The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-05
Mr.. BOOkwaIter, 1t Is Believed, Has
Means of Reducing Dangers.
MEETING WILL BE HELD SOON
RAILROAD OFFICIALS PREPARED TO
MEET MAYOR HALF WAY.
They Say His Plan II Likely to Bring
About an Amicable Settle
ment Soon.

Mayor Bookwalter is conducting negotia-
tions with officials of railroads entering In
dianapolis with view to minimizing dam
gers Of grade crossings The mayor yester-
day would not talk about this subject ex-
cept to say that he hoped to be able to ac-
complish much in the line of public safety.
which, he said. had solely prompted him to
investigate the conditions.
The grade crossing question has remained
in statu quo since City Attorney Kern, act
ing under the direction of Mayor Tageart.
brought suit in 1900 against the Union Rail-
way Company for It's failure to obey the
provisions of the ordinance passed by the
Council in August 1s99-a few DAYS before
Mayor Taggart's denomination for his third
term. Under this ordinance the companies
having tracks here were required to begin
elevating them May 1, 1900 The work was
graded. certain amount to be completed
in one year and the remainder in longer
periods 1t was understood that the city
attorneys suit was test. The full bench
of the Suprior Court decided that the city
did not possess the power to compel the
companies to elevate their tracks. The
case was appealed to the Supreme Court,
where II is now.
The MAYORS COURSE.
Mayor Bookwalter's course is not based
on this suit nor any settlement of it. as
his position is understood. He has, since
| his accession to the mayors chair. made q
| special study of the conditions in regard to
/ grade crossings and believes he has found
practical and reasonable means of at
least greatly reducing their dangers The
| frequent fatalities have been a constant
| incentive to his further inquiry. II is
known that he has indicated to the rail-
| roads that he was prepared to take up the
| subject of reducing grade crossing dangers.
| He has met with reasonable responses from
the railroads. a meeting is to be held. il
| Is understood, within few days, to reach
| a working basis
Those in touch with the mayor saw he is
not committed to track elevation, track de-
preston or viaduets as the only means of
| solving the question, but is prepared TO
| accept those means which are the most
practical, most reasonable and most eco
nomical for the city. The railroad engi.
neers have been examining the systems an.
| tering the city with a view to solving the
| question. 1t is the mayors hope il is said
| TO have the railroad companies In recog.
nizing the inevitable necessity OF changes.
to accede to demands that will more neariv
| satisfy the public ideals than they will
corporate economy. In this respect II Is
a more advanced ground than the other
roads In Offering 10 aid in the solution
| This does not mean that the other roads ra
| unwilling. but that they have not permit
| ted themselves TO become committed TO any
responsibility In making changes. The dis.
| position of all the roads is reported to he
| friendly.
| RAILROADS WILLING
The mayor has been making inquiries for
some days with reference to the fitness OF
men to compose commission representa-
tive OF all classes to assist him In solving
this problem. He wants the grade crossing
! question settled with the many elements
of the citys life represented and without
extreme radical action His plan is not