The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-19

A CONFERENCE THAT LASTED IN
TIL AFTER MIDNIGHT.
Shippers and officials of Companies
Get Closer TOgether-This VIII
he a Busy Day.

Interurban magnates will find this their
busiest day of all the busy days that have
been this week. In the morning Hugh j.
MCGOWAN will go before the Board OF Pub
lie Works, with the interurban roads, 10 re-
ceive the answer of the city TO the request
for the elimination of the car tax. At
1:sO o'clock subcommittee from the Board
OF Trade Commercial Club and the ship
pers OF the city will meet at the office of
G. F. McCulloch, in the Newton Claypool
building. TO discuss freight rates over the
Union Traction and Indianapolis Northern
system.
At the conference between the Board OF
Public Works and Mr. MCGOWAN the last
named will have something 10 say addi-
tional in regard TO the terminal station.
Mr.. MCGOWAN has no plans prepared for
the building. but. in a general way, knows
the kind and style of building that will be
erected. AS stated yesterday, this building
will be for the combined purposes of a
terminal station, business and offices for
all the roads 1t will be capacious and
handsome and may be from eight TO twelve
stories.
The answer of the city on the car-tax
question has not been anticipated. but in
timations have been made that the Board
of Public Works looks favorably on the
remission of this tax. The remission
would not amount TO a great amount to the
roads except in the aggregate, but they
feel. with the terminal facilities they are
ready 10 provide and maintain, that this
remission may be done justly. The roads
argue that the terminal plan and the de-
velOpment of interurban traffic will COM
6ine to make Indianapolis the greatest
distributing center in the country, espe-
cIally for the retail business.
DISCUSSION OF THE RATES.
Last night ]. L. Reach, @. d. Griffin and
other shippers met with Mr.. McCulloch and
Mr.. MCGOWAN in Mr.. McCullochs office and
discussed freight rates and service. The dis
cussion began at o'clock and lasted until
after midnight. 1t was "threshing" of the
whole subject, and when the shippers left
they seemed pleased After the conference
Mr.. McCulloch said he, too, felt pleased
with the progress made. 1.-The Union Trac
tiOn Company" said he, fixed a freight
rate that did not satisfy the local shippers.
In order to know why II did not we con-
ferred. The points of difference were dis
cussed and all of us came to clearer un-
Outstanding of the two sides of the ques-
ton. We reached no agreement largely be-
cause We did not expect to. But the discus
sion brought us closer together and l am
hopeful that we will work the problem out
in most satisfactory way"
MT McCullOcn Sdld the question ueNel-
Oped into such latitude during the discus
sion that il will require more 'threshing
to bring it TO a definite result. The settle
ment of the freight question by the Union
Traction Company will be recognized by
the other interurban roads as a basis for
their own tariff. For this reason, although
the other roads do not have the area OF the
Union and Indianapolis Northern. the set
| Element of the freight question will take
some time. If the roads are to enter into
general competition in the freight line it
must be with thorough knowledge of the
future of it,