The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-10
MUSTSTOP
CITY WILL SHOW INTERURBAN COM
PANIEs 1T MEANS BUSINESS.
Electric Lines Not Operating Under
the Standard Franchise VIII Be
Kept from City Streets.

The Board of Public Works has fixed
June IS. in the afternoon as the time when
all the interurban companies-operative and
projectve-shall be dealt with in reference
to terminal questions Notices to the Off
GERS of all the companies were sent out yes
terday by the board. The conference, as it
is called. will be held in the office of the
board
There is a belief that the city administra-
tiOn will dispose of all interurban questions
within the next sixty days. The conference
fixed yesterday will doubtless be the be-
ginning of the permanent system which the
admins tration has decided TO establish.
This system includes the loop on Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Capitol avenue and Georgia
streets and the access to il over the tracks
of the Indianapolis Street-railway Com
pany. 1t also means that, doubtless imme-
diately after the conference, no cars will
be permitted to enter the city that are Op-
Grated by companies that have not signed
the standard franchise adopted by the
board, and which has been signed by the
Union Traction Company the Indianapolis
x Shelbyville, the indianapolis, Lebanon q
Frankfort and the IndianapO x Plainfield
Traction Company (Lieber line) Such an
order would exclude the cars of the Green
wood and Greenfield lines, now entering the
city and having terminal facilities on South
Meridian street. and they could come no
further than the city limits.
The further programme of the admins
tration. it is said. is to require all the COM
panies to cooperate i'm the establishment of
terminal facilities. The administration, ii
Is understood. will stop the loading and un-
loading of freight in the streets. This will
require prompt action on the part of the
companies If they are to continue their
freight business. which is altogether like
ly. as there is growing demand for inter-
urban facilities.
The programme of the administration, so
far has been anticipated, does not in
Glide immediate action on the petition of
the Interurban Terminal Company. Charles
Finley Smiths scheme, which has been
pending before the board since February.
Ii is sure that the board will refuse the re-
quest for local service lines, and there is
little doubt that its judgment is against the
terminal plan proposed. as the board is
committed TO the loop by way of the In
dianapolis company's tracks. AS the Green
field and Greenwood lines are associated
with Smith in the terminal project, there
Is a belief that they may go into court as
provided in the interurban railroad law, TO
secure admission to the city. Such course
by them has been expected, but it is also
known that this was undesirable to them
because of the delay that ii might cause.
Mayor BOokwalter is firm in his decision
TO stop freight business in the streets. He
saws the city loaned its credit to the extent
of half a million dollars thirty years ago 10
keep steam freight business from passing
through the city. At this late day, he says,
the city is not going TO permit electric sur
face lines to use the streets that the people
thirty years ago made such a sacrifice TO
keep free. The mayor says If the COM
panies will realize their own business adj
equitable plan for maintaining freight and
passenger terminals.