The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-15
LINE TO THE RIPPLE
NEW SUBURBAN ELECTRIC ROUTE
FORMALLY OPENED YESTERDAY.
Nine Miles OF Ride from the Union
Station to the Pretty River
Town.

For many years there has been so much
written and said about the Broad Ripple
street-car line. to connect that suburb
with the city, that 1t has become almost
legendary. Whether 1t was a myth of the
past or a Authorization of the future was
a misty thought in the minds of many.
Like an Intermittent fever the subject has
come up every once in a while. The old
settlers were the first ones TO make the
joyful announcement that the road would
be in running order the 18th Of September,
and they would postpone their annual
picnic at Broad Ripple to that date. There
had been promises to that effect from the
company, but no one took much stock in
them. Superstitious people wagered that
the new company would not begin running
on such an unlucky date. How much the
wagers were has not been stated. The ones
who bet on the negative side were the
winners, but they really should not have
crowed much, for If the date OIL which the
cars were started was not ID the day was
Friday. Some OF the old settlers went to
their big picnic Thursday, the 18th, in the
old-time way, but the old settlers and
others were transported by electric power
yesterday.
The first car left the Union Station yes
terday at Z o'clock bound for Broad Rip
pie. On a big black board in front in white
letters was Broad Ripple and Union Sta
tion." The trip was tranquil till the curve
at Twenty-sixth street was reached, when
there was a halt. After several efforts the
cars turned and proceeded safely to Broad
Ripple Park. Passengers were carried ON
all the cars and on the train which left the
Union Station at noon there were los pas
sengers.
AT 4 O'CLOCK a special car for invited
guests left the station. In the car were
ex-Attorney-general w. II. II. Miller, Hon.
l.. Sullivan, Judge Baker, Col. NJ. l..
superintendent Powell John G. Fender:
Sahm, H. NJ. Bronson, Albert Wishard,
Deputy Sheriff Corbaley. John Claypool,
William BGss4n; President A. 1; Mason
zens' Street-railroad Company. ]. E. Bell,
James A. .Wildman, Judge L. c. Walker,
dates Joyce, Mccrea and Harry Smith, DR..
Light, the promoter of the line. wife and
son and others.
The line, as completed, has been changed
several times from that originally intended.
AS 1t is now the distance from the station
Citizens c~ompany's line is used to Twenty
sixth via Illinois street. At that point the
road turns east about half a block and
then north by Superior street through the
Myers farm nearly three squares. Here 1t
turns east through the tract owned by
Eitel, Lazarus & Coleman. After two
squares 1t takes another turn north by
the Kelsey farm and by the ground called
Washington Park. This is within a short
schooihouse, where the neig6bors made the
protest that IF the thing goes by here,
it'll Kill all our children" The fourth
turn goes north by the Hammond farm,
where for years the tramps were warned
by the sign Bad dog here" The track
is on an exact line between two farms, the
Raw and SchOfpld- The old Hannipnan
farm, which was laid out in forty-foot lots
before the panic in 1873, borders the road
a turn at what has been dubbed Mustard
and Dyes Mistake" and goes east for a
few feyms squ T5s5 6 by the tb M s1isstar and Clark
straight miles through three hundred acres
owned by DR.. Light and Mcdonald, of
Fort Wayne, to Broad Ripple. 1t passes
along the cana to the east and ends at
the park.
a bit OF Indiana suburbs as one desires to
see. The undulating lands near, and as
iand Sc pee e TSe 0I peop pes' i Beyond I c TMentys
sixth street stood in their doors and nodded
their pleasure and many men and children
along the way expressed theirs with
shouts.
Broad Ripple has a beautiful park. There
are acres Of ground fronting the stream.
This latter is seven miles long, about 7t,
feet wide and is twenty-eight feet deep.
1t has had a reputation for first-class fish
lh6, anu " . d 1dNOIllt DIdc6 IOr DOdt-
ing. The park will be kept up to a stand
ard of responsibility. 1t promises to be a
rival to Fairview. The ride is a little
| longer, and part of the way by water. The
road is marked by red poles and the part
nearest the Broad Ripple terminal is just
east OF Central avenue. There is a loop
and station at the park similar to the one
at Fairview, though at present il is fresh
from the carpenters hands.
The president of the Broad Ripple COM
| pany is DIR. Light, of Broad Ripple, who
has been persistent in getting the road
through. He has hewed his right of way
with greater zeal than if he had been clear
ing q new country single handed. He was
happier than any man in lie country yes
terday and as excited as a boy. He was
up and away by 4 in the morning and took
several trips over the lire. He was con-
graduated on every side. William Bosom
is secretary of the company and Solomon
Claypool, j. II. Ferguson and George Hub
bard are the directors. The principal
stockholders are III. G.. Clay. OF New York.
also of the Citizens Street-railroad Com
pany; Mcdonald, of Fort Wayne: DIR.
Light, Leon O.. Bailey, Solomon and John
Claypool and others, who own property
along the line of the road.
The road is unusually smooth, and the
trip out and back was pleasant and with
out accident. At the park the guests
alighted and saw the women's boat race,
one of the features Of the old settlers
picnic.