The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-02
Must Proceed nt Once to Construct
Terminal system Passenger and
Freight DepOts.
NEW LINES WILL BE BUILT
CROSS-TOWN BELT CONNECTIONS
AND EXTENSIONS.
George j. Marott Said 20 BE Behind
High Bid on Union Trac-
tfOn stock.

The interurban question is settled. At
a final conference last night between the
interurban representatives. the city officials
and Hugh J. MCGOWAN, president of the In
dianapos Street-railway Company a full
agreement was reached. To-day or Monday
the documents will be signed by all con-
cerned and they will pass the Council
on Monday night for ratification. The
results of the work Of Mayor Bookwalter
and the Board Of Public Works for the
last seven weeks are:
The interurban roads will receive con-
tracts which they agree to accept. requir-
ing them TO carry freight and imposing a
tax for their entrance into the city.
Hugh j. MCGOWAN and his associates will
receive a franchise for the Indianapolis
Terminal and Traction Company requiring
them to provide all terminal facilities ac-
cording TO the already announced loop
plans and 10 erect a terminal passenger
station and two freight deDots.
Mr.. MCGOWAN also agrees on behalf OF
the street-raiway company, to build the
belt lire on Prospect street, West street
and Nineteenth street as described on
Thursday, to make the Lexington-avenue
and Bismarck-avenue extensions and to
reconstruct the Brightwood line and make
it double track from Columbia avenue to
it's terminus.
The important portions of the Indianapo-
lis Terminal and Traction Company's fran
chise have been printed and IL will be signed
by all without any amendment. The prin-
cipal eau of difference during the nego-
tiations has been as to the elimination OF
the tax interurban cars entering the
city. Mr.. MCGOWAN hoped to secure the
release of all companies from interurban
tax, but Mayor Bookwalter would consent
TO nothing more than "A mobilization. On
Thursday he notified the interurban repre-
sentatives to meet the board yesterday
morning at IL o'clock. They were all pres
ent. At this meeting, which was private.
the board offered the following modihca-
ton of the tax which had been a part OF
the standard franchise:
For the thirty-one years of the interur-
ban franchises they are to pay. for each
car run into the city. the following tax
for each period: For the first eleven years.
cents; for the next ten years. cents.
and for the last ten years. 10 cents.
The mayor and board announced this as
their final answer TO the demand for re-
peal of the car tax. AS Mr.. MCGOWAN had
expected the elimination OF this tax. he
in conference 10 ascertain whether or not
the offer would be satisfactory. The board
and mayor withdrew. leaving the question
in their hands for discussion. Shortly
after l o'clock all the interurban magnates
came out OF the boards private Office and
reported that they had not reached an
agreement with Mr.. MCGOWAN. as their
fixed charges for terminal service had been
bo ,,F
and these charges would have TO be rear
ranged. The magnates found no time for
fried chicken dinner. as they had the day
before They munched sandwiches and
hurried to the office Of Ferdinand Winter,
attorney for Mr.. MCGOWAN. in the Ma
jestic building. They told the mayor and
board that as soon as they agreed they
would return and answer
A LONG VIGIL.
All afternon the board and the mayor
waited. The city offices closed one by one.
and the basement assumed its nightly still
ness. But still the mayor and the board
sat waiting. Shortly before o'clock Mr..
MCGOWAN, G.. L. McCulloch and w. "
Harding entered the Office OF the board and
said the interurban men were ready 10
take up the reconsideration Of the franchise
section by section at o'clock last night.
They also said an agreement had been
reached between them and the indianapolis
Terminal and Traction Company, which
met in full the boards requirements
This announcement meant that all trouble
was over except the perfecting OF details OF
the settlement. At o'clock the mayor.
Board OF Works. interurban representa- tfNes
and Mr.. MCGOWAN assembled in Mayor
BookW alters Office. threw aside their coats
and took UP the interurban franchises.
reading them section by section. They did
not conclude until IL o'clock, when an came
out with beaming faces and congratulating
each other that the long struggle was
ended.
According to the announcement OF Mayor
BookWalter, tie new franchise viii be
printed to-day and Will be signed by the
eight companies other than the Union
Traction Company This company T. not
released from its present contract which
requires q much higher payment Of tax per
car than that offered 10 the other com
panies- The other companies urged that
this contract be modified, but the city would
not yield, even when reminded that there
had been tacit understanding when MI
McCulloch signed that he would get tie
benefit Of any future modification The
franchise Of the Indianapolis Terminal and
Traction Company will be- signed to-day
also, and Mr.. McGowan promises 10 begin
work without delay on the cross-town lines
and extensions already mentioned.
The interurban franchise h. the same "A
that now held by the Union Traction COM
pany, with some notifications The most
1 important II that relating 10 car tax IL
provides the rate already mentioned for
three periods. and also provides that there
shall be a partition or this terminal tax as
follows: For the first eleven years [ cent
shall be paid by the interurhan companies
for each OF their own cars. the other cents
70 be paid hy the Indianapolis Terminal
and Traction Company. for the next ten
years they also are 10 pay / cent, and the
Terminal company cents, FOR the last ten
years they are 10 pay I cent. and the Ter
minal company cents. Ii Is also specified