The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-05
DELAYING RAPID TRANSIT
While the City Authorities Are Think
ing the Electric Equipment Is Waiting.
Mayor and His Board in Qlandary-No Sem
sational Movements Yesterday in the
Street-Car War.

The apathy of the city officials is doing
not q little In delaying the new era OF
rapid transit which has been promised for
Indianapolis. 1t is true that the Citizens
company has plenty of places where its men
can work, and that that work will all
count in the long run, but it Is also true
that If the city officials would render some
decision on the request that has been made
of them by the Citizens company for per-
mission to enter into some of the paved
streets of the city. to place it's poles on the
vIaduct, and 20 lower the floor Of the tun-
mel 80 that the heavy motor cars can be
run through IL, 10 would greatly facili-
tate matters. The delay is particularly
vexatious To the company at the viaduct.
1t now has nearly all its poles set on Viz
Rinia avenue, and is anxious TO get them
ell in so that it can place it's wires, and get
that line In operation. With the yiaduot
cared for the officials of the company say
that it will only be q question of few
weeks until they will have the line run
ming in full blast.
In the meantime the Board of Works and
the Mayor seem TO be no nearer decision
On the matter than they were several days
ago. They are In fact sort of between the
devil and the deep blue sea-" and do not
know which way TO turn. They have p
request from one company ask Dg that this
permission be given it. and they have
a demand from the other company that
they do not dOit
Mayor sullivan said yesterday that be
did not know Just when his board would
take action on the two requests, but
thought perhaps they might ct the meeting
this morning. He was asked If the board
had had any meeting to confer abOut 1t. or
If they bad arrived at any decision. He
said that they had not, and did not sup-
pose that they wonld take any oognizance
of the documents until they had regular
meeting. His own OPINION on the situs-
tion he declined to give.
Yesterday was one of absolute quiet on
the part of both of the companies. The
men of the Citizens kept at their work on
about the same streets that thu have been
employed upon heretofore. and oil day
long through the principal streets could
be seen truck loads of heavy rails which
were being delivered along the various
routes. The City company rested on its
labors of the day before. 1t so worded
its demand of the Citizens company that
nothing oan be done for five days. and then
nothing with any reasonable assurance for
five days more.
The communication has been in the
hands OF the attorneys OF the Citizens
company ever since early yesterday morn
ing, and they are working out its i'm port T..
Presidents Mason Was asked. yesterday. If
any decision as to the company's action
had been agreed on. and he said that there
had not
Councilman Linn made the statement,
yesterday, that he intended 20 call up his
motion for q reconsideration of the route
ordinance at the next meeting OF the Coun-
Gil, despite the fact that 1t had been ig-
nored by the Mayor. he and several at
torneys. with whom he has consulted, are
of the same opinion, and he will put the
question to the test. There is no question
but that his effort will be throttled by the
majority. though President Murphy has
not said. and will not say, what course he
will pursue.