The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-09
HE BECAME SARCASTIC
ALLEN FLETCHER THROWS OFF HIS
USUAL RETICENT MOOD.
w. p. FishbacI and Ell Lilly Tar
fore the Board of Works.

The Board of Public Works spent nearly
all of yesterday wrestling with the Broad
Ripple franchise question. The usual monot-
ony of such meetings was relieved some
what by the rather terse remarks of Allen
Fletcher, who appeared to defend the rights
of the City company. Mr.. Fletcher talked
pointedly regarding Eli Lilly and w. P.
Fishback, all of which was very surprising,
coming from Mr.. Fletcher, who has always
been regarded as retiring and modest. Mrs
Fletcher began at the mornings session to
tell why the board should not grant the
Broad Ripple Company a franchise. He said
the city is bound by a contract with his
company, and the granting of another fran
chise would be bad faith upon the part of
the city.
The Old board just retired" said Mr..
Fletcher, was disposed to grant a fran
chise to the Broad Ripple company. If this
board should decide to do that, it means
that other lines can come into the city. 1t
would tend TO decrease the value of the
grant to the City company, and it would de-
crease the value to the city. The establish
ment of cross lines would decrease the
revenue both to the city and the COM
pany."
He held that the city could well afford to
wait until the street ear litigation is settled.
If the Supreme Court holds that the City
company has no rights, the city will have
to look to the Legislature for help. Mr..
Fletcher reviewed the street car situation,
which was given to the old board and which
came before the legislative committees last
week. MIR. Fletcher talked for some time
and after he thought he had said all that
was necessary, he picked up his coat and
hat, prepared to go. At the same time, how
ever, a citizens committee came in, COM
posed of members of the East End Mer-
camille Association.
The members of this delegation wanted
it understood that they appeared in the in
terest of no company, but in the interest
of the business men of the East End of the
city. Mr.. Fletcher heard the intentions and
purposes of the delegation stated and de-
cided to remain He placed his coat and
hat on a char and remarked that it was
gratifying 10 find a delegation so engrossed
acted as spokesman for the citizens. He
said the delegation desired that the line
he built further east, If the Ripple COM
pany was allowed an entrance into the city
He said the line proposed by the Ripple
company consisted of two many curves and
it cut into too many improved streets. He
suggested the following route for the new
company, which would lessen the objections
street car service: Down Bellefontaine
street to Home avenue, thence east to Rail-
road or Fulton street. thence south to
Market and west on Market to New Jersey
and south TO Washington. Mr.. Feller re-
peated the assertion that the delegation
id not ask this route in the interest of the
Ripple company. but We're prompted by
motives which all good citizens should pos
sess. MIR. Fletcher waited until the delega-
ton had completed its statement. when he
stepped forward and said:
Il mean no reflection upon these gentle
men. but ] believe we have more public
spirited citizens in indianapolis than any
city in the country / heard some of them
speak before the Senate COMMITTEES the 9TH
er day. One of these so-ealled 'disinterestei
and public-spirited citizens was that Atlas,
that modern Poobah. who fought. bled and
narrowly missed killing himself. IN his ef-
forts TO vanauish the balance left of the
late G.. A. II. funds. / refer TO Col. Eli