The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-24
FOR ELEVATED TRACKS
TREND OF THE DISCUSSION AT THE
COMMERCIAL CLUB DINNER.
Viaducts VIII Not Answer for Pro-
lection from Grade Crossings
Question I'm other Cities.

tion at the monthly dinner OF the COM
mercial Club last night Mayor Denny pre-
sided and introduced the subject in brief
speech in which he detailed, the agitation
Of the question of providing safe railroad
crossings in the past and the pressing need
at this time for action in some direction
looking towards securing the safety of per-
sons compelled to cross the railroad tracks.
He said the question was one OF the great
est Importance TO the city, now and in the
time 10 come He said the question had al
ready been taken up and given some con-
sideration by the city officials, and on their
behalf thanked the officers and members
of the club for having taken up the ques-
ton.
He said the question of elevated tracks
had been considered about eight years ago
and the Investigations made at that time
while they may not have been full and re-
liable. led to the conclusion that 1t was i'm
practicable. If the present agitation led
to the same results then the next best thing
to do was TO take up the consideration of
the erection of more viaducts. The Mayor
introduced Secretary Fortune, who read a
report of information gathered by him
since the last monthly dinner upon the
practicability and advisability of elevated
stantially as follows:
"The difficulties are many, first in arriv-
ing at a satisfactory solution of the prob
lem in all its Details and, finally, in carry
Ing out the plans agreed upon; but these
difficulties are not regarded as inshrmount-
able. 1t is to be expected that even under
the most favorable circumstances, and with
the most rapid progress that is either prac-
ticable or advisable, it will require con-
siderable time to bring about the desired
results In Indianapolis The question which
cities has been that of a practicable plan
of providing the most satisfactory relief
from the dangers and inconvenience OF the
railroad grade crossings. The desirability
of the elevation of tracks has been agreed
upon at the outset by other cities. The
chief trouble has been in determining
ing them In the cities which have begun
agitation for the elevation OF tracks via
ducts over the railroads have been found
TO be very unsatisfactory They afford only
partial relief, are far more advantageous
to the railroads than they convenient
TO the public, and are enormously detri-
mental to adjacent property. If construct
ed over all crossings they cost many times
as much as an ample system Of track ele-
The main lines of railroads within the
city of indianapolis now cross streets at
grade at sixty-nine points. AS the inhab-
itated area of the city extends other streets
Will be opened, which will be crossed by
these same lines of railroad The con-
struction Of viaducts so as to protect the
at all Of these points would cost many
millions of dollars. in addition to which
aggregating many millions more. 1t cannot
rightly be urged that streets should be
closed to avoid the dangers OF the railroad
tracks crossing them
mo calculation will adequately indicate
the possible growth and corresponding
gain in wealth which will certainly result
from the removal of the tracks which now
restrain the expansion of the city. Nor can
the increase in value of property which
would follow removal of the present lines
of depreciation be estimated. The econo-
mics and benefits would not accrue wholly
to the public. The railroads would be re-
heved from the growing expense of main
tanning hagmen at crossings, and the prob
ability of damage suits would be greatly
lessened. The elevation of the tracks would
struction of viaducts at all parts where
needed. Such information as L have been
able TO gather Is favorable TO the idea of
an elevation of tracks running through the
city east and west, connecting with all
lines by way of the Belt railway. What
ever difficulties may be encountered can be
overcome by engineering genius"
RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC.
Jacob p. Dunn spoke upon the rights of
the public He considered the property
rights of the public. which. he said, was
just beginning to be considered in this
country, where the constitutions protected
the property rights Of the individual from
encroachment by the State, but
did very little towards protect
ing the public property rights
from the encroachment of individuals. He
said the trainers of the Constitution did
not foresee that in this day artificial per-
sons would exist corporations of corpora
with single State, but with the national
government, as the Sugar and Whisky
trusts and other combinations of corpora
t@e He spoke pos foreiby in pr fasor
OF cultivating the idea of the individual
interests in public property and especially
In that sort OF intangible public property
known as franchises .and easements. He
said the existence of the right of the pub
lie to require the railroads to elevate their
tracks was far more clear than was the
recognition of this right.
The. railroad is highway 1t is only
permitted to occupy the streets and cross
streets on the grounds that ii is a con-
venience to the public. Property devoted
to the public use Is subject to the public
In the Se c of t have the
higher use and the railroad crossings are
intolerable. The time has come when some
railroad tracks or the people, and the ques-
ton is which shall Ii be?
The paper prepared by John H. Holiday
TALLY as follows:
In no other city, perhaps, has the exist
e enct; of railways borne ne harder upon one
we call the South Side has many advant-
ages for residence, and had the city grown
as it began, without any interference, that
part, in all probability. would now be the
most favored and populous. In any event,
1t would have had an equal chance, and
instead OF having the city spread over Fall
creek and TO the northeast a consistent
development would have carried ii below
Pleasant run. But the railroads have cut
it in two, having divided Il from the bust
ness center and made IL difficult of access.
Settlement has drifted in opposite drec-
tons, until now few can be induced to live
south of the tracks who are able to live
north. The location of all public institu-
lions, places of amusement and the prn-
cipal business houses are thus determined
and the result Is sectionalism, with de-
plorable accomplishments which ramify and
affect our civic and social organization.
We give over large part of our city, and
poorer classes and put stigma upon them
because they are poor. No one can be sur
prised if envy, jealousy and resentment fol-
low. Such feelings are inevitable In such a
division.
SUBwAYS AND OTHER PLANS.
I'm cities where the plan of requiring
railroads TO use subways has been con-
sidered the idea has not been regarded with
escape contact with sewers water and gas
pipes 1t would be necessary to have the
subways constructed from twenty-five to
thirty feet below the surface of the streets,
allowing within this space ten feet be-
tween the tracks and the top of the sub
way. The proper drainage of the subway
would probably make IL necessary to open
large reservoirs, with an extensive system
the plan are the discomforts arising from
moor yeDtila tion coal smoke he of