The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-24
ELEVATED TRACK COST
AN EXAGGERATED IDEA AS TO THE
EXPENSE INVOLVED.
President Fortune, of Commercial
Club, and the City Officials
Talk over the Matter.

| subject of elevating the railroad tracks. Al
meeting of the directors of the club on
| Wednesday a plan was Endorsed and the
| president directed to arrange a conference
with the city officials. Mayor Taggart in
formed Mr.. Fortune yesterday that this was
one of the subjects the administration in
tends to investigate very soon. Just at
present, however. he is anxious to have pre-
liminary steps taken toward establishing
the park system. The mayor expressed the
opinion that the board would be ready to
give some consideration to the elevation of
the tracks within a month.
AS yet the directors Of the club do not
care to outline the plan that has been sug-
gested and which will be laid before the
Board of Public Works. In a general way,
Mr.. Fortune said that up to the present time
the plan submitted by ex-Cfty Engineer
Brown was probably the most feasible. This
did not contemplate the elevation of all the
tracks in Indianapolis. 1t provided for an
east-and-west trunk line, over which all
trains were to enter and leave the city. I'm
der it the lines that now cross the city forth
and south would be abandoned This would
greatly enhance the value of property ada
cent to those lines now A very important
factor to take into consideration is the large
number Of manufacturing concerns that de-
pend upon private switches. These would
not be disturbed for a period of say ten
years, in order to allow manufacturers to
adjust themselves 10 modified conditions.
Traffic over them, however, would be con-
fined to purely local and private business.
Locomotive engines would be abolished and
electric power substituted on the surface
lines, in order to reduce danger and incon-
venience to the minimum.
COST LESS THAN 100000.
10 osr al Row,
several years in a general way, it has not
been well understood. There is much misin-
formation afioat, it is said, with regard to
the expense involved in eIevating the tracks.
AS general thing people have imagined
it would cost the railroads anywhere from
ten to twenty million dollars. This idea has
prevailed, Mr.. Fortune says, because PEOPLE
have imagined all the lines in town were
to be raised. With the north-and-south lines
abolished and all traffic confined to an east
and west line, the expense would not exceed
900 or 81. 000 1t is said that if the
railroads show a disposition to meet the sit
uation and accede to the demands for the
elevation of their tracks, popular senti-
ment would not oppose a proposition for the
city to bear part of the expense: This is
done in other States. Massachusetts, for in
stance, has laws requiring the railroads to
pay 60 per cent, the State 25 per cent. and
the municipalities the remaining 10 per cent.
General Manager Loree brought out this
fact in a recent discussion with the city
officials concerning a bridge or tunnel at
Trow bridge street If it were regarded as
fair for the city to bear part of the expense,
this would perhaps involve the enactment
of a law by the Legislature authorizing a
special tax of a few cents on the 500 or
some other sort OF legislation, although it is
said an ordinance might be passed providing
for the payment of a certain portion of the
city's expense over period of years, from
the general fund.
On the other hand If the railroads assume
an attitude of antagonism, some of the men
who have given the subject considerable
carrying out the powers vested in it by the
charter. They are very broad. The city is
given the right to require railroad comPa-
MES to bring their tracks to any grade, ele-
vate them, depress them below the surface,
and to construct tunnels or viaducts. No
provision is made in the charter for the city
bearing any portion of the expense what
ever. In Chicago, Mr.. Fortune says, forty
miles of elevated tracks are being built by
the railroads at their own expense The
companies realized that it was better to
proceed peaceably rather than become in;
companies entering indianapolis are alive to
the fact that ultimately their tracks will
have to be elevated here. Mr.. Loree, in his
conference with the city officials above re-
ferred to, admitted this and asked some
pretty searching questions as to how soon
1t might be-
City Engineer Jeup suggested shortly aft
er the conference that preliminary steps
might be taken in the way of the passage
of an ordinance requiring the companies to
have all their tracks elevated in a given
period, say ten years. Concerning this sug-
gestion Mr.. Fortune said every one real
ICES that much time will have TO be con-
sumed in devising a plan and getting ready
for the final work. This was the experience
in Chicago. There will be an endeavor, it
appears, to have the preliminary work be-
| gin soon.
Although this subject has been discussed
| more or less for the last decade, ideas were
not crystallized until 1894. May % of that
| year there was dinner at the Commercial
| Club. presided over by Mayor Denny, at
which the subject THE Railroad Street
crossing Problem in Indianapolis and it's
John II. Holiday, Hugh H Hanna, J. O.
Eli Lilly. July 8 following the directors
| of the club adopted a resolution providing
| for the appointment of an elevated rail-
road commission" whose duty It should be
| to gather and publish information the
misunderstanding problem, to devote them
| selves to securing needed legislation. to give
support to public officials in bringing about
| the elevation of the tracks," etc Colonel
| Eli Lilly was chosen chairman of the fol-
bsr a. NJ conda A G n AyTef DAY B.
| Erwin, William Fortune, Chapin n. .Fos-
ter Louis H. Gibson 4 r Pile, H53sendrieAkson4'
| Holiday, Albert Lieber Charles Mcguire,
| Augustus L. Mason Frank A. Maus. AL
| fred M. Ogle. John r. Pearson, julius F..
| Pratt, /. n. Richie.
VIADUCTS TOO EXPENSIVE.
Mr. Fortune said yesterday that it is out
of the question to depress the railroad
| tracks in this city, as excavations would
disturb the sewer system, injure water and
| gas mains and otherwise injure various
holdings. If viaducts were constructed at
| all crossings sixty-eight would now be re-
| quired. AS the city expands this number
would have to be increased. He thought,
| besides, that the cost of constructing four
| or five viaducts would about equal that of
| elevating an east-and-west trunk line. At
| present it might be well to have east
| and west elevated system a mile long. For
| some time this would give ample relief
| and might be extended from time to time.
1t is understood that the plan to be
coming conference with the city officials
| will suggest the appointment Of a large
| commission to confer with the railroads
| and outline some plan of action and CO.
| operation on an amicable and equitable
| basis, as has been done in other cities
| While commission would have no legal
| authority, it is believed much could be ac-
ccmplished by mutual concessions and
Colonel Eli Lilly, president of the Com
mercial Club railroad commission, has
been confined to his house for five months
| serious attack of inf1ammatory rheuma-
| tisrn was followed by serious complica-
lions. but he is slowly recovering. Colonel
| Lilly has been most persistent advocate
| for fifteen years of this plan of solving the
! crossing problem.
NO POLICE SUBSTATIONS.
The Much-TalIx ed-Of Metropolitan
scheme Temporarily Abandoned.