The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-23

To the Editor OF the inmanapohS JouruaL
The attitude of the Council towards the
Union Railroad Company meets with uni
versal approval outside of railroad circles.
Let them maintain it. And now let them
assume an equally firm and business-like
attitude towards the street railway compa-
ny. and they will merit and receive the
cordial hanks of the entire
~. AS q city we must abide
by our contract, hard as 1t is. The Citi-
zens' company has undoubtedly the right
awaited itself of this right so far as to keep
out, for a half century or more, all COM
petitOrs, If it can have its present fran
chises extended, which it will probably do;
city. No good to the railroad company or
to the city can come of defiant antagOnism,
but neither ought to defy the other. and if
either does, then the other may and should
assert it's ultimate rights. The present
attitude of the street railroad company is
one of defiance in several particulars:
Much stress is laid upon their continued
use of bob-tail cars. contrary to law,
but that is a small matter. True. they are
dangerous, and probably there is not q day
in the year that some painful accident does
not happen because of them. One lady,
the wife of one of our judges, has been al
most helpless for nearly a year from such
yet even all this is not the worst abuse of
power in defiance of the city's authority.
Possibly in many cases the sufferers are
c~ontributory by some carelessness. There
is not a trip the year round that someone is
not put to an Inconvenience for want of
information the conductor is bound to sup
ply. Even our own citizens are often
at a loss TO know the streets crossed,
but the names of streets are never
few months ago has been such a fraud that
the company has become ashamed of it.
One would think that on the cars that
were furnished with conductors this little,
attended to, but the summer passed and
the device was relied upon, though motor
iously false half the time. Some
times the card would not be changed
SO accurately changed as to be depended
upon by a stranger in any locality. This
of itself is a matter of grave complaint, and
If for no other purpose a conductor should
be upon every car at least while within the
busy quarters of the city. The convent
ence OF paying fares is a small matter-this
calling out of streets is an important one.
But neither the bOb-tail, with all its La
bility to accidents. nor the failure to call
streets, great as the Inconvenience to the
public is, is equal to another defiance of
the city. Besides, the city has these dere-
l~ictiOns at it's and may enforce
the law whenever it chooses. Is the COM
pany affOrdng any accommodations not
required of 1T rs q compensation for the lem
iency shown it in these and other respectsf
The company has appropriated every street
that could possibly invite competition.
When there was q possibility Of having
another company use Michigan street, this
company appropriated enough of it to hut
out the new company, and then abandoned
it. 1t has tracked Seventh street and
abandoned it. and a part also of the cross
line from State street to the Morris street
bridge. Practically it may defy the city as
to those across-city lines. but shall We sue
cumb to a monopoly that defies us, and
grant it favors that it demands! The true
attitude of each to the other should be
that of mutual CONCESSIONS. if need be, and
mutual help where possible. II the COM
pany avails itself of its chartered
rights so as to keep out all
competitors, we shall use our few
reserved rights so as to demonstrate that
the railroad does not own the city. The
city should order at least three cross lines,
and. if the company refuses to obey orders,
as they easily can under the charter,
then wee should require them to obey
the law at every point. no natter
what it EcOsts them. Hitherto we have
been doing all the concessions. They rave
lone nothing whatever in that line. We
cannot compel Thorn to make the cross-city
lines. but if they refuse. because the char
ter is defective at this point. we can great
ly improve the service by making them OBJ
serve the charter behind which they so
readily hide. u. l.. SEE.
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 90.