopoly of both the street and
cable roads"
Both gentlemen regard Indianapolis as city
with remarkable resources. They had always
considered it~merely in the character Of a great
railroad center, but its beautiful views, and espe-
cialy it's extensive manufacturing establish
ments, atsurprise to them. cable road
they think, will assist in developing the city. for
they say people like to come whore all metropol-
itan facilities offered. After work 10 once
begun they expect to plete the road within
year, and during that time employment will be
given nearly 2. 600 men-machinists, mechan-
les and laborers.