The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-16
C.,H.&D.S SWITCHES
A COUNCIL COMMITTEE WILL DIS
CUsS THE QUESTION TONIGHT.
Much Opposition Is Developing
Against Allowing More Tracks
Across New Jersey Street.

The committee on contracts and fran
chises of the Council will meet tonight to
discuss the ordinance approving the con-
tract between the city and the Cincinnati.
Hamilton & Dayton Railroad to build three
switches across New Jersey street just
south of Pearl street. 1t will be remem-
bered that at the last meeting of the Coun-
Gil when the ordinance was referred to the
committee Councilman Higgins demanded
that it be referred to the committee on
streets and alleys of which he is chairman.
When this was refused and the ordinance
was turned over to the contracts and fran
chises committee he jumped up and said:
II want to explain my vote. don't want
no grab. We all know where the grabs go
when there any coming
1t has been suggested that the last city
platform of the Democrats stated that they
were opposed to granting privileges for adj
ditional tracks across highways unless there
was public necessity for them. The plat
form specifically opposed the South Della
ware-street Pennsylvania Railroad tracks.
At the last meeting of the Council no sus-
picion came to the surface that the rail-
road company was taking great advan-
tage of the city when the Board OF Works
approved it's request to be allowed to place
the additional tracks, that is, there was no
suspicion felt by most of the members, and
no hostility to the ordinance has become APP
parent since the meeting. In several quar-
tiers, however, it is asserted that If the c.,
H. &. d. road is allowed to place additional
tracks across New Jersey street it will
open the way for the Pennsylvania road to
lay more tracks across Delaware street, and
that a short time after the Council passes
A. bar hp WAR
road will be heard from The c., H. & D.
Company readily agreed to the order of the
Board Of Public Works to cut down its
tracks to the established grade of South
eastern avenue, and it is pointed out that
this is likely to have had considerable effect
with the Board of Public Works and was
the cause of the approval of the request of
the same company for additional track
privileges. 1t is estimated that the work
necessary to carry out the order with regard
to the grade at Southeastern avenue will
cost the company $4,000 A much less
amount will measure the expense of the
Pennsylvania Company, which was included
in the order. The latter company has not
yet signified it's intention to obey the order
of the board without struggle. 1t is limited
that If this company were allowed to build
additional tracks across Delaware street
it also would agree to cut down the grade
of it's tracks at Southeastern avenue.
1t is Mayor Taggart's opinion, he states,
that public necessity demands that the c.,
H. & D. road be allowed to place the
switches across New Jersey street He says
that New Jersey street is little Travelled be-
tween Washington street and Virginia ave-
nue.. He further says that he believes addi-
tional tracks across Delaware street would
be an additional and dangerous impeachment
to traffic. When this opinion of the mayors
became known it was asked by several per-
sons whether the difference in amount of
traffic on Delaware street and on New Jer-
sey street would eliminate the danger to
life which is imminent when three tracks
cross any street. The result of the COM
mittee meeting tonight will be awaited with
interest not only by railroad men, but by
considerable number who have watched the
progress of the matter and are convinced
that it will be worse than a mistake If the
request to make what will really prove to
be a switch yard across a street in the
heart of the city is granted.