The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-12
DIVIDED rs TO TRACKS
TWO FACTIONS APPEAR At THE
CITY OFFICIALS, CONFERENCE.
Board of Trade Delegation Opposes
the Elevation Scheme-Admints-
tration's Sincerity Questioned


There are those who doubt the sincerity of
the city administration. among them Chas.
A. Gauss. ex-councilman, who was present
at the elevated tracks meeting" in the
office of the Board of Works yesterday
morning. There were others present who
spoke in favor of the elevation plan, but
they were in the minority. And none Of
them was quite so daring in his remarks
as Mr.. Gauss. He said that ii was his pri-
vate opinion that the city administration
was making a "grard-stand play that the
elevated tracks talk was an election dodge,
and that the city officers were not so des-
perately i'm earnest as a casual observer
might think
1t was at this point that President Ma
honey. Of the Council, rose to the occasion
with an explanation that the meeting was
originally intended TO be a conference be-
tween the city officials. and that the only
reason that outsiders were permitted to
talk at all was that the city officials were
too courteous to ask them TO withdraw. Mr..
Manoney. as well as several others present.
expressed surprise that a morning paper
had published the announcement that the
meeting was to be an open one. Mr.. Ma
honey had reference to the Journal. How
ever, the Journal did not make the an
nouncement on its own responsibility. the
information being given TO a reporter by
one of the city officials. There was a large
crowd on hand. The city was represented
by President Mahoney and Messrs. Golfer.
Bernauer. Scanlon, Schaffer and Little. of
the Council; Messrs. Downing and Mont.
gomery, of the Board of Works; Controller
Johnson and Engineer Jeup. Committees
were present from the Commercial Club and
tho poarH Of T~-, 4 n nnd nxrar 6ftv hrSinacS
men and manufacturers also put in an ap-
pearance. None Of the city officers took
part in the speech making. The delegation
from the Board of Trade had more to say
on the subject than any of the others.
Gen. John Coburn, G. w. Sloan, j. +. Nc
Gettigan. f. B.. Martindale and l.. III. Blan-
ton. all prominent members of the board,
spoke in opposition to the elevation plan.
JUDGE MARTINDALE SARCASTIC.
Judge Martindale in his discourse was in
clined to be somewhat sarcastic. He said
that the new movement had been originated
by the same organization that Is now so
enthusiastic over making White river a
n~avigable stream. The judge declared that
elevated tracks would ruin the Union Sta
ton and all the big plants, such as Kin
gan's. He said that he was strongly in
favor of more viaductS and the establish
ment of gates at the crossings. General
Coburn held that elevated tracks would
greatly handicap business in indianapolis,
and Mr.. Blanton said that they would COM
pei him to close his flour mill and cause the
throwing out OF employment OF a large
number of men.
William Fortune and Evan F.. Lilly were
the two foremost supporters OF the move
ment. Mr.. Fortune opened his remarks
that business men like Judge Martindale
and others from the Board of Trade should
display such little knowledge of the subject
under discussion as TO speak of track eleva-
ton as a calamity to Indianapolis and an
impracticable scheme.A He said that he had
written TO prominent business men In Chi
cago, Philadelphia and other cities where
the tracks had been elevated, requesting
opinions as.to the benefit gained, and had
received seventy-1ve replies teStifying that
the scheme was not only q convenience, but
economical as well. He said that this city
presented an ideal solution of the track ele-
walton and that he had been assured by en-
gineers that the reconstruction of tracks
would cost only $2,000,Ooo. He added that
the representatives of the people should at
least be given an opportunity TO prepare
plans, based on expert knowledge, before
being confronted with the disapproval of
the commercial element, which, he said,
would probably withdraw its opposition
when It had been made better acquainted
s With : the scheme, A number aS Of other
Ing against the proposed movement, and the
meeting ended without any progress being
az III Tie way VI Il HdIilOuy VI OplllOiS.
THE CONTROLLERS OPINION.
In speaking of the meeting Controller
Johnson said yesterday afternoon: These
public gatherings are never productive of
any sort OF settlement of a question. When
a number Of people holding different views
on a certain subject come together to talk
over that subject without having first pre-
pared themselves thoroughly in regard 10
every detail Won NAV dpnend rrn0n it there
will be a battle of words minus any real
practical reasoning. Such was the case
this morning. 1t appeared to me that Mr..
Fortune was the only gentleman present
who was wholly competent to discuss the
question. He has made a very careful study
or track elevation and knew exactly what
the gentlemen who expressed themselves
as bitter enemies of the movement nave
On the contrary, Mr.. Fortune has done this
very thing. OF course there is a great deal
but u / s care GY t PG1h Il Tto Will 0t be 'n advfis uebSItsO To-
attempt an adjustment OF this, or any
other public question at an open meeting.
the city will go about the business in a
cautious. painstaking manner, leaving
nothing undone until it is finally settled,
once and for all, whether or not Indian
apolis Is to have elevate railroad tracks.
The city engineer Is at present at work on
plans. but before these are finished the city
ObhN &c "hO LoN IHO RAORpSN0 hAC
in charge, will hold a private conference
and arrange for a regular routine pro-
gramme towards enecting, IL possible, an
amicable settlement Of the question salts
factory for all concerned. The first thing
for the city officials TO dc is to hold a meet
ing with representatives of each OF the rail-
road companies and those private parties
who have interests at stake. 1t is a foolish
waste OF time 10 listen to the
of people who will not be affected one way
or the other by track elevation. OF course
Mr.. Blanton was in a position TO speak
upon the subject this morning, as his bust
ness interests would come In for considera-
ton. However, he has probably not made
a study of the question as Mr.. Fortune
has proofs TO offer that the elevations would
not injure any commercial interests"
City Engineer Jeup said that he thought
1t would be a good plan for the city off,
cials and the private parties who would
be affected by the elevations to take a trip
TO Chicago or some other place where there
are elevated tracks and make a close ex-
animation of the systems I'm use. Mr.. Jeup
says that the local manufacturers and job
bers who now believe that their business
would be injured by the proposed movement
would be astonished to see how easily the
loading and unloading OF freight cars is ac-
complished with the tracks above the