The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-02
SOUTHERN Is ENDORSED
MANY CATHOLIC PRIESTS THINK THE
ROAD SHOULD BE BUILT.
Letters Written to the Abbot of st.
Meinrad's WIZ BE Filed with the
Board of Works.

The Indianapolis Southern Railway will
present TO the Board of Public Works to-
morrow a large number of letters from
prominent Catholic clergymen of the State
favoring the building of the road through
Spencer county, the home of St. Meinrad's
College. the largest Franciscan University
In the United States. These letters have
been received by the Rt. Rev. Athanasius
Schmitt. abbot of the college. The com
municatIons are from members Of the alma
mater of the college These priests, who
we're educated there fully realize the dis
advantages under which the school has
labored because of it's inaccessibility to
proper railroad connections. They hail with
Joy the prospect of st. Meinard's possess
ing a railroad and in their letters TO the
abbot earnestly hope that the railroad may
be built Immediately. The Franciscan
fathers take such an interest in the rail-
read that il is quite likely that Father
Francis, one of the professors of the
school. will come to Indianapolis tO-mor-
row and make a plea for the college be-
fore the Board Of Works.
st. Meinrads College was established
thirty years ago. In early days its lack of
railroad accommodations was not so severe
ly felt, but the school has grown so large
ly that IL now enrOlls over six hundred
students and possesses many large build
ings and much real estate. While the
school has a national reputation parents
have felt some objection TO sending their
visit the school easily. ST. MeinradS is
seven miles removed from the nearest rail-
road connection. The St. Louis branch of
the Southern Railway, an east and west
line. pierces the county. but in order to go
north the traveller must take the train
to Evansville Louisville. Under present
conditions il requires twelve hours to
reach indianapolis, starting from St. Mem
RAIDS at 5 o'clock In the morning. There is
a long, rough ride over the hills in a stage
coach. After boarding a train there must be
Uresrv waits for railroad connections
Should the Indianapolis Southern be built
1t will be possible to reach Indianapolis in
three or four hours by direct line.
ONE OF THE LETTERS.
The following is sample letter written
by the Rev. Father ]. F. Sondermann. rec
tor Of ST. Lawrence's Church, Lawrence
burg. Ind. to the Rt. Rev. Athanasius
Schmitt:
81 see from the papers that a company
has been formed at Indianapolis that pro-
poses to build a railroad from there TO
Rockport Ind. Will the proposed route
touch st. Meinrad? L sincerely hope it will.
l will then be frequent visitor Of our dear
alma mater, and there will certainly be
hundreds of others from all parts of the
United States who have studied at st.
Meinrad's and keep the place in dear re-
membrance. L should think that the large
amount of patronage coming 10 the railroad
company from visitors to St. Meinrad's of
priests students, guests. etc, as we'll as
the large traffic 10 be expected in freight
on account of your very extensive coal
fields would be great inducement for the
company to build the now road by way of
st. Meinrad's. The building OF the road will
not only be a blessing TO our dear school.
but will be of advantage TO the entire
State because of the opening up of re-
sources now almost neglected. 1 hope the
attention Of the company will be called 10
\ these facts"
| The Rev. ]. F. Byrne. of Haughville, and
| the Rev. G.. j. Lemert, formerly of st.
/ JOsephs Church, Indianapolis. but of
| Rockville, also write very friendly letters
indorsing the project and hoping that the
/ building OF the road will be speedily con-
I summated. Among the other ciergymen
| who have written favoring letters are;
/ Rev. A Oster, st. Bartholomew Church
| Columbus; Rev. Charles A Clever, Brad
/ ford; Rev. John Rives. Terre Haute; Rev
| V A Schnell. Terre Haute; Rev. Andrew
/ Schaaf St Francis Xavier's Poseyville;
/ Rev. Joseph Dickman. ST. Mary's, Evans
| Vile; Rev. F. 3. Luefferman, Mount Yer
/ non; Rev. Emanuel Ledwina. st. Joseph
/ Princeton; Rev P II. Rowan. Montgomery;
/ Rev. f. F. McBarron, Evansville; Rev. VIII
/ liam Wack. ST. Plus Church, Troy; Rev
| ]. F. Sondermann. st. Lawrence's, Law
| renceburg: Rev. c. II. Moss, st. Johns
| Welles; Rev. Bernard Evers. S. Peter and
] Paul, Haubstadt; Rev. William A. Joach-
um Rockport; Rev. Adler Kalin. Shelby
Vile: Rev F. W. Wolf. Shoals; Rev w. F
/ Seibortz st. Pauls, Tell City; Rev NJ. l.
| Guthneck. Madison.