The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-27
THE EAST-END CROSSING
ROAD OFFICIALS
CONFER WITH THE CITY.
Willing to Build a Tunnel Mt RuraI
Street If the City VIII Share
the Cost.

tunnel at Rural street, instead of an
elevated footbridge over the tracks and
yards of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany at Trowbridge street, was suggested
by officials of that road at conference with
city officials yesterday afternoon. In its
present status there is string to the propo-
sition. 1t is that the city shall bear one
half of the expense of building the tun-
mel, estimated at from $4,000 to $4,000. The
company would be willing to build a foot
bridge ten or twelve feet wide over the
tracks at Rural street at its own expense,
providing old bridge timber that has been
dispensed with elsewhere is used. To build
a footbridge OF entirely new material it is
estimated, would cost $50 a foot or about
$4,000 to $4,000 at the Rural-street crossing
that the company has little choice be-
tween a tunnel and a bridge, so far as the
cost is concerned. AS a matter of ultimate
economy the city officials say the tunnel
would be better, as a bridge would only
serve temporary necessities. After a con-
ference, lasting two hours, no definite con-
clusion was reached and the city will await
further action by the officials. It was
promised that something definite should be
done soon.
General Manager Loree, of Pittsburg, Gen.
ersl Superintendent John f. Miller, of Rich
mond, and f. G.. Darlington accompanied
by S. o. Pickens, local attorney of the COM
pany met the mayor, three members of the
Board of Works, City Controller Johnson
and City Engineer Jeup yesterday afternoon.
Not much time was wasted in preliminary
discussion. AT the outset Mr.. Loree said
that the company was somewhat conversant
with public sentiment in this community
and realized the justice of the contention
that two large sections of the city should
not be cut off from intercommunication by
its right of way. Nevertheless the adj
vantage of crossing would be to the peo-
pie, not to the company. Beside, when the
company bought the land there were no
streets Considering that the benefit would
be to the people he thought that they ought
to bear a least half the expense.
President Downing replied that if the cons
pany were to make a tunnel at Rural street
IL would solve the crossing controversy for
that section of the city for years to come
and the company would not be further an
noyed by it. He said that the board I'M
derstood from opinions of it's attorney, that
the city could establish grade crossing at
Rural street. If 1t could not do this directly
1t could grade the street and then pass an
ordinance requiring the company to make
it's tracks conform. 1t was only question
of time, he said, until a crossing of some
sort at that point would have to be made.
S. o. Pickens insisted that there were no
steps by which the city could open street
across the tracks at that point and spoke of
a case where the judge had held that a
grade crossing there would not be safe, no
matter how many fiagmen were stationed,
as there are nineteen tracks that are con-
stantly in use.
Mr.. Downing also spoke of the city'S
power to have an ordinance passed reducing
the speed of trains through the city SO that
they could only creep along instead of going
thirty miles an hour as they do now. But
he said, 1--WE do not want to have con-
troversy over these questions. We want if
possible, to come to an agreement on them"
ASKS THE CITY TO HELP.
When Mr.. Loree asked his opinion as to
the city's bearing half the expense Mayor
Taggart insisted that it was not to be
thought of. 1t would set a precedent that
would lead to no end of trouble Other sec
tions of the city would be at once clamoring
to have grade crossings abolished by like
methods. I'VE would have to raise the tax
levy 20 per cent" said he. I'VE have not
got the money
Neither have We" said Mr.. Loree. "We
have had to pass our dividends for the last
three years This grade crossing question is
serious matter. 1t is coming up every
where. Tonight / go to- Chicago to talk
over a proposition to elevate tracks. In To-
ledo they are asking us to spend $l,00OOOO.
If we do half what is demanded in all parts
of the United States there will not be
cent of profit for the men who employ me
or no fifteen twenty
Mr.. Loree went on to speak of the llberT
atty exhibited to railroads in the East, cit
ing one case where a city paid 40 per cent.
of the cost of a new station, Some States.
he said, had so far recognized the roads
as TO provide no grade crossings should BE-
made in the future, and that where tunnels
or bridges were built the city should bear
a portion Of the expense and the State an
other portion, so as to relieve the roads OF
bearing the whole burden
What do you think is the trend of pub
lie sentiment on this subject here, Mr..
Mayor" he inquired
1T is toward aboliShing the grade cross
ings entirely, in this city at least.
This. of course, would require legislation.
rs it the feeling that the expense of
elevating tracks should be paid by the COM
panies?''
I'VE have not reached that point"
How soon do you think it is coming?
Its a good ways off; but meantime |
think YOU can do nothing better than build
Mr.. Loree inquired, as between a grade
crossing and tunnel which the people or
Woodside would prefer. Mayor Taggart re-
piled that he believed they would prefer
the crossing, and would be willing to run
risks
said Mr. Loree. Still twenty-four hours
after the crossing was established-or, at
any rate, after the first person was Killed
they would at once be clamoring for a tun-
RURAL STREET FAVORED.
There was not much talk about cross
ing of any kind at Trowbridge street. AT
that point the company's right of way is
widest and bridge would greatly interfere
with the operations of the roads. Rural