The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-14
CAN'TREACH AN AGREEMENT
Impediments to the Construction of the
South Meridian-Street Viaduct.
The Council Committee Makes Another I'M
sccessful Attempt to Effect q Compromise
with Property-0wners About the Depot.

The special viaduct committee, composed or
Mayor Denny, City Attorney Taylor. City
Engineer Shearer, President Wright. of the
Board of Aldermen, and the railroad COMMITTEES
of the Council, met yesterday, in consultation
with representatives from the Union Railway
Company and the dissatisfied owners of prop
erty adjoining the proposed Improvement. and
tina meeting demonstrated that any attempt to
reach an agreement by which the viaduct may
be constructed this year will prove futile.
Messrs. Frank Dell. William Dell, Peter Bryce
and Deloss Root adjoining property-owners.
not satisfied with the damages the city com
missioners allowed them. and have appealed to the
Superior Court. The Union Railway Company
will not construct the viaduct unless assured
that it will not be held liable for any additional
damages the property-owners may obtain, and
the city is not willing to take any risk by guar
anteeng 10 pay additional damages it any are
obtained.
The property-owner were represented at the
meeting yesterday by Solomon Claypool and
Harry Tincher, and v. T. Malott represented
the Union Railway Company. Mr. Malott stated
that the directors of tho company had consid-
cred the matter. and had instructed him to
notify the committee that the viaducs would
not be built unless there was q guarantee that
tioual damages The company, he said, was
anxious to have the viaduct built the citizens.
but it could not afford to take any risks. The
depot and the adjacent improvements had
already cost much larger sum than was
ticipated. and the company not financially
able to put any moro money In the improve
ments. The company. he said, ready to
begin work on the viaduct as soon rs 1t received
an assurance that it would not be liable for adj
dltional damages.
An attempt was made to reach q compromise
but the property holders would cot fix their ad-
ditional damages at . sum reasonable enough to
be considered. Mayor Denny and other men,
bers of the committee were willing that the city
the amount of So, 600 rather than have the work
delayed, but the property-holaers would rot corr
slider such proposition, as each OF them ex-
pected to recover three four times that
amount After two hours consultation it be-
came evident that agreement could be
reached and the meeting adjourned. The COM
mittee will report the fruitless results Of it's two
meetings to the Council next Monday night, and
that body will have to determine what Is best to
be done.
Unless some sort of a compromise is reached
the vaduct will not be built for several years. if
at all Taking the Union Railway Company at
its word, it will do nothing until the matter is
settled IN the courts. and will do nothing then
in case damages should be allowed greatly exceed
ing the amount allowed by the city commits
sioners. The will never be determined
until it goes to the Supreme Court, and attor-
neys say decision may not be expected short
of five years. 1t the railway company persist
entity refuses to construct the viaduct their
plans for the sheds of the new depot will have
to be changed The ordinance provides that
Meridian street shall not be condemned by ths
company until viaduct is built IF the compa-
ny attempts to finish the depot this year the plans
will have to be altered as to extend the sheds
only to the west line of Meridian street." said
Mayor Denny last evening. 1.-THE company
cannot occupy Meridian street until the via
duct is built that is certain, no difference what
kind of a construction they place on the ordi-
nance / do not believe they will even build
the depot to the line of the street and stop,
That would leave the street open, but it would
be such death-trap that do not believe the
company will take the risk. There will be thir-
teen tracks to cross there in caso that plan
should be followed. and the company would
soon spend moro money in settling damage suits
than the vaduct will cost"
Alderman Rail thinks that the company has
an idea of building the viaduct at the Meridian
s treet crossing.