The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-21
EN-. ROUTE TO BROAD RIPPLE
Dir. Mcdonald Talks Over Rights of Way
with the Board of Public Works.
Secures q Promise of q Franchise on Streets
Yet to Be Named-Once Get Entering
Wedge and Other Lines to Be Built.

r. T. Med onald, the Fort Wayne CAD
italist who is endeavoring to secure fran
chises for the purpose of building rapid.
transit line to Broad Ripple. did not appear
before the Board of Public Works at it's
meeting yesterday morning. as was ex-
pected and Mr.. Conduit informed the
reporters present that the hoard would
meet Mr.. Mcdonald at o'clock In its
private Office. and that the reporters would
be at liberty to stay out.
Mr.. Mcdonald was seen just before the
meeting, and said:
The purpose of our conference is moth
ing more nor less than to talk over, with the
members of the board, the feasibility of
to discuss the best route or routes for it.
We do not expect that anything definite
Will be decided on day"
Colonel Munson. who was twice q candi-
date for Auditor of State on the Democrat
&c ticket, and who now is Mr. McDOnald's
Chicago agent. was present at the meeting,
Its proceedings were behind hermeticslly
sealed doors.
Mr.. Mcdonald was seen at its close. and
said. In response to the question as to
whether he cared to disclose those proceed
lngs: Certainly; but there is little to tell.
10 gentlemen or the DO8rQ received Us
very pleasantly and very courteously. We
stated TO them. as has already been made
pubic, that we desired to build q road to
Broad Ripple. and when it is once In
operation We want to extend our lines In
different directions over the city. The
board received our propositions favorably.
and gave every indication that it would
assist us In every way possible. We made
no formal demand for any specified streets,
but asked the board to indicate in the con-
Hrn MI faH mi n b. .
siders the most desirable route that it can
give Us to the city limits In the direction
of Broad Ripple. This it has agreed to do.
and the contract will be submitted TO
us on the first of next week.
chise. which grants the right of way out
what is known as the Be|lefontaine-s street
route. was brought up. but the board. on
the advice OF its attorney. believe. said
that it could not be DONE and that any
franchise given would have to be new
one. We don't care whether it be new or
old. so that We get it. Once We get this
entering wedge. We will ask for other
routes. What they will be l cannot tell as
working wholly to get the other in some
shape"
when will you 60 before the County
Commissioners. or have you already seen
them privately2" was asked.
Il simply had q desultory conversation
y,
and gathered from what he said that the
commissioners would receive us favOrably.
They will go largely on what the city does.
If we 60 to them with q freshly given
franchise from the city / do not think
there will be any doubt but
that they will give us one also.
The people of indianapolis anc of Broad
Ripple demand line. and there can hardly
be any fiying-in-the-fsce of so much public
sentiment"
Mr.. Mcdonald stated that he believed
that the investment would be q paying
one and that such road, once started,
wouh not only grow in it's earning capaci-
ty, but in extensiveness, and tina: il would,
in the course of time, be carrying
passengers In every direction that the
Citizens company il at present.
The Board of Public Works will submit
the contract that it Will draw up to Mr..
Mcdonald early In the coming week, and
If IL be accepted will reach the Council on
week from next Monday night. An
ordinance cannot be passed on the same
day of it's introduction, but this lmpedi-
ment can be gotten over by the calling of
an extra session."
Dir. Mcdonald left for Fort Wayne last
night, and from there for New York. lie
Will return here naXt weak