The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-02
HUGH M'GOW RETURN
BACK FROM HIS EASTERN TRIP AND
READY FOR BUSINESS.
Affairs of the New Street-Railway
Company-5,OOO,OO 600 Tickets Al
most Ready.

Hugh J. MCGOWAN, general manager OF
the indianapolis Street-railway Company,
arrived in Indianapolis from his Eastern
trip on Saturday night. He did not advertise
his home coming, however. On the contrary
he kept pretty quiet about it, finding it adj
visabIe to ''lay low" like Bre'r Fox. Mr.
MCGOWAN said yesterday that he had been
obliged to keep in the background since
his return in order to avoid being overrun
with men seeking positions with the new
company. 'I cannot proceed with any BUSH
ness in connection with street-car matters
until after the meeting of the stockholders"
he explained. II do not feel at liberty to dis
cuss the results of my Eastern trip until
after L have made my official report at the
meeting, which will take place Wednes-
day."
The new company's first annual payment
Of $4,000. which was to have been handed
over to the city yesterday. in accordance
with the contract, was not forthcoming, but
President WATSON said this matter could
not receive attention until the rights Of the
two old companies had been transferred en-
tirely to the new company. 1t is probable
that the payment will be made Immediately
after to-morrow's meeting or by the end OF
the week at the latest.
The new tickets are almost ready to be
turned over to the company. The presses of
Levey Brothers are now running night and
day in order to have the little pasteboards
in proper shape for the critical inspection
Of the officers and stockholders tomorrow.
Secretary A. NJ. Glossbrenner, of Levey
Brothers printing establishment, said yes
terday: I'VE will have five million tickets
ready for distribution by "Wednesday morn
ing. That is the sum ordered by the COM
pany as first installment. The street-car
men calculate that there will be a great
demand for the tickets at the outstart, aug
mented, of course. by the novelty Of the
thing in indianapolis, and they want to be
prepared for heavy demand. The tickets
will be carefully examined at the meeting
Wednesday before being offered to the
public. Mr.. MCGOWAN appears to be very
much pleased with the scheme which We
have adopted to protect the company
against counterfeiting OF the tickets and
SAYS that, so far as can be aScertained, the
same system has never been used before by
a street-railway concern. Our plan is to use
the series number and the key number or
the ticket in conjunction, so that IL is abso-
lutely impossible TO work a successful coun-
terfeit. For instance, If a counterfeit should
appear in a certain series II would be In
stantly detected and ii would be only neces-
sary to destroy the series, and not the whole
| issue as is customary with other street.
| car companies. 1t is easy enough 10 num-
| Der the tickets in consecutive order but it
| is not so simple matter to number them
| in compound way Everybody who has
| studied the scheme which we are employ
| ing agrees that it is the most complete
| system that could possibly be devised. Aside
| from the compound numerals the geometric
lathe work on the backs of the tickets,
which is on the order OF the national bank
notes plan, Is almost impossible TO initiate.
| The design which we are submitting is only
| a temporary design. We have finished an
engraving OF the monument and IL may be
decided to place this engraving on the backs
i of the next installment of tickets. The pres
ent installment is in readiness for us all
| but the series numbers, which will be
printed in red ink at the upper right hand
| corner OF the cards. The tickets are now
being run through the presses for the last
| time, and the installment will be completed
/ entirely in time for the meeting OF the
| street car men Wednesday,"