The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-17
STEAM ROAD in THE FIGHT
PENNSYLVANIA WILL PETITION THE
BOARD OF WORKS.
Request VIII Be Made for Freight
Privileges in the streets-Inter-
urban Conference To-Morrow.

The Board Of Public Works and the rep
resentatIves of the interurban lines reach
ing indianapolis will meet in conference
tomorrow afternoon on the terminal ques
ton 1t is understood by the Board of Pub
lie Works that all companies In operation.
in course of construction or projected will
be represented. George F. McCulloch. Of
the Union Traction Company. will not be
there. but his assistant. c. ". MCGUIRE,
will be present
Before this conference, however, the
Pennsylvania Railroad is likely to add a
new phase to the interurban freight ques-
ton by filing with the board a renewal of
its request for freight privileges in the
streets Of Indianapolis. Such a request
was made about eighteen months ago and
was not passed on, but it was understood
that the Taggart administra ton would not
grant 1t. The new petition of the Penrsyl
vania Company, it is understood, will ask
permission 10 serd freight cars over the
tracks of the Indianapolis Street-railway
Company. similar in design and capacity
and weight TO those in use by the interur-
ban companies, and receive freight for
transfer TO the Pennsylvania freight depot.
The theory of this scheme is that IL Will
reduce drayage charges on freight and per-
haps the steam rate may be an inducement
otherwise. 1t is not supposed that the
filing of the petition will be in the nature
OF relief to the administration. which is
now facing some of the most complicated
problems an administra ton has had to
face
The conference with the interurban COM
panies will be in the nature OF an advisory
one The decision of the board has already
been made known. 1t will require the in
terurbans TO take their freight depot bust
ness off the streets and unite in the con-
struction of a terminal freight depot. The
board has also decided that all interurbans
must sign the standard franchise stop
their cars at the city limits. The confer
ence is looked on beginning of the end
of the interurban differences. A large ele-
ment in the settlement of these differences
VIII be the adjustment amicably of the
breach between the Indianapolis Street
railway Company and the Charles Finley
Smith lines 10 Martinsville and Plainfield
BY the consolidation of the last-named
with the Lieber line and the terminal con-
tract with the Martinsville line this Phase
of the interurban fight is ended and leaves
now only the Greenfield and Greenwood
lines out of the agreement with the local
system.
The advisory character of this conference
will doubtless result in an equitable plan
of operation for complete terminal facili-
ties. This may mean that the companies
will, at equitable cost. join in the erection
and maintenance of freight and passenger
terminals the steam roads did Or il
may mean that all these facilities will be
provided under leases by the indianapolis
Street-railway Company, under equita-
BILE system of rentals. The terminal facili-
ties for the steam roads. which, while not
regarded as adequate for longer than a
decade, are ideal as to system. The Union
Railway Company operates all the terminal
property. The railroads are the owners of
this Union company, which, in turn, leases
the Belt Railroad and operates it for
freight transfer. Ii is believed that term
inal system will be worked out by which
the Indianapolis Street-railway Company
will provide all terminal facilities and fur
nish power for the bringing of cars from
the city limits to the terminal station by
the loop system to which the Board of
Works is committed.
1t is likely the members of the City Coun-
| Gil will be invited TO the conference.