The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-20

board he was accosted by Judge Elliott.
Who wanted TO know just what kind of
receipt would be gwen for the S25 GOO which
each bidder was required to deposit. Mr:
Conduitt said that he had not thought OF
that. and at once returned TO the Office OF
the Mayor where he and the chief exeou-
tive, with the assistance of the city attor-
ney. adopted one which was subsequently
given to Judge Elliott. IL was as follows:
twenty-five thousand dollars. upon the condition
that II the contract for sreetcar franchise in the
city or Indianapolis is awarded by the Board or
Public Works of said city TO .he said company
represented by Byron X Elliott. that IL VIII
enter into said contract with the city or forfeit
said money. The said sum OF twenty-five thou
sand dollars IL 70 he returned to the said Byron
h. Elliott IL the contract il not awarded TO IL by
the said board, and II the contract Is awarded.
then the said money is 10 be returned TO the said
Byron X Elliott as soon as the contract Ia ap-
proved or rejected by the Common Council OF
said city, provided said Council takes action
within sixty days A. W. CONDUIT,
A. SCHERRER,
NJ NJ DEGREES.
Board OF Public Works
A long delay was then occesioned by the
absence of the other member of the board.
Mr.. Scherrer. 1t was nearly o'clock when
he came in and President Conduit called
the board TO order as soon as he had taken
his seat.
Bring me o copy of the contract" sad
MIR. Conduit, turning TO tho clerk OF the
board. and it was handed 70 him.
"Gentlemen," then continued the presi-
dent, this is the day set for the receiving
of bids on the street-railway franchise
which this board has prepared. We are
now ready to receive those bids. i have
here copy of that contract. j presume
that nearly every one present 10 tolerably
familiar with IL, so that 1 will not
read it. 1 will do 90. however. II
any one desires" There was
pause and no one seeming to insist on the
la AZ offa of ha iaf Ter
We'll. we are ready for the bids" At that
iuncture Judge Elliott came forward and
deposited his bid and the S25, 900 required as
IN earnest from each bidder. making the
remarks credited to him at the beginning
of this account. Mr.. Conduiet pulled them
over TO him. and remarked. ANY moref
w. II. Latta. President Mason's secretary.
lis it a bidF asked Mr.. Conduitt.
''No; it Is only communication" was
the reply.
"Weil. guess we Will receive It," and the
Presidents long arms pulled it In and add
ed nc to the other documents.
There ensued pause. during which no
one had word to say. A hum of next
neIgbbor conversation had arisen while the
hoard was waiting. and it was broken by
the appearance OF Leon Bailey In the door,
way.
LETTER FROM THE CITIZENS COMPANY.
There is still time to bid if you want
co." called out Mr.. Conduit to him. Tho
others have not been opened yet" Mr..
Bailey intimated that the show could 60 on
for all that he would do. TO stop 1t, and
Judge CIaypool dipped in an oar by asking
that the communication from the Citizens
company be read. This was acceded to.
Mr.. Conduit remarkinR that it was not
sealed, aud that he guessed 1t to be public
property. 1t was as follows:
OFFICE OF CITIZENS STREET-RAILROAD Co,
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, April -. 1893.
To the Board Of Public Works, indianapolis. Ind:
Gentlemen-we have examined with care the
street-railway franchise proposed by your board
published In the papers. and we acknowledge
receipt of n copy OF your amendments to the
same. After most mature consideration and
with due regard, as we believe, alike for the in
terests of the company, OF its employees and Of
the public, We have reached the following con-
clusi0n:
The present owners of the street-ra,lway prop
erty in indianapolis are prepared TO give rapid
early day by constructing at once an electric
etreetrailway plant or the most approved
KIND; but taking into consideration
I he large investment necessary, the progress Of
Invention In electrical equipments. requiring
constant changes and renewals; the building OF
new lines the maintenance of nonpayin lines
for the convenience of the public IN outlying ter
ritory; the many contingencies which may arise.
efeeting the value or the property: and, taking
reasonable estimate or the probable earnings or
aueh plant, we regret 20 say that the proposed
franchise is. in our opinion, improbable from
The company has, as believe a legal right to
occupy the streets OF Indianapolis for period OF
time extending far beyond January. 1894. to
which the good faith OF the city Is pledged BUTT
Is sincerely hoped that the company will not be
driven 10 lengthy litigation TO maintain It's
rights, IL is believed that the relations OF the
company To the city can be adjusted upon
basis fair an equitable 10 both parties. without
the Intervention OF the courts. Respectfully
submitted,
CITIZENS STREET-RAILRoAD COMPANY,
AUGUSTUS l.. MASON. President.
When the reading was finished, Mr.. Con.
duitt asked of Judge Clsypooi:
where Is your bidT
THAT rather intimidates me-" was the
RESPONSE.
The board, seeing that there were to be
no more proportions coming In, the one
which they had received was then opened
and read. the provisions of which are men-
toned at the beginning A few minutes
later all semblance OF formal meeting
was broken ND, and the memb ers of the
board and the others present gathered Oft
in groups to discuss the ''unknown's' offer
Perhaps no one was moro gratified at the
turn affairs had taken than were the city
officials Though expressing themselves
To the contrary. there had been some doubt
la their minds all of the time as to whether
t. would receive any propositions or not.
Hnu Ehry could hardly conceal their exul-
tstion when bid. so much exceeding what
had been generally expected, made
them. Before they left the room they told
Judge Elliott that they would take action
his proposition within the next few
DAYS, and will probably do 80 to-day.
1 here is little or no doubt that it will be
accepted. All of the board ex pressed them
selves as being more than pleased with II,
and said that IL was IN their opinion.
very generous offer. Mr. Conduit left
the building with the s25,Oc0 in his inside
pocket. and on either side of him walked
the other mem bers of the board.
IDENTITY OF THE NEW COMPANY.
Judge Elliott Declines TO Reveal It-Gas
Syndicate and Fr.nzei Talked or
When il became known that tho CON-
pany which is re presented by Judge Elliott
was the only one that had bid on the
street-railwsy franchise the question that