The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-27
NO GRADE CROSSINGS
ELEVATED TRACK COMMISSION IN
PHAsED By
NO Aid to He Expected from Rail-
roads, but Crossings at Grade Must
Go-Rfngfng Utterances.

The elevated railroad commission held a
meeting at the Commercial Club last night
and materially advanced the work which
the club has taken in hand. Views on the
question were expressed by various MEM
bers. and all were enthusiastic in the an
ticipated relief from dangerous crossings
Col Ell Lilly. chairman of the commission.
In commenting upon the subject, thought
that the only true method of relief from
grade crossings lay in track elevations, and
although the authority to compel the build
ing OF viaducts was vested in the city char
ter, II should not be considered a reason
for the abandonment by the commission of
It's purpose TO arrive finally at the true So
luton Of the problem.
IT do not understand" continued Colonel
Lilly, that ii Is the expectation Of the
commission that the proposed elevation OF
the tracks should he immediate. The
financial conditions, we know. are not op-
perfume and the necessities are not now as
great as they will be In the future, but we
must insist upon a secure future In this
respect. and the work of preparation must
begin now. 1t has been truly said by Mr..
Van Wrinkle and Mr.. Darlington before the
club that the railroads should not be asked
to bear more than their fair share OF the
expense OF changes as seemed wise, IOr ne
mutual benefit Of the general public and
the railways. and. further. that the inter-
ests Of the railways and the city are iden-
teal. At the same time, the railways
should be held to a strict accountability in
all their duties to the public, and especially
to recognize In this locality that which they
have recognized in many other places,
namely, the necessity Of entering fairly and
in the true spfrft Of observation-disclosures unOn a
solution Of the Embarrassing question"
Colonel Lilly recommended that the COM
mission undertake to procure further legis-
lation necessary to protect the people at
at such crossings to be carried either under
or over the dangerous locality.
argument urged by the railroad people in
opposition to the project was It's great ex-
pense, and collaterally with this they had
centaee Of ACCIDENTS rasultea from the
crossing of grades. Mr.. Day did not think
that statistics on this point should be taken
city authorities expressing the opinion that
the commission Is convinced that the rail-
road tracks should be elevated. and that
there should be legislation looking to the
immediate building OF viaducts.
Albert Lieber expressed the view that If
1t was proper to elevate tracks in years
hence Ii was proper to elevate them now.
He had seen the advantage OF elevated
racks In England and Germany. where the
Pr ndQ resulted IN a vast Denent 10 the
government. Mr.. Lieber held that the city
should be taxed for the difference in the
increase of value of property based upon
balance Of the expense. He further thought
that the permanent improvement like this
should be divided or spread upon more than
one generation, which could be accomplished
by bonds issued to become due at a speci-
fled time.
Frank A. Maus felt. he said, that much
OF the Information gathered by the COM
mission was encouraging. The commission
had learned, he remarked, that the railroad
companies were not inclined to consider the
movement, but were likely to oppose Ii.
Their denial Of the necessity for chang
ing the existing conditions seemed to
epeerass 5ne IN pT Ifs epfnri 20 OF s tHsiF a a fais a 1ns
equitable plan leading to the fulhllment
of the movement. As to the course to pur-
the city should h steps looking toward
the recovery Of street crossings that have
been obstruSsd by railroad tracks and
Lilly that the question was not to be boot
ed from the calendar of public enterprise
a member OF the commission ne was in
favor Of relaxing no effort until the matter
had been secured or was found to be un-
Louis H.. Gibson said that 1t was evident
that there was nothing to be expected from
the rail no'1cH' "a and d. ne eor6 6elieyed that the
clearly defined activity. Mr.. Hamburger
favored the proposition, but thought that
greet care snouid De taken IN oruer tnat
the interests Of manufacturing establish
ments were not disturbed. He favored the
plans of the city engineer, and especially
commended that feature which provided
for an endorsement Of the CAPACITY of the
Union Station.
1. N. Richie thought the commission had
made as much progress rs there was any
reasonable right to expect in so short a
time. He believed Indianapolis had passed
the village stage and had grown to be an
important commercial city. There ought TO
be no neglect in properly considering and
guarding its. interests and rights. ,Messrs.
John II. Holiday, a. NJ. Ogle and A. L.
Mason expressed approval of all the plans
proposed.