The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-25
THE NEW RAILWAY.
Reasons Why the Right of Way Asked
Sh0 uld Not BE Granted.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The Logansport Railroad Company asks.
in petition filed with the Board OF Public
Works, that il be given a perpetual right
of way TO cross White river near where the
Big Four now does. TO come down by the
Armstrong ice ponds 10 follow the bed OF
the old race, crossing Elizabeth. North and
Michigan streets about midway between
the old donation line and White river. then
down in of Mauss brewery to the
Landers penthouse. then east on the north
of the canal bank and occupying the street
on the south side of Military Park. crossing
Blackboard street and crossing West street
at the canal, then to Missouri street. then
down Missouri street to Louisiana street.
crossing Washington street on Missouri,
and paralleling the Big Four tracks This
right of way cuts Capitol Park addition
in two in the middle. destroys the useful
ness of the ground between Maus's brew
cry and the river. makes two tracks across
Backford street, and West street, and es-
pecially makes two tracks across Wash
ington street. being thirty or forty feet OF
space of this street given up to railroad
tracks and destroying any further use OF
Missouri street from Ohio street down.
The most serious objection TO this is the
crossing of Washington street at Missouri.
Two tracks there will necesstate the
building of a viaduct. Such a. viaduct viii
occupy the two squares from Mississippi
street TO West. The present money value
Of the real estate in these two squares is
about 100000. Any. one who stops to think
can readily see that judgments will be
obtained against the city in the construc-
s son 600 of such viaduet of not ,, less than
soon be made at West street, and another
at Maryland street. which will add an
other words. the city cannot afford to al
low this railroad 10 cross these streets,
even if the railroad would pay in advance
this month the corporation counsel of the
city of Chicago instituted suits against
number Of railroads for 81 100000 for land
damages, resulting from the constructing
of viaducts over their tracks" The Chi
cago Tribune of the sth says:
Yesterday the corporation counsel began
twenty-eight suits against railroads TO re-
cover total sum of about 81. 100000 for
ton of viaducts over their tracks. Prop
erty-owners have recovered judgments
against the city for over half a million.
If the city wins its cases ii will have the
money to pay these judgments and to re-
imburse itself for other judgments of the
same kind it was foolish enough to pay in
the past. For many years the city autnori-
ties have been talking of bringing these
land-damage suits against the roads and
having the questions involved settled by
the Supreme Court. But no sooner did a
mayor or a corporation counsel begin to
do anything than he was paraiyzed In some
mysterious way. Suits were begun under
successive administrations, but never
pressed. Not one of the many commenced
has reached the Supreme Court. 1t is very
much to be hoped that the staying power
of Corporation Counsel Rubcns is greater
than was that of his predecessors
Now is the time to profit by Chicago'S
experience. These railroads care nothing
for the city except to make money out OF
il, and will pay no money damages except
at the end of long. expensive and hard
fought litigation. Neither will they re-
spect any bond or contract which can be
made with them. The citizens OF this city
gladly welcome this railroad and have no
desire to put anything in the way Of its
coming The Board of Public Works should
find some suitable way to bring the road
in. do not see why the road cannot come
down on the bank of White river and enter
near the old paper mill. Why cannot the
Board of Public Works hire an engineer to
look up a right OF way for them?
Indianapolis. June % w II. H.