The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-07
ELEVATED TRACKS LISTS
THOSE TURNED IN LAST NIGHT HAD
OVER $4,000 SIGNATURES.
Mayor Addresses the Central Organ
ization of the Public Safety
League.

A meeting of the central organization OF
the Public Safety League was held last
night at the Commercial Club. The league
was organized a few weeks ago in the in
terest of elevated railroad tracks. William
Fortune presided Every part of the city
was represented at the meeting.
When the league was organized the city
was divided into districts and these dis
tricts were placed in charge of chairmen.
who last night reported that thousands or
men have already pledged themselves to
do all within their power to bring about the
elevation of railroad tracks in this city.
The chairmen who reported were j. X. LII
~, Albert Sahm, W. III. Schmitts. w. +.
Moore, John G. Ohleyer, George F. Borst,
Charles A. Gauss and Harold Scotch. 1t Is
estimated that the lists turned in by the
chairmen contained between 1900 and ls,-
COO signatures. The chairmen reported That
the general sentiment seemed to favor ele-
waited tracks For the most part, those
against the movement were either raIlroad
men or employees of manufacturers who
seemed to have the idea that by signing the
pledge" they might be the cause of their
employers being put to some expense.
While the meeting was in progress 1t was
suggested that a committee of fifty be APP
pointed TO call on the mayor and ascertain
how soon the city would be ready to act
in the matter Messrs. Sahm and Ohleyer
were named as committee to call on Mayor
Taggart at once and see when he could re-
ceive the larger committee. Mr.. Sahm and
Mr., Ohleyer retired from the meeting and
found Mayor Taggart at the Grand Hotel.
The mayor said he was ready to speak for
the city at once and volunteered to accom-
pany the committee to the meeting. There
he made a short talk in which he stated the
city'S position on the question of elevated
tracks. He said the administration had been
much impressed with the magnitude or TINS
undertaking and was anxious 10 MAKE no
mistake in the matter. He said there were
many sides TO the question He pointed out
that much would be gained by the cooper
alton. of the railroads. but the city. he as.
had been found that the attitude OF the
railroads thus far was one of resistance TO
the elevated track movement He thought
that within two or three weeks the admlnlS-
tration would be fully informed as to what
might be expected of the railroads The
mayor felt sure that the entire city admin
istration would be in favor of proper leg
islation on the subject. He said that City
Attorney Kern and the city engineer would
make another trip to Chicago In rev days
in the interest of the elevated track move
ment Mayor Taggart's remarks were re.
ceived by the meeting with a great deal OF
enthusiasm.
Sahm Lorenz Schmidt, Charles F. Smith,
Theodore Stein, Joseph NJ. Dryer. Samuel
Stephens, Guy L. Sparks and George l.
Pugh. Mr.. Sahm, IN the course of his re-
marks, referred to the action of the Board
of Trade in arraying itself against the ele-
waited track movement He SAID the report
of the Board of Trade committee on this
question was so entirely one sided as to
really give the movement fresh impetus. Mr.
Sahm declared that the committees report
was made with undue haste, at meeting
where one-third of the attendance was made
up of railroad men and where there was
not a quorum present. He felt that this ac-
ton had served to strengthen the senti-
ment in favor of elevated tracks.
Lorenz Schmidt spoke of the sentiment in
favor of the movement on the South Side.
He said that thirty years ago he invested
heavily in South Side property. believing
that he was making an excellent invest.
ment. For years he had waited for elevated
tracks, but had finally become discoura ged.
He had watched his property depreciate in
value and he could look forward to Moth
ing better until the tracks were elevated
at crossings.