The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-30

OFFICIALS NJ ELECTRIC I IN
TEREsTs SATISFIED.
Next ~eetinR-I Salient
Features.

NO i've STOCK snail ever be carried into
Indianapolis by interurban companies; for
a period of not to exceed eighteen months,
the present routes used by interurban roads
in running into Indianapolis shall not be
changed; the compensation to the city paid
by the interurban roads for using the
streets shall be substantially increased:
straight scent fares shall be charged on all
interurban cars inside the city limits;
transfers shall not be accepted.
The above conclusions were reached yes
terday by the Board of Works and the Of
ficisls of the interurban roads concerned,
at a meeting in the office of the board
which lasted all day. Attending the meet
ing were: Mayor BookwaIter, the members
Of the board, Hugh ]. MCGOWAN, Of the In
dianapolis Street-railway Company: George
F. McCulloch. of the Union Traction Com
pany: William c.. Irwin. of the Indianapolis,
Greenwood & Franklin road: L. f. Nc
Donald and Elmer j. Binford, of the In
dianapolis & Greenfield Company. and
Charles f. Smith, of the new Indianapolis
& Martinsville Rapid Transit Company.
Chairman Negley. of the Council commit
tee on contracts and franchises, and Mr..
VAIL were in attendance. also.
SMOOTH SAILING.
There was little difficulty in arriving at
the. terms Of the agreement. The officials
of the roads were anxious to obtain fair
terms. the mayor and the board were anx-
ious to have the matter settled and the
local street-railway company desired to
throw no insurmountable obstacles in the
way of an amicable arrangement. The pro-
vision in regard TO carrying live stock was
put through without much discussion. The
mayor and the members of the board were
firm i'm their stand regarding the question,
and believed that IL admitted of no lengthy
discussion. AS to the present routes used
by the companies. il was found to be i'm
practible to incorporate n provision in the
contract which would force the interurban
roads TO make changes at once. The new
construction work which will eventually
relieve the danger of blockading Washing
ton street Will take time: and il will be
at least a year, probably more, before new
routes can be used. Providing that an
agreement is not reached by the Board of
dianapolis Street-railway Company within
eighteen months. by which permanent
routes for the interurban roads may be
had, the Board of Works will have the
power to arbitrarily define a permanent
route for each interurban company con-
cerned. The decision will meet the APP
probation of the Merchants Association,
which is extremely DESTROYS that inter-
urban cars shall use Washington street as
mucn as possible.
II CITY'S COMPENSATION.
Regarding the question of compensation
to the city. the mayor and the members of
the board were a unit in believing that an
increase is just. The interurban officials
offered no serious protests to the raising of
the tax. For the first seven years after the
contract is put in force, the city shall re-
ceive from the i%nterurban companies, 3
cents for every round trip made to and
from the city. For the ten years following.
the city shall receive 3 cents: and for the
remainder of the time the franchise re-
mains in force. until April Z. 1888, the city's
compensation shall be 10 cents. The com
pensation formerly provided was. 3. 4 and
s cents. AS TO the question of accepting in
terurban tickets on city cars and CITY
tickets on interurban cars. Mr.. MCGOWAN
declared he would redeem no tickets ac-
cepted by the interurban companies. Since
the interurban people are not DESTROYS of
handling city traffic. by their own declara-
tion, the decision of the board in the cues
ton was not disagreeable to them. Trans
ferS, accordingly. were out of the question.
Straight scent fares were determined ON
as the only possible alternative.
The conclusions reached by the board and
the companies are expected TO meet the APP
prevail of the Council committee, and the
before the Council for final action Will
probably. Will the exception OF a few
minor details, not be changed. The rough
draft made at the meeting yesterday will
be put at once into the hands of City At
torney Joss. who Will go over il with an
eye TO the legality OF the provisions and
will smooth it into shape.
The mayor, the TENDERS of the board.
the interurban officials and Mr.. MCGOWAN.
of the street-railway company, all declared
themselves perfectly satisfied with the dis
pOsal of the questions which have occupied
the attention of citizens and electric rail
way people for months.