The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-30
RIPPLE LINE OWNERS
SOME OF THE AFFAIRS OF COMPANY
DISCLOSED BEFORE WORKS BOARD.
Mr.. Clay Never Owned Stock in IT.
Protest Against Granting N City
Right Of Way.


Ripple Rapid Transit Company yesterday
by the Board of Works brought to light
some of the inside facts concerning the re-
lations of that company and the Citizens
Street-railroad Company. 1t developed that
r. w. Clay, of Philadelphia, one of the
large stockholders in the Citizens COM
pany, does not, as is commonly supposed,
own any interest in the Broad Ripple COM
pany, and that he never did have any
interest in it. This is the most important
matter of news which developed.
The board met at o'clock and w. L.
Taylor, attorney for the Broad Ripple COM
pany, made a statement of the matters
which he wanted the board to consider.
He asked the board to do any one of
three things. Either extend the time, and
thereby revive the company's old franchise,
which gave 1t the right to build on what
is termed the Bellfontaine and East street
route, or grant it that privilege subject
to any previous right which the City COM
pany may have acquired by it's franchise.
If neither Of these propositions was looked
upon with favor, 1T was asked that the
board grant the company right of way
over the route outlined in its petition
down Delaware street to Eighth street. on
Jersey to Market street, on Market to Ala
bama street and then to Washington street.
The proposition to give this route met
with the opposition Of a number Of people.
John s. Spann spoke at length agains- 1t.
dwelling principally upon the fact that
the street had just been paved with as
phalt and that it would be bad policy to
disturb it now. He was followed by Judge
NJ rf;nd oIa xxyhn hod he inta 81
ton Place at heart. He commended that the
city had no right to grant right Of way
which would destroy a park, which would
necessarily be done If tracks should be laid
on Delaware street through Morton Place.
The street Is fifty feet wide with a six
teen-foot park in the center and seventeen
feet on either side. He said he was talk
ing simply as an interested property owner
and said he had no objection TO any route
which would not interfere with his prop
erty. 'It is like a. boil" he said. cit is all
right If on some other persons neck
Justus G. Adams argued that the COM
pany could reach the city under the pro-
visions OF the suburban railway act, on
the tracks now in use and contended that
it is folly to allow any more tracks 10
be laid in the city. He said If the suburban
law was not what it should be, he would
do all he could to have it changed.
"A. l.. Mason. of the Citizens company,
contended that the board had no right TO
grant the other company any franchise for
the use Of any Of the city's streets He then
the negotiations between the two companies
for the use of the Illinos-street track and
for, power. He said he had been informed
and believed that on account Of r. w.
Gays connection with the. Broad Ripple
company. his company had always mani
tested friendly spirit and was willing to
do all it could to assist the Broad Ripple
company. He said the contract for the use
of power had been first mentioned last sum-
mer, and after several conferences between
Mr.. Mcdonald and the owners of the Cit
liens company, he was instructed to draw
up contract embodying the verbal agree
to Mr.. Mcdonald, who took it to his law
yer and afterward made a number of sug-
sae he fS Said and the again
mitted to Mr.. Mcdonald, who took it to
New York with him, but never signed it,
ano az tne ve re .ne % nfe
stance Of the contract, as stated by Mr..
Mason, is as follows: The Broad Ripple
pany furnishes the men to operate them
while on it's own line and receives all money
collected by its own men. The Broad Rip
pie company pays cents car each mile,
for power north of Twenty-sixth street
Just as Mr.. Mason was closing his re-
marks r. T. Mcdonald, the principal owner
of the Broad Ripple company. entered the
room. He held a short conference with his
attorneys and then said he had a few words
TO say on the subject of the contract. He
said the reason the contract had never been
signed was that the Citizens company
sought to bind his company for fifty years
and refused absolutely TO make any con-
tract unless he would waive all rights under
the suburban law. This he refused from
the beginning, but the Citizens company
not contain such provision. He said that
r. w. Clay did not now, nor never did,
own interest of any kind in the Broad
Ripple company. He explained that when
the, project was first conceived. Mr.. Clay
some stock, but demanded as a condition
that the Broad Ripple company enter into
a contract with the Citizens company to
run over its tracks in the city and to waive
all rights under the suburban law. This was
refused and Mr.. Clay bought no stock.
After hearing all the statements the
Board of Works decided to take the matter
under advisement. None of the members
would intimate when decision would be
reached, or if another meeting would be
called.