The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-24
WHAT MIR. MCGOWAN SAYS.
The Lower Fare Would Go Into Effect
Immediately.

lne Lower are u OO AAAO AGCA
Immediately.
Hugh J. MCGOWAN said last night that the
street-car bill, which has been prepared by
the committee, is much more drastic than
he supposed. ut seems to me- said Mr..
MCGOWAN. that what the new company
proposes to do is not as well understood
as 1t might be. In considering the question
of fares 1 think it but right to call atten-
ton to the fact that everyone who so de-
sires may have a Accent fare. We are re-
CURED to furnish six tickets for Is cents,
or twenty-five for 81. This rate we can
never increase. In granting it the company
must take into consideration the possible
reduction of fares in the future by COM
petition. Perhaps the time will come when
horseless carriages or flying machines will
be a mode of travel-such a possibility may
be remote, but it is one of the contingencies
that may cause competition, and that we
must take into consideration. In discussing
a AGENT fare sight should not be lost of
the fact thai when the street-car system
was established here there were but short
lnes-half-mile and mile lines, With mule
ears. Now, with the universal transfer
system that we propose to give-that is,
indeed, now in force-a twelve mile ride
can be taken over the lines-one-third of
a cent a mile. AS the city grows and it's
territory spreads the amount of mileage
will constantly increase, so that by the
expiration of the franchise it will probably
be possible to ride twenty or thirty miles
for 4 cents. 1t seems to me that what the
people Of Indianapolis wish for is a settle
ment of the street-car controversies as
soon as possible-that the patrons of the
lines will welcome the time when they, can
see the color Of the tickets to he sold ror
1T is not your intention, then, to wait
until 1901 before putting the ticket system
into e~ffect?"
sums that will have to be expended in i'm
proving the system, that we should be al
lowed to continue charging . cents, but
realizing that there should be immediate
benefits to the city, we are willing. to con-
cede that the patrons shall at once be pene-
fitted by the reduction. 1t would be q pleas
ure to me to be able to have tickets On sale
by the conductors In thirty days. Just as
soon as the subject can be settled, the tick
cts will go on. sale. At hrst the advlsaplnty
of having tickets on sale at drug stores,
groceries and other places OF business was
canvassed, but the sentiment seems to be
that the tickets should be sold by the con-
ductors, as that plan would be more con-
venient for the patrons of the road.
Some of the critics of the company's prop
osition have jeered at It's proposition TO
turn FairvieW Park over to the city on a
longtime lease, with an agreement TO deed
it to the city In fee simple at the expiration
of the franchise. Mr.. MCGOWAN said, last
night. that the park is under the company's
general mortgage that secures the bonds.
IF the park can be separated from the
the city at once. Attorneys are now seeing
If that can be done. Whether the city i'm
proves the park or not, the company can
not dictate. 1t is a fine park now and must
increase in value, even if nothing is done
upon it in the way of identifying 1t. Ii
may be true that the park is somewhat re-
bered that by the end Of thirty years, II
the city continues to grow, as am assured
it has in the past ten years; FalrVleW Park
will be right at the city's door.
'aThe risks are to be taken by the COM
pany. Besides the fixed charges to be met,
1t is necessary to anticipate mechanlcal
improvements and keep pace with them,
In order to keep the road equipped with up
to-date appliances. If compressed air Is de-
veloped into a motor power competition
will compel us to adopt it. This company
is not to have an exclusive franchise, and
must take the risk of competition which
may be brought about by new Inventions
and perhaps modes of transportation now
unknown. Perhaps the most important fact
to be considered, so far as Dement'S TO the
public are concerned, is the present mileage
of the company and the idea that the dis
lance that may be Travelled for 4 cents is
bound to increase instead of diminish, as
the city grows"
Quite a stir has been created in street car
circles all over the United States by the
proposition of the new company to give A.
cent fares. and ii is not looked upon with
favor by companies in other cities. who see
in it a precedent that will be taken into
account in the future when companies ask
for franchises. The proposition has Gre
ated a very unpleasant condition Of affairs
in Kansas City, Mr.. McGowan's home, for
the Metropolitan Company, Of that city,
which now has a franchise pending in the
Council. The proposition made here has
stirred the Kansas City people, according
to papers published IN that city, until they
ara now insisting that Kansas City shah
secure equally favorable terms to those
granted in this city. In the World of last
Monday Alderman Jewell was quoted as
saying that he had always favored 4-cent
fares, and that Mr.. McGowan's offer to In
dianapolis OF accent fares and $4,000 cash