The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-11
HUGH J. M'GOWAN'S LETTERS
EXPLANATION OF CONTRACTS WITH
CERTAIN OF THE COMPANIES.
Alleged misrepresentation About the
Union Traction Contract-LOcaI
Company's Attitude.

The secret of the long delay OF the inter-
urban electric railway companies in coming
to an agreement with the city OF Indianap-
oils and the Indianapolis Street-Failway
Company was made clear yesterday morn
ing when Charles Finley Smith. local
banker. made a formal request OF the Board
of Public Works for a franchise TO be
granted to the Indianapolis Interurban
Terminal Company The petitioner is con-
Eected with the Indianapolis & Martinsville
Rapid Transit Company He represented
before the city board yesterday John w.
Chapman. Of the indianapolis & Greenfield
Rapid Transit Company; William @. Irwin,
of the indianapolis, Greenwood * Franklin
Railroad Company; w. l.. Kann. of the
Central Traction Company Of Indiana; Will
liam Helfenberger, of the Indianapolis a.
Lebanon Traction Company, and the In
dianapoTs & Western Traction Company.
The franchise which the board is asked to
grant makes the Indianapolis Interurban
Terminal Company a rival upon the city
streets for the business of hauling street.
railway passengers. 1t seeks the boards
approval for entering the city upon certain
streets already occupied by the Indianapolis
Street-railway Company and upon streets
not hitherto used by an electric railway
company. 1t agrees to provide Scent
fare for hauling Passengers i'm the city
limits. II is proposed also I'm the franchise
to establish terminal STATEN - location
to be chosen for the convenience AG-ats<-
urban and city passengers alike. In the
franchise there is no section which states
that any sum of money shall be paid TO the
city annually for the use OF the streets il
being provided simply that the streets used
shall be paved between tracks and for a
reasonable distance on each side. Appended
to the petition is the list of streets and
alleys which the Indianapolis Interurban
Terminal seeks to use.
MR.. SMITHS REASONS.
With the formal petition Mr.. Smith pre-
sented and read a statement of the reasons
which led himself and the people he repre-
sents to enter the local street-railway
business against the Indianapolis COM
pany. He intimates that the principal
cause is that the interurban men have tried
without avail TO secure terms from Hugh
j. MCGOWAN, president OF the local COM
pany. Even If terms had been secured. Mr..
Smith hints that an arrangement might not
have been agreeable for the reason that
are not fitted, he says, 10 handle interurban
cars. To the mayor and the board he pre-
sented four reasons why the franchise
asked for should be granted. The advan-
tage of a three-cent fare 10 the people gen.
orally is cited first; the other reasons are:
Street-ca- facilities to parts of the city not
now reached at all; relief from the con-
gestion now present on the tracks of the
81, fr,x~a
of large amount of capital in Indianap-
oils. He assures the board that il has the
power to grant to the new terminal COM
pany the right to use the streets asked for.
and states that he and his associates are
perfectly willing, if necessary, to lay the
matter before the people of the city for
their action.
When the petition and the statement read
by Mr.. Smith was presented TO the board
Mayor Bookwater was present. No ac-
ton of any sort was taken. the mayor
and the board assuring Mr.. Smith that
the request for franchise would be taken
under advisement and given the most care
full consideration. Until they have looked
into the matter from all sides the city
officials refuse TO discuss the matter for
publication. One statement was made yes
which may have some significance. He
said: Have you noticed that this fran
chise does not provide for any cOmpensa-
ton to the city?" In the Office of the
board it was said yesterday that the filing
of the franchise means the drawing out
of the interurban question. for an Indefinite
time, for the reason that the details 70 be
considered are almost interminable. The
Il, nd ha
c. F. Smith are appended.
Petition for streets.
The petition submitted is as follows: The
indianapolis Interurban Terminal Company
respectfully petitions that consent. permis-
sion and authority be given TO 1t TO con-
struct. maintain and operate a double-track
street railroad 10 be operated by electricity
or other improved power 10 be approved by
the Board of Public Works. with all proper
and convenient turn-outs switches side
tracks. feeder lines and poles. which may
be necessary 10 the successful operation OF
a street-railway system along and upon the
streets. alleys. avenues and public places
OF said city hereinafter named and de-
scribed.
said consent. permission and authority
shall be upon condition that three cents he
the passenger fare within the city OF Indi-
annapolis. including the privilege OF one free
transfer within said city between the dff-
ferent lines or routes OF this company II
shall be further provided that this COM
pany shall keep in repair that part OF the
street alley or other public place living
between its rails and for a rea asona BILE dis
tance on the outside thereof and shall i'm
prove the same from time 20 time as the
remainder OF the street may be improved
Inasmuch IL Is the purpose OF this com
pany 10 provide facilities for all present OF
future suburban or interurban railroads
entering the city of Indiana polls. Including
the erection OF a union interurhan depot
a power station, car barns and modern car
repair shops with the most improved eouir-