The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-22
People Living I'm Counties Through
which Line VIII Pass Seem 10
Have Confidence.
JOHN B. cocKRUM DISCUSSES IT
HE DOES NOT THINK THE LAKE
ERIE is BEHIND SCHEME.
Local Railroad Men Have Not Heard
of the Proposed Road-ThoEsands
OF Dollars Already Spent.

A new steam railroad between this city
and Fort Wayne is said TO be a project
that has been advanced so far as TO prove
attractive to capital and much has been
accomplished in financing 1t. The road is
to parallel the Lake Erie & Western as far
Noblesville. Then 1T is to run north
east from Noblesville TO Elwood, Marion.
Huntington and Fort Wayne. This would
provide the only direct line from here TO
Fort Wayne.
Reports from the counties through which
IT is to pass indicate that there is conn.,
dence that the road will be built The sur
veys have been made between Noblesyille
and Elwood. This work is in charge OF
Isaac Bruce, of Upton. w. III. Ogan. OF
Upton, is said to be the man who is direct
ing the project Inquiry at Upton yestsr-
day disclosed that Mr.. Ogan was absent
from the city.
The scheme of this line is not new with
those now handling it. If 1t has been pro-
vided with syndicate to construct II and
put ii in operation, railroad men will be
much surprised, as there has been no rumor
of such a financial deal in the markets.
Some years ago the Lake Erie management
discussed branch from Noblesville to Fort
Wayne. This was deemed desirable as a
means of direct access to the great sys-
TENS of northern Indiana and Ohio. Now
that the Vanderbilt interests control the
Lake Erie, IL would not be surprising IL the
branch should be constructed as a connec-
ton between the Lake Shore and the Lake
Erie to this point. At present the Lake
Erie reaches Fort Wayne by it's east line
to Muncie and thence north. The Big Four
reaches Fort Wayne through Anderson and
Muncie. The line proposed would be a
great saving in mileage and time over both
these routes.
JOHN B. COCKRUM TALKS.
John b. Cockrum, general counsel of the
Lake Erie & Western, returned from the
East yesterday. He was asked IL the Lake
Erie was behind the new road.
$50 far as l know" said he ''the Lake
Erie has no connection whatever with this
enterprise. Some years ago the branch be-
tween Nobiesville and Fort Wayne was
much discussed, but the Lake Erie does
not need this branch. The service through
Anderson and Muncie is satisfactory. / am
not informed as to who is behind the
project, but do not believe the Lake Erie
has any interest whatever in the scheme"
III is stated Dy a llploH uhdncici WIN 10
In a position to know that the promoters
of the scheme have already spent about
SIS 900 In procuring rights Of way and for
surveying, and that there is little doubt
of the entire scheme being put through. No
difficult or expensive engineering prob
lens are involved, and the line traverses
territory where IL is believed IL will do
profitable business. Being a link between
this city and the Lake Shore, IL would add
another direct method of reaching the far
East and might bring big business TO the
east-and-west roads OF the Vancerbilts- For
these reasons it is understood to be at
tractive to capitalists, and the promoters
are assured OF the funds for its construc-
ton.
Local railroad men say they have not
heard of the new project since IL was dis
cussed as a Lake Erie extension. No effort
has been made to procure a right OF way
into the city, which would be necessary IL
the road intended to be OF the biggest
value Without these urban franchises IL
is not believed the enterprise could COM
mand much respect In the securities mar
ket. Still in Hamilton and Upton counties,
the project seems well understood. and the
urban ends may be taken UP last.