The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-30
COAL IS Big FACTOR
TON OF WORKS BOARD.
Another Communication from the
Commercial Club on Indian
apOIis Southern Petition.
LOCAL COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
THEY WOULD BE ADVANCED BY THE
BUILDING OF THE ROAD.


Public Works the Commercial CLUB,
through its directors, yesterday announced
that the club has no suggestions TO offer
as to what route should be granted the
Indianapolis Southern road for entrance
the heart of the city. In view of the
statement which has been made that the
Commercial Club is opposed to the Pogue's
run route, the letter is significant. This
communication. in addition, goes on to say
that the fuel question has arisen to be one
of the utmost Importance to the manufac-
turers of indianapolis and to citizens in
general. and the construction Of the In
dianapolis Southern Railroad will undoubt-
eddy be an important factor in keeping
the price of fuel. The letter asks the
board to carefully consider the safety of
the people in awarding the franchise and to
settle the question keeping in mind the
Importance of two points-the protection of
life and the protection of Industries. The
communication follows:
I'm your consideration of a franchise for
the Indianapolis Southern Railroad the
board of directors of the Commercial Gu
of Indianapolis especially urges that the
1terestS OF the citizens OF this city be care
fully protected on two points which seem
of particular Importance, to wit, the pro-
lection OF life at street intersections and
the freight rates OH COAL.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
This board is strongly of opinion that
the commercial interests of indianapolis
would be advanced by the building and
operating of a road from this city through
the coal and stone fields of Indiana, as is
proposed by the officials of the indianapolis
Southern Railroad, and We believe that
a method should be provided whereby the
road may secure terminal facilities in the
city that will place it on an equality with
the other roads entering the city. We make
no suggestions regarding where the road
shall enter the city limits or what its route
shall be from the city limits to the Union
Station, as we have no doubt your hon.
Orable board will give this matter careful
attention with a view to selecting the route
best adapted to serve the interests of your
constituents.
The question of the protection of life
at street intersections has been brought
to your attention in a communication sent
TO your honorable board by the elevated
railroad commission of the Commercial
Club.
1--WE sincerely hope that the matter of
freight rates III coal will receive your con-
sideration. With the gradual failure of
natural gas 1T is inevitable that the manu-
featuring and commercial interests of the
city will be compelled to rely largely upon
coal for the production of heat and power,
so that cheap coal will be, in the near flu
ture. a matter of great Importance TO the
city. There are several smaller, but active,
cities situated nearer the coal fields that
are adding largely to their Industrial pOpu-
lation because of the cheap fuel they are
able TO offer.
THE cost of coal at the mine is a matter
that is beyond the power of your board to
regulate The cost of that coal at In
~dianapolis and at these points that come
directly in commercial competition with
this city, is the cost of the coal at the
nina r1IC the freight Az II Ia imnrnhn hlO
that the mine operators will ever find IL
eXpedient to discriminate against this city
in the price of coal at the mine We may
safely assume that the cost of coal at In
~dianapolis. in comparison with it's cost at
competing commercial points, is a COMPARE
son of freight rates.
THROUGH COAL FIELDS.
eth route of the Indianapolis Southern
as projected, passes through a portion of
the coal fields in which coal is abundant
and of excellent quality. Those fields are
at present reached by two lines from this
city. We do not presume to state that
any discrimination in coal freight rates
exists nor do we claim that the present
rates are not fair and just, but we do
submit to you that a third line to the coal
fields, legally pledged to a reasonable COM
pensation for hauling coal from the mines
TO this city, wOuld be Instruments in pre-
venting exorbitant rates in the future at
a time when cheap fuel may be of even
greater Importance to the welfare of In
dianapolis than it is at present.
we understand that the officers of the
Indianapolis Southern Railroad ave eX-
pressed a Willingness to enter into an agree
ment with the city on this point, and ii
seems TO us that your honorable board
cannot afford to neglect this opportunity
TO assure the city reasonable freight rates
on coal for the future. 1t is a matter of
great Importance TO our manufacturing and
commercial interests, one in which you
have the opportunity to give us protection,
and a clear perception of your duty in the
premises will not permit you to neglect it.
w urge your serious consideration of
this question as IL Is one well worthy of
il. The method OF settling the freight rates
per ton in carload lots is an important
point. In a previous communication to
your honorable board we suggested a COM
mission of three. consisting of the presi-
dents of the two leading commercial bodies
i'm the city, and the president of the road.
This was merely a tentative suggestion
based on our belief that such a commits
sion would adjust the rate with a due
regard TO the rights and interests of both
the railroad and the city. Any other meth
cd that will protect the commercial inter
eSts of the city will be acceptable.
This question, with that Of the safety
of our citizens at street intersections. we
believe TO be one of the most important
points in connection with the granting Of
this franchise. The one relates to the pro-
lection of life, the other to the protection
OF our INDUSTRIES
LETTERS FROM SOUTHERN INDIANA.
Southern Indiana towns along the pro-
posed route of the indianapolis Southern
Railway are greatly interested in the ac-
ton of the Board Of Works and hardly a
day passes that the board is not in receipt
of one or more letters from the south of
the State regarding the advantages of the
road. The tenor of the communications is.
generally, TO the effect that indianapolis
is not receiving the amount of the trade
from outhe Indiana 10 which the city
is entitled; and that by the construction
OF the Southern a great volume of bust
ness from other cities on railroads run
ming east and west might be diverted to
the benefit of the capital. There are a
number of cities and towns in the southern
part of the State which have extremely
poor connection with indianapolis. The
merchants of those places, while they
would prefer 10 deal here, are compelled
10 take their trade To other cities TO which
they can have easier access. The Board
OF Works is urged TO permit the entrance
OF the road not only because IL will be Of
immense advantage 10 southern towns. but
because IL Will be a big factor in the de-
velopment OF Indianapolis as a trading
center for the towns between here and the