The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-16
CITY MUST MOVE FIRST
RAILROAD COMPANIES SUGGEST NO
TRACK ELEVATION.
Conference at Commercial Club Yes
terday-why Railroads OPP
pose the scheme.

4 AHc QucoliOu VI Tic S4CNc+NApAA VI allAOttu
tracks within the city of Indianapolis was
considered yesterday afternoon at the Com
mercial Club building by representatives of
the railroad companies, together with
Mayor Taggart, City Engineer Jeup and the
Commercial Club elevated railroad commits
sion. The opinions there expressed show
that the railroads are not prepared to CO.
| operate cordially in the proposed changes
and are willing to say what they can do
only when the city has taken definite steps
| in the formulation Of plans. Upon the
other hand, Mayor Taggart and the COM
mission evidently feel that the time has
come for positive steps toward the eleva-
| ton of the tracks. The general plan of
which the commission is the advocate is
| the same as has formerly been presented.
| 1t requires the elevation of all tracks be-
| tween the river and State street, and would
| finally bring about the abandonment of all
| through tracks in the city not upon the
| elevated system. The expense as estimated
| by engineers in the past would be from
$1,000 TO 100000.
William Fortune, president of the commits
| sion, opened the conference with a brief
history of the Commercial Club elevated
| railroad commission. 1t was organized in
1884 to consider means for making the city
railroad crossings safe. At that time plan
was made, but it was not seriously con-
sidered because the business depression pre-
vented the adding of expense to the city or
the railroads. Lately the question has
again been agitated and laid before the
mayor by the commission. The mayor de-
sired that the railroad men be consulted,
and the meeting Of yesterday was accord
ingy called. The commission had secured
In - 51,afV%
was that elevation is the only practicable
way to make the crossings safe. Viaducts
are only temporary meeting of the ques-
ton, and the elevation of the roads is only
a question of time Mr.. Fortune also said
that the people desire the change and many
of the present members of the Council were
elected upon distinct pledges to act de-
cisively upon the question. The people
would be willing to try to help the rail-
roads in defraying the cost and SO far as
possible equalize the burden. Mr. Fortune
then stated that the danger to life and the
inconvenience suffered by those living be-
yond the tracks were of far more I'M
portance than the expenditure involved.
Mayor Taggart, as the representative of
the city, was rendered the chair, and upon
assuming it he said that he believed the
time had come to take steps toward elevat-
ing all the railroads in Indianapolis. In de-
fraying the expenses there should be an
equitable division between the city and the
railroads He believed that the railroads
had made the city what it is, and felt that
they deserved credit for all they have done.
AT the same time he believed track eleva-
ton would be good thing for the railroads
and citizens 1. N. Richie and T. G. Day,
as members of the commission, gave short
81,
Richie dwelt upon the injury suffered by
those owning property beyond the railroad
tracks on account of the inconvenience in
approaching it. He said that a piece of
property in Woodruff Place would be worth
twice the amount If transferred to some
point on the North Side.
RAILROADS SIDE OF TT.
John r. Dye, attorney for the Big Four.
made the principal statement for the rail-
road men, He pointed out some of the inn
provements which have already been made
by the railroads, and said that the expense
Of the elevation would fall heavily upon the
railroad companies. He then added:
The growth and prosperity Of this city
depends upon it's commerce and upon the
ability Of the industries, large and small,
which are scattered along the lines OF the
railroads in this city to compete with sim
liar industries in other cities, and anything |
that tends to Increase the cost of the de-
livery of freight to and from these Indus
tries or TO and from the warehouses of
merchants on the sldetracks in this city,
SO far disables our manufacturers ana ner-
chants from competing with Localities Wnere
this kind of service can 10 performed more
cheaply. whether it IS desirable IN small
city like ours to disturb these various in
dustries by compelling a Encouragement or
abandonment Of their present plants, thus
increasing the cost Of delivery OF frelghts,
is a. question which will, OF course, be con-
sideFed before Sucn DIODOSlllOn IS
made.
I'm coming to the conclusion as to wheth
growth of Indianapolis are necessary, yop |
will of course consult with the people who
carry the commerce and industries of
indianapolis, who are located on the nun
dredS of switches and sidetracks IN the |
city. They are entitled at least to consid-
GRAFTON. The through freight goes around
the city, and the thing that / understand is |
to be provided against by elevated tracks |
is the danger of collision in crossing streets |
at grades. This danger chilly arises from |
the switching of freight cars. Very few |
accidents occur from passenger trains.
"Of course whatever is done must be |
done to meet present conditions, and not
conditions which will exist in this city when
1t has a larger population tnan II now Hasl
and when the streets are more congested
than they are. At the same time any |
proposition from the Commercial Club
which gives all the details of a plan and |
states where the expense will be divided,
will be duly considered by the Big Four"
If the people Of Indianapolis conclude |
tho tracks will the railroads assist in the |
preparing Of details of the plan? asked the |
mayor.
NO; the railroads wish to consider only
a definite plan submitted by the city, and |
prepared by it's representatives" was the
substance of the reply
S. o. Pickens. attorney for the Pennsyl-
vania lines, said that the elevation of the |
railroads would entail great deal Of in
justice TO certain roaGs Some companies
would bear q comparatively small share Of
the expense and would probably have their
business increased by the changes. A
proper adjustment Of the costs would cause
an endless amount of trouble J. T. Hall.
of the c. H. & D.. said that his road would
especially suffer from expense, because it
had not been able to pay its way. Other
representatives made similar statements.
4 few remarks were also made by members
of the commission Fl. Bamberger said that
he believed the people Of the city are un-
willing to bear the increase in taxes which
would accompany the proposed change, and
he thought that q definite vote should be
taken by the people before any decisive
action.
Mr.. Fortune. in few remarks at the close
of the meeting, said that he believed the
railroad men were right in saying that the