The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-11
j. T.. McGcttigan Acted as Guide and
Spokesman for the Railroad
During the Trip.
A MEETING AT HOBSON'S HALL
SOUTH SIDE PROPERTY OWNERS Oh
JECT TO THE ROUTE.
A Petition to the Board of Works
Acknowledgements Made and
Committees Appointed.

The members of the Board of Public
Works yesterday afternoon made tour
of inspection of the proposed route of
the Indianapolis Southern Railroad within
the city limits. The board was accom-
panied by ]. E. McGettigan. a director of
the road, City Engineer Jeup, Street Com
missioner Herpick, a number of South
Side citizens who were interested on ac-
count of property rights. and several news
paper reporters.
Beginning at the point where the road
would first enter the city limits on South
ern avenue and about fifty feet from White
river. the board followed the route along
the bank of the river TO the Belt Railroad
crossing. Mr. McGettigan, from time to
time. explained the purpose of the COM
pany He said it was the intention to
broaden the levee which runs along White
river that it would afford absolute pro-
lection for the road. The grade of the
roadbed. which will parallel the levee from
Southern avenue to the Belt Railroad
bridge. will be much lower than the levee
being on a level with the bottom land
through which 1t passes.
Arriving at the Belt bridge Mr.. Meet
tgan explained that the Indianapolis
point about one hundred feet west of the
east end of the bridge. The road will then
follow the east bank of Pogues run until
Ii reaches Ray street, where 1t crosses the
run and purSueS a straight northerly direc-
ton to South street thence north on Nc
Gill street to the Union tracks on Louisiana
street. The principal streets crossed by
the proposed route are Morris. Wilkins.
Ray, McGauley, McCarty. Merrill and
South.
SOUTH SIDE CITIZENS.
When the board arrived at Morris street,
which is the first street of Importance TO
be crossed by the road. a delegation of
South Side citizens who own property along
the proposed route were waiting the
bridge which crosses Pogue's run. The
South Siders Immediately began plying the
board with all sorts OF questions, but the
board was out TO listen and not to talk, and
Mr.. Sahm referred all of his interlocutors
10 Mr.. McGettigan. After Mr.. McGettigan
had explained the proposed route of the
road several of those present wanted to
know why the road could not go into the
city over the switch leading from the Ma
ticnal starch works al Morris and Dakota
streets 10 the Pennsylvania tracks at Mer-
rill street and Kentucky avenue.
Mr.. McGettigan replied that if the In
dianapolis Southern had to go over the
tracks of the Pennsylvania IL would seri
ousiy cripple the road. il would make
II subservient to the Pennsylvania. If the
the Pennsylvania, Mr.. McGettigan de-
clared, it would defeat the very object for
which it was being built, viz, the hauling
of coal to this city at a cheap rate. II was
also suggested that the Indianapolis South
ern could enter the city over the track OF
the j.. M. & L., which crosses Morris street
on Chestnut. six squares east of Pogues
run. Mr.. McGettigan made the same OBJ
lection. saying that the Indianapolis South
ern could not afford to be in any way con-
trolled by any other road.
BILL" FLYNN'S QUESTIONS.
Among the properly holders that sur
rounded Mr.. McGettigan was Bill Flynn.
He wanted TO know what was going TO be-
come of the property along the line of the
road, insisting that it would depreciate in
value more than 100 per cent. Mr.. McGet-
tigan said he thought that Instead of de-
preciating the road would increase the
value of the property along its route at
least 80 per cent. "Bill shook his head as
though half doubling the assertion of MIR.
McGettigan and then said he understood
the promoters of the road didn't think
much of the value of property owned by
the South Siders anyhow. MIR. Parry told
me- said Flynn. that the property over
here wasn't worth very much and II didn
make any difference whether the road ran
by ii or not.
Mr. Parry doesn't speak for the COM
pany" said Mr.. McGettigan.
"Why don't hep asked Flynn. Amt
ne the head of the gas bag?'
Amid the general laugh that followed the
board departed TO look at the switch lead
ing from the National starch works. and
after a casual inspection returned to its
Office in the courthouse. No member OF the
board would express any opinion regarding
the afternoon tour.