The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-16
Dedication Trip Made by President
Lfeber, Hugh j. McGowan and
Party I'm Private Car.
ENTHUSIASM IN PLAINFIELD
MAGNATEs RECEIVED WITH BRASS
BANDS AND FRIED CHICKEN.
Regular Cars VIII Begin Running
This Morning-Detai1s Of the
Roads Construction.

The Indianapolis & Plainfeld Traction
Company will begin its regular service be-
tween Indianapolis and Plain1eld this
being the last of the constructed
lines to begin operation. Cars left from
each end at s o'clock and will run every
half hour until IL O'Clock at night. The
defeating trip was made by President AL
bert Lieber. Secretary Henry l.. Smith.
J. MCGOWAN, John j. Appel and a
of stockholders and guests in Mr..
McGowan's private car, the Losantiville,
yesterday evening.
The car, which is not equipped with
.high-power motors, made the run of twelve
miles from the Belt Railroad to Plainield
in thirty-two minutes, which is regarded
exceptionally good time. When Plain
field was reached the party was surprised
by finding a large number of the citizens of
Plainfield ready to welcome the visitors.
So great was the enthusiasm Of the town
that the Plainfeld Band was out and led
the visitors on the march to the CONNER
cial Hotel, where a chicken dinner was
served, which was eaten with avidity.
There were no speeches. TIL eloquence OF
the party was spent in masticating the
plethora of the table. A short ramble
about the attractive town followed and
then the L~osantivile returned. The trip
was again made in ~thirty-two minutes
The system of the road was particularly
admired. 1t is operated through to Plain
field from the central power station of the
indianapolis Street-railway Company. The
trip yesterday was a revelation of the fact
that this station is abundantly capable Of
maintaining high power a distance of four
teen miles. The Plainield line has not yet
received its rolling stock, and until it does
large cars from the Indianapolis company
will be operated. They are equipped witt
motors of sufficient efficiency to make the
run of fourteen miles between the terminal
at Kentucky avenue and Washington street
and Plainfeld in thirty minutes. The spe-
cial cars for the line will be OF. the most
modern construction and will be double
trucked and equipped with four fifty
horsepower motors each. BY the time they
are put In service the line will be extended
three miles to the Indiana Reform School
for Boys. Next spring the line will be ex-
tended to Danville, and then a power sta
ton will probably be built.
ROADS CONSTRUCTION.
The Plainfeld line has not a curve nor
a bend after leaving the Belt Road. 1t is
as straight as a Decline. 1t has been con-
structed over a right Of way that paral-
lels the vandalia steam line, the north
line of the right Of way being the south
line Of the vandalia's right of way. The
Plainfield lines right of way varies from
fifty feet to 150 feet in width. The track
is of standard guage and is connected with
the Belt Road by a switch. There are
few fills and practically no grade. 1t
crosses no railroad between the Belt and
P~lainfeld. The three streams that it crosses
are bridged with steel beams supported on
concrete abuttments. Looking back from
the car the distant poles ahead seemed to
form a solid fence along the line on the
north side. The overhead construction is
the double trolley wire system. There are
three switches. The roadbed is remarkably
smooth for a new one and the trip was like
one over a roadbed that the settling pro.
cess of years has made solid and com
Portable.
The road passes through one of the best
farming regions of central Indiana. It's
first station is Ben Davis, its second
Bridgeport. The next Is Clark's Creek
then Plainfield. The fare between each OF
these points is five cents and the total fare
to Plainfeld % cents. When the com.
pany's tickets are placed on sale the fare
will be 40 cents for the round trip, this be.
ing little more than half the steam rate.
Citizens of Plainfeld were particularly
pleased because the line was put In opera
ton before the yearly meeting of the So
ciety of Friends. Plainfield and contiguou.
territory is largely a Quaker settlement
and the yearly conference attracts abou
500 persons. 1t is expected that the added
facilities OF the interurban service will
greatly increase this number. The line re
ceived the assistance of most of the Plain
field people, particularly DR.. Carter AM
Taylor Reagan. Mr.. Lieber said last nigh
that he was now making arrangements t
run the cars through the main street o
the city for the convenience of Plainfielt
patrons. The tracks laid in the streets b.
Charles Finley Smith are now the propert,
of the Plainield line and will be used.
The Plainfield line is the first step of
system between Indianapolis and Terr
Haute. Its probable extension is by way o
Greencastle and Brazil. This line woul.
still follow the route OF the Vandalia an,
would also pass through the productive Goa
region oi the Sldte- lhis idct was not los
on the visitors, who could not help think
ing that the switch connection with tn
Belt Railroad at Indianapolis meant some
thing. Elsewhere coal is moved long dis
tances at extremely low rates by the troll
ley lines. and there are electric locomo
tives that haul coal cars. thirty in a train
distances as from Brazil to this city. TIL
promoters of the Plainfield line, however
d'sclaim any present purpose to establish
an electric coal road. but the condition
are regarded as pointing to the ultimat
use OF the road for such purposes. Its wild
right OF way, weight OF rails and substan
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