The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-01
SOUTH SIDE ALARMED.
Residents Fear Additional Tracks on
Delaware Street.


Since it has become plain that the track
which Mayor Taggart permitted the Unio a
Railroad Company to lay across South
Pennsylvania street is not a temporary ar
rangement"- he claims-residents of the
South Side are becoming alarmed lest the
Pennsylvania Company shall be permitted
TO lay four tracks across South Delaware
street 1t is known that while Superintend-
ent Darlington, of the Pennsylvania Com
pany, is a Republican, he is doing every
thing in his power to secure the mayors
reelection. At one of the public meetings
last night a speaker said that Darlington
had contributed to Taggart's campaign
fund, expecting some favor in return. Last
Saturday evening about 5 O'Clock Darling
ton was seen entering the mayors private
Office at the Grand Hotel. What took place
at the conference they held was not made
public. Putting all these facts together res
idents Of the South Side are losing faith in
the declaration Of the Democratic platform
on the question of the South Delaware
street tracks and are beginning to fear that
the contract the Board OF Public Works
made. with the company, at the mayors
direction, viii be revived if Taggart is
elected again In his public speeches the
mayor has avoided this subject. At meet
ing he attended in the south part of town
Tuesday night he was interrupted by vot-
er who wished to know whether anything
was to be done toward securing a street
through the yards OF the Pennsylvania
Company. Now people wishing to get to
Washington street have to walk a mile to
avoid the company yards, as there is no
north and-south street from State
avenue s,slla to the Belt railroad. The
call the subject up before the Board of
Works the next day wednesday, AT the
office of the board it is said that nothing
was said on that subject, although the
mayor was there.
Residents of the South Side made bitter
light against allowing the Pennsylvania
Company to place four tracks across South
Delaware street. as that is the only
thoroughfare that drivers can safely take
to get up town. Many object to driving
those coming up town from the vicinity Of
South Pennsylvania, Meridian and Della
ware streets, as they have to drive several
blocks out of the way to get to the viaduct.
The crossing at Pennsylvania street was
more dangerous than the Delaware-street
crossing and has been made still more dam
gerouS by the additional track that has been
laid. Delaware street is taken by bicycle
riders in, getting to and from the South
Side as they. do not care to climb over the
viaduct. All these facts made people of
that section Of the city extremely jealous
of South Delaware street, which is now
comparatively safe street to travel, as the
not extra hazardous. When the Board of
Public Works contemplated granting the
Pennsylvania Company a right-of-way large
delegations appeared to protest against it
and a mass meeting was held to protest.
Public sentiment ran SO high that the mat
ter was suppressed
man who is prominently identified with
the business interests of the South Side
said yesterday that he would be willing TO
bet $500 at almost any odds that If Taggart
shall be reelected the tracks will go down
across South Delaware street within four
months and the one which has been laid
across Pennsylvania street will not be torn
up. Controller Johnson tore up track that
was laid across Pennsylvania street when
the mayor was absent last summer. After
the latter returned it was reported that
there had been a. row and that the controller
had rendered his resignation, but this he
denied.
That the South Side is anxious to get
something definite in the way of conces-
sions before the election was made plain
when two petitions were presented to the
ma yor asking for the construction of an
elevated passage way across the Pennsyl-
vania yards, along what would be the line
of Trowbridge street if it were opened as
has been asked time and again 1t is said
that the mayor will appear before the board
this morning to ask that steps for the con-
struction of the elevated causway be made
at once. 1t is understood that the railroad
company will not object to this