The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-06
MUNICIPAL AND CITIZENS COMMITTEES.
u1inois-Street Residents About as Far as Ever
from an Electric Road.

u1inois-Street Residents About as Far as Ever
from an Electric Road.
The committee of councilmen, aldermen
and citizens appointed to consider the ques-
ton of granting the Citizens Street-rail-
road Company the right to operate IN cleo
trIc road on Illinois street, did not accom-
plish a great deal at its meeting last night.
There was a good attendance of citizens
and city officials. Mayor Denny was elected
chairman of the committee, and President
Wright, of the aldermen, was selected as
secretary. Councilman Cummings opened
the discussion by stating that the members
of the Council would like to have Mana
ger Shaffer make some kind of a PROPOSE
ton on behalf of the company. Mr..
Shaffer responded that he did
not think the proposition, if any
was made, should come from the company.
a price on it,O SAID he. az do not think it
is the proper thing for the company to
make a proposition. The Citizens Street.
railroad Company desires to satisfy the
citizens of indianapolis as far as it can.
newspapers tending to leave the impression
that the company will not do anything for
the city. / am disposed to believe that if
we were approached in a fair spirit o
WOulu uuu tudb We WOulQ 10 WllllUx 10
give as much as o expect. 1t is there
fore not the proper thing for
Company es viii WIZ be glad ptpps to con reT
with the citizens, or the members. of the
upon a common platform. The street-rail-
road company is a public institution, and
cannot prosper unless it meets the wishes
of its patrons. Whatever will help the
company will help the city of Indianapolis,
aud uha%axor ri ha1n thu arfu rrfI1 hnlD
u.s."
Captain Wiles repeated what he said at
a previous meeting. that everybody along
Illinois street wanted an electric road on
that thoroughfare. 1t was but fair that
be complied with. The citizens had made
known to the Council their desires, and
they. could not do more. 1t remained
for the Council to confer with the COM
did not know how the Council would look
upon a general charter. The citizens of IL
Gnois street were interested in a line along
that street only, and had nothing to say re-
garding the right to construct lines on
other streets. They felt that electricity
was the coming motor, and thew wanted it
tried on that line. He then moved, in order
to have the question properly brought be-
fore the Council, that a committee, COM
posed of three cOuncilmen and three alder
men, be appointed to act with the city at
torney in framing an ordinance TO be pre-
sented at the next regular meeting of the
Council.
Councilman Thalman said that as he
understood the movement, it was. purely a
local one. If the people of the street
wanted an electric line tried, he was in
favor of accommodating them under any
conditions. He would not vote to grant
the company the right to construct the
city, but was willing that it should expert
ment with any system on Illinois street. If
the overhead system proved a success and
was desired by citizens along other lines,
company to construct the lines anywhere in
the city. n. s. Byram conceded with
him in stating that the movement was
purely a local one. The citizens along the
street, he said: had not asked for any par
ticular kind of system. They were willing
to have the company experiment on the
street with a view of getting better service.
He believed the request of the citizens
should be granted.
A. A. Barnes related what he had OBJ
served relative to the overhead electric
line in Washington CITY. He had never
seen any street-railrOad with which he was
better pleased. The cars were clean and
rapid. The regular cars carried from sixty
to seventy passengers, and some which were
double-deckers, carried over one hundred.
The cars were easily handled and very
much more rapid than horse-cars. He
would like to see the system in operation
On lllluOlS StreeC. anu tuOuBuU Tue mtfnDeTS
of the Council and Board of Aldermen
should all vote for it.
NJ. j. Osgood said the electric line was
just what the people wanted. "We want
rapid transit" said ne. indianapolis is
spreading over a large territory, and the
time has come when we should have quick
means of transportation. If the people
along Illinois street wanted the new sys-
tenn he did not see why those living
on other streets should have any OBJ
lection. He hoped the Council would not
only take the Illinois street lines, but some
other under consideration. He felt inter-
ested in anything that would benefit the
city, and therefore wanted to see the ex-
pertinent tried.
Councilman Hicklin said he thought there
was no doubt about the Council being will
ing to grant the company the right to ex-
pertinent on the street. The question was
would the company build the line. There
were other brief expressions from citizens
and members of the city government, all
of whom seemed to think that if satisfactory
terms could be made with the COM
pany the line should be built.
Mayor Denny and President Wright
announced that they would not name the
members of the joint committee until to-
day, and the meeting then adjourned.