The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-04
Local Capitalists to Control the Conn
Already Been Placed.
COJPES, VICRORIAS, LHNDAUS
To COMPETE WITH PRESENT STYLE
OF HORsE-DRAwN VEHICLES.
Automobiles Growing Popular Else
where-C. +. Smith Not Interested
I'm the scheme, He Says.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, June 3.-Within the course
of six months to one year the streets of
Indianapolis will be filled with the odd-look-
ing. rapidly-moving. ingeniously-construct-
ed vehicles. which completely fulfill Old
Mother Shipton's otherwise discounted
prophecy that carriages without horses
shall CO." In other words the automobile.
with all its comfort, simplicity. cheapress
and speed, will soon be as familiar a sight
to the residents of indianapolis as they now
are to the citizens Of New York, London
and Paris.
For the purpose OF introducing these end
of-the-century equipages in indianapolis
and certain other of the larger cities, three
companies have been incorporated at Tren-.
ton. ". j.. with many million dollars of
capital. They are the New York Gas and
Electric Light Heat and Power Company,
the American Electric Vehicle Company and
the Electric Storage Battery Company. The
nrst Of these concerns has a capital of $25,
100000, which may be increased soon to $780,
000,000 the second capital Of S. 100000, and
the last $16.000.000. having been increased
only short time ago from sl2,5O00Oo. Be-
hind all three Of the companies, which are
30 closely allied as to be practically under
the control Of the same men, is the vast
wealth OF Whitney, Widener. Elkins and
other weIi-known traction capitalists who
now control many OF the big street-railway
systems of the East and have bought up
and own the patents and privileges Of va
rious styles of automobiles and the improve
ments thereon.
1t Is the purpose of this syndicate to form
q subcompany in Indianapolis and other
cities in which they are to introduce their
cheap horseless vehicle service, allowing the
local capitalists now interested in the diff
ferent means of intramural 1ocomotion en-
ployed there an opportunity to become in
terested In the autocab and freight wagon
service. The direct management OF the af-
fairs Of the Indianapolis subcompany will
be to a large extent in the hands of In
dianapolis capitalists. but on lines laid down
by the parent company, which will retain a
controlling interest In each OF the COM
panies.
The organization Of the Indianapolis COM
pany is now under way and as soon there
after as the necessary number Of autove-
hicIes of the various styles most popular
and necessary can be manufactured, the
service win be actively introduced. These
styles will include the popular hansom-of
which so many are seen in New York-the
coupe, the Victoria and the landau, besides
various patterns OF express and delivery
wagons.
FARES WILL BE CHEAP.
The point, however, which is most impor-
tant to the patron OF public equipages, as
well as to those who would be patrons. but
are now prohibited by reason OF the cost. Is
that the automobile service contemplates a
cheapening of cab and carriage fare in In
dianapolis and every other city where the
service is established.
The intention is to reduce fares just
enough to attract patronage from both the
street cars and horse cabs. Tt is argued
that cheap cab service will get not only
an enormous percentage of the patronage
now going to livery stables and other own
ers Of public conveyances. but that there
are great numbers of people who would
regularly patronize cabs instead Of street
cars If the fare were made low enough to
come within their means.
In London. Paris and other continental
cities the cab fare is much lower than in
American cities, and il Is said that Ii is the
intention of the auto people to fix rates in
Indianapolis approximately at about the
same as those of European cities.
That the promoters of the plan to intro
duce the automobiles can we'll afford TO give
they now enjoy is manifest by reason Of
the excessively cheap cost of maintaining
electric cabs as compared with maintaining
the horses and cabs OK horse-cab service.
Fewer men viii. have TO be employed by the
automc bile companies, as stablemen. etc.,
will not be required. Also. the barn area
needed will not be so large, as the automo-
bile stable does not have to provide stalls
for horses
Besides the automobile cab service, IL is
the intention of the vehicle company to
eventually establish in Indianapolis and
other cities where subcompanies are to be
organized an automobile delivery wagon
and truck service for the benefit of rner-
chants. This delivery wagon and truck
service is to be somewhat on the lines OF
the service to lie given by the Auto-truck
Company OF New York, in which Richard
Croker. the Tammany chief. is largely in
ferested-the difference being that the ve-
hic,es used fer the delivery-wagon service
will be light wagons, propelled by electric
motors. as well as heavy trucks. and the
business catered to will be delivering for re-
tail merchants as well as heavy trucking
for manufacturers and jobbers. which lat
ter the auto-truck company now proposes
TO do here exclusively.
Indeed, the huge interests behind this
movement for cheapening passenger and
freight transportation in indianapolis will
20 even further than outlined above. They
will invade the field of the local and general
express companies ana establish terminal
transfer systems and auto-wagons ION
CALI 10 compete with the individual ex-
press-waKon owners and the general ex-
press companies OF Indianapolis In the col
lection ard delivery OF baggage. freight and
merchandise. In fact, It is the intention tc