The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-10
The Three-Cent-Fare Proposition of
the Latter Is Regarded as Not
Made I'm Good Faith.
SOME DIFFICULTIES IN WAY
INDIANAPOLIS STREET RAILWAY
COMPANY OCCUPIES STREETS.
Some Minor Appointments Made by the
Board of Safety-Other Mu-
nicipal Affairs.

According 20 statements made TO the
Journal yesterday by a member OF the
Council committee on contracts and fran
chises, the interurban men are doomed 70
disappointment IN their endeavOr 70 Sc
cure from the city better terms than those
granted to Mr.. McCulloch, Of the Union
Traction Company. From the statements
OF a member OF the committee. 1t is plain
that the city authorities believe the In
terurban people are simply putting up a
clever bluff in an effort 70 have the taxes
moderated. The Council member referred
10 has followed the interurban matter
closely for several years and is thoroughly
conversant with the intricacies of the situa-
ton. He said that he did not care 10 have
his name used before the committee acted
on the application Of the interurban peo-
pie. but he wished his attitude stated per-
sonally. because he said it was the opinion
OF a majority Of the on contracts
and franchises.
Ito begin WITH he said, 'Messrs. Irwin.
Harding. Smith, Banker and the rest are
including in their proposition something
which they declared all along they could
not consider-that is taking care OF city
passengers. They have assured the COM
mittee and the Board OF Works time and
time again that they do not want city
trade, would lose money by it and had no
intention Of bidding for it. 1t seems
strange 70 me why this 3-cent fare prOpO-
sition was not made to the committee and
the board when we were considering this
interurban matter several days ago. 1t
was the time then 10 spring il If they
wished TO get the serious consideration OF
the city authorities. Instead Of doing that
they have waited 10 see if by their antago-
nistic attitude toward the present contract
they could scare the board into more favor
able terms; and falling in that blum, they
have come 10 the front with a cheap move
of bidding for popular support by deluding
people into the belief that they can be
served for 3 cents inside the city limits.
The move is shrewd. undoubtedly, and is
calculated TO gain them the support of the
newspapers and the public, and IL is also
intended TO embarass the Board Of Works
in its conscientious effort to obtain the
best terms for the city of Indianapolis
But my opinion is that ii is a bluff. pure
and simple
SECOND CONSIDERATION.
I'm the second place" he continued, 'the
gentlemen representing the interurban
roads know perfectly well that it is i'm
possible to grant them separate entrances
> on streets not now used by the Indianapo-
lis Street-railway Company so as to allow
them 10 get within a mile OF the center OF
the CITY NntL THEIR passengers Will Qe-
mand TO be transported. They knew that
when the whole thing was gone over re-
Gently by the Board of Works and the
on contracts and franchises.
There have been no streets vacated by the
indianapolis Street-raiIway Company since
that time. and the status OF affairs remains
exactly the same. TAX Kentucky avenue,
for instance: at first sight the only possible
way for them 10 have separate entrances
TO the center of the city. one would think
that the street would prove a perfectly
feasible route for the Martinsviile com
pany TO use. but the indianapolis Street
railway Company has considered all such
contingencies as the one proposed by the
gentlemen to whom 1 refer. and it has in
use three squares Of the street: quite
enough 10 cut of any other company from
its use.
THE thing that people must consider be-
fore they get enthusiastic and excited over
the question Of scent fares is Just what il
is really worth TO them. The interurban
companies, as / understand IT,, propose to
pick up residents of the city at the city
limits or at some point outside and haul
them as far as their lines extend for 3
cents. But 1 have shown you that their
lines cannot under separate franchises ex-
tend much closer TO the center of the city
than a half-mtle, three-quarters OF a mile,
or a mile. and they will have To drop city
passengers far from the business district.
With the city passengers ii is a case of
walk the rest of the way or else pay 8
cents more 10 the indianapolis Street-rail-
way Company, making a total of s cents
for the whole distance. Not 4 very eco
nomical idea. is It? Under existing condi-
tiOns i think the proposition, which il is
understood Will be submitted by the inter
urban companies, is an impossible one. The
question as TO whether the Indianapolis
Street-ratlway Company has an exclusive
franchise Is not so important in the discus
sion of the matter as the fact that there
are no streets for the interurban companies
To get separate rights of way over"
Lew Wallace. jr., who is the attorney for
the ilterurban men. said yesterday tina
his clients are thoroughly serious in their
attitude on the question of separate fran
chises and Scent fares. He stated thai
when the application Of the companies is
submitted 20 the Board of Works il vii
be accompanied by a bond. binding the
companies TO a Scent fare and 10 the car.
rying out of any other part OF the proposf
ton. The question viii be brought before
the board. il is thought. before the end OF
the week.