The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-07

" ~
Two vinducts Instead Of One.
The Democrats nave made a bold effort
to take upon themselves the credit for the
building of the virginia-avenue viaduct- A
few DAYS ago an ex-councilman, who had
heard some of the extravaganza claims made
by the Democratic adherents, BECAME rem
iniscent and gave a little of the inside his
tory of the building of this viaduct- Ac-
cording to his statement. which the rec
ords uphold. the Democrats can properly
claim credit only for signing away the
rights of the citizens of the South Side 10
one or more viaducts-
1.-The Democrats would not seek to make
their record prominent on that subject TX
they did not think the public could De Ie-
ceived at this late day, saia ne. IN the
Council absolutely threw away the enance
for two viaducts, instead or one, anu q
result of their action the city mas a par, VI
a valuable street vacated for railroad uses
and suits for $500. 600 pending for damages
on account of IL. At the time the viauuct
question came up the city nae lougn' and and
the roads were completely at the mercy
OF the Council. Ii was In the power OF
the Council totcom?el a vladuct 10 De pu.5S
both at the Meridian-street crossing anu
at the Virginia-avenue crossing. Inc iesai
fight had been over the viaduct proposed 10
be constructed at the Meridian-street Cross,
ing. The railroads did not want 10 puiu
over Meridian street on account OF the cost
and proposed to construct a vladuct over
Virginia avenue as a compromise; hr mai
be put off for a long time. me roaus,
therefore, made "a proposition tnat tney
would construct the viaduct over virginia
avenue. provided the city would condemn
Alabama street at the grade crossing, so
that they might compel people 70 use the
viaduct, and would legalize the four tracks
which had been laid ~unlawfully on Louis,-
ana street. The Democrats in the Councli.
with Sim Coy at their head. proposed at
once to accept the proposition, tnougn II
feeler than anything else. They went into
caucus, being anxious to make IL a
party measure for supposed party pene-
bers were not allowed TO have a say
as to what should be done The caucus
approved the railroads, orer ana ceoed
ouired by litigation as TO Meridian street.
we wanted the railroads to come In over
the Belt road and proposed several amend
ments of benefit to the city, but the ma
iority would give us no voice whatever.
The viaducf was ordered built at Virginia
avenue, when ii was clearly within the
to build both there and over Meridian
street. BY their action the Democrats re-
lieved the roads of the necessity or con-
structing more than one viaduct, ana me
one ordered built was constructed more Ior
the advantage of the railroaus n Ior
the entire people of the South Side. Inc
viaduct over Virginia avenue penents Only
about a quarter of ths city, while with one
also at Meridian st.eet. the two would
have benefited fully half the city. The
Democrats were responsible for a heavy
loss to the people or the South Side, and
are entitled to no credit, for at the time
the viaduct was Ordered built the Council
would nave been crHs,nally remiss in It's
gained by years of hard legal fighting had
not been seized. Tie raih cads were where
they could do nothing el'e than to build
a viaduct. and instead of making them
build where it would benefit one-half of the
city the Democratic majority permitted the
roads to dictate where ore. viaduct should
be built, irrespective or the greatest IN
terests Of the create number of people.
That is the kind of tf,ng the Democratic
platform boasts Of"