The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-20
The Purchasers Expect to obtain New Fran
chise in the Spring. and Then Equip
All the Lines with Electricity.
Their Plans Are All Complete Except the
Makeup of the Local Directory.
Mr.. Mcdonald and Others Buy the Broad Rip
pie Park aud Will Seek to Revive the
Cid C0mpany's Franchises.
NEW STREET-CAR MANAGEMENT.

zef--To Ask for a New Charter.
The early spring will see the new Mckee
Verner syndicate in possession of the Citi-
zens' srreet-railway lines and Augustus l..
Mason in charge as successor to John p.
completed as yet but it will
contain at least two. If not more, local
stockholders. The purchase money is be-
ing paid at the rate of half million dol
lars per month and by the latter part of
February the new company will take hold.
Its first move will be to o before the
Board of Public Works and ask for a re-
Eewal of its franchise upon lch terms as
may be agreed upon. and when this
matter is settled 1t expects to pro-
ceed at once to equip every line
in the city with electricity and
rearrange the schedules, giving as little
time between cars as the traffic will admit.
So far as can be learned. no radical changes
are likely TO be made in the office or road
forces.
There has been q vast amount of specula.
tion as to the presidency of the road, and
nearly every prominent man in the city has
been mentioned more or less In connection
with the place. but the information here
given may be depended upon. Several cap
itaiists have asserted that Mr.. Frenzel
would retain the management. but Mr.
Frenzel has had no communication with
the Pittsburg capitalists since the deal was
completed and last night was much in
the dark as any body in regard to who had
been selected. MIR. Mason was also mysti-
fed when approached on the subject, possi.
bly, by the fact that it had gotten out.
$50 far as I know" said he mot one
point in the organization has been deter
mined upon definitely. 1t is possible that
Mr.. Mckee will be president of the COM
pany."
This subject Mr.. Mason was not willing
to discuss further, but as to the other in
tentions of the company he was very
frank. When asked about franchise, he
replied:
1T is the expectation as soon as the new
company takes hold to lay the matter
frankly before the city government and
aok for new franchise. 1 have no
doubt that the city will treat it
fairly, and / know that the new peo-
than liberal. The plans are ready now 20
equip every inch of the lines with cleo
tricity, South Side and North Side, as soon
as this matter is determined"
What do you think of the proposed re-
I vival of the Broad RippleP'
The charter of the Citizens company
specifically states that when the city de-
sires new line built upon any street it
shall notify the company and if. after
thirty days, the company fails to con-
tract to build the line at once. the
street may be given to another company:
Possibly this matter was overlooked on all
sides when the Bellefon taine-street fran
chlse was granted before"
docs not this new equipment depend
somewhat upon tho bond negotiations in
the EastW was asked
These people are abundantly able to put
up every dollar necessary for this big work
as soon as the city assures them that the
additional outlay is fairly safe invest
ment.r
Il understand the. lines are being paid for
at the rate of S500,000 per month"
"fes, that is true. The payments are be-
Ing met promptly and every dollar of the
future instslIments is provided for.'
Mr.. Mason Is one of the few men who
manager of the new company, yet those on
the inside have known that he has had
more to do with the big street-rallroad deal
from the start than any body else in the city.
Mr.. ID. :. Mckee, the head OF the new
sy indicate. is an old friend of Governor
Porter, and it was through him that Mr..
Mason came in touch with the syndicate.
He introduced the Plttsburg men to Mr..
Shailer. who acted as broker in the deal
and put it through.
Mr.. Mason Is q young man of about thirty
two years. native of Indiana. and has
spent most of his life IN Indianapolis He
is q graduate of DePauw University
practlced law in this city and has risen
very rapidly in his profession. Two years
ago he was appointed dean of the law
school at De Pauw, where he has beon very
oucaaoaf,,l