The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-23
SHOULD NOT SELL THEM
sTREET-RAILROAD FRANCHISES BE-
LONG TO THE PUBLIC.
j. Ii. CocLrum Thinks the County
PendIeton pike Right of Way.


railroad companies that are seeking a right
Of way over the Pendleton pike with view
to constructing a line between Indianapolis
and Anderson. made ifteen-minute talks be-
fore the Board OF County Commissioners and
county attorney yesterday afternoon.
Attorney John b. Cockrum was before the
board in the interests OF the company or
ganized by Sterling r. Holt, James S.
Cruise and James r. Henry. Another COM
pany which was represented. has W. L.
Herod Francis t. Hord. F. A. JOSS and II.
w. Bennett as it's promoters. Messrs. Herod
and Hord spoke for the company. Charles
l.. Henry Of Anderson spoke i'm behalf of
the petition of the Union Traction Company,
which Is operating number of electric lines
i'm the gas belt and of which concern Mr..
Henry is at the head. The only concern that
has offered "A bonus for a right OF way is
the one represented by Messrs. Hord and
Herod. They agree TO pay into the county
$500 in cash when their road is completed.
Attorney Cockrum in addressing the board
said he did not believe the county should
exact bonus for a risht of way. The
franchises, he declared, belong TO the pub
lie and he was not of the opinion that they
should be bartered away. lie thought a
franchise should be for a period of fifty
years. Mr.. Cockrum insisted that if the
roads Of the county were to be made a
question Of barter the commissioners should
offer them TO the highest bidder. If this
was to be the plan of dsposing of franchises
his people were ready 10 compete with any
one else. Mr.. Cockrum referred 10 the
street-car situation in this city in connection
with the county franchises. lie said he did
not believe any fair mind in this city
would reach the conclusion that the high
ways should be the subject of barter. He
further declared that he believed that for
several years there had been an organized
attempt TO vctimize the Citizens Street
railroad Company. Mr.. Cockrum afterward
said he did not mean to imply that the city
authorities had tried to prosecute the street.
car company. He was speaking generally.
The attorney asserted that in disposing of
franchises the interests of the men who
carry the dinner pail and the pick should
be first I'm the minds of those making these
grants. They the men who ought TO
De Denehted and they can only be so BY
low fares and good service.
After Mr. Cockrum's remarks he was APP
preached by Mr.. HOrd, who said: That was
a pretty nttle speech you made about the
dinner pail and the pick. The only thing
lacking there was the 'vine-coVered cottage
on the hillside You should have worked
that i'm
board for the Union Traction Company. said
he was not there to buy a franchise and il
one had To be purchased he did not care for
n right OF way. He said IL was probable
that his company would not enter the city
over the Pendleton pike. The company had
arranged for private right of way along
the greater part OF the road, although IL
might be necessary to use the highway at
some points. Mr.. Henry said his company
was opposed TO using the highway unless
absolutely necessary. On "A private right of
way much better speed could be made with
out danger TO the public. AS TO the length
OF time a franchise should run. Mr.. Henry
thought II should be perpetual In Madi-
son county his company has a franchise
without limit. IF il is right TO construct
an electric railroad and run it, he con-
tended, lit should be there perpetually, III IL
Is wrong IL should not be there at all"
FEEDER" FOR THE MAIN LINE.
He said the Union Traction Company ex-
pected to operate lines leading into Ander-
son from some of the other cities in the gas
belt, and these lines would serve as feed
ers'' for the Indianapolis and Anderson
road.
Attorney w. p. Herod, speaking for his
company, said the road could be built and
Put in operation by June l. 1900. The COM
pany would want fifty-year franchise. 1t
would either pay 5000 TO the county on the
completion of the road, or pay a part of the
gross receipts into the treasury each year.
The company would bind itself to pay 10
per cent. of the gross receipts during the
first ten years, 12l2 per cent. the second
ten years and 10 per cent. thereafter, pro-
vided that the company would be allowed
TO deduct the sum IL would have
pany for carrying suburban pas.
SengerS into the city. Mr.. Hord
followed MIR. Herod, and presented petit
ton containing about two hundred sigma
lures, requesting the board TO gi,s-.i fran
chises by competition. This is the p.ri.iCf
day When Commissioner McGregor heard
of il Tuesday evening, he remarked: I'll
guarantee that petition is being circulated
in the interests OF some company that Is
wanting a franchise" When the petition
was read yesterday, Mr.. McGregor could
not repress a smile. Mr.. Hord made refer
ence to some of the names on the petition
When he reached the name of ID. NJ. Parry
Commissioner Greer remarked with milo
sarcasm:
Yes. recall that Mr. Parry was granted
franchise by this board only a short time
ago
each company should have fifteen days In
which to file their proposition in writing
each to contain the form of a contract the
board would be expected to sign. Later IN
the afternoon Mr.. McGregor expressed him
self as against all applications for electric
favor of granting another right of way
and Commissioner Greer said he felt the
same way about il. Commissioner Harding
being asked how he stood on the question
replied THE board usually stands to-
gether on these matters"