The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-18
IyTERURBAN CONFERENCE.
Company Representatives Meet City
OmcfaIs-Car Tax Remission

Omcfals-Car Tax Remission.
The conference that was called by Mayor
Bookwalter to receive a definite proposal
from Hugh j. MCGOWAN, as promised by
him some time ago, in behalf OF the inter
urban companies, two hours late in
meeting yesterday. The mayor fixed the
time at ? o'clock but at that hour the
inteTurban representatives were not pre-
pared to meet and asked an hours delay.
By the time they all assembled 1t was
nearly 4 o'clock. Business was dispatched
quickly, however, after Chairman Megrew,
of the Board of Public Works, announced
that the city was in earnest in pressing
the terminal question and that it was pre-
pared to remain in continuous session until
it had been fully determined.
Mr.. MCGOWAN then said he was pleased
to announce that, after three days of con-
slant work, which was marked by the best
feeling and harmony, the interurban roads
were together. They had discussed from
all sides the terminal system proposed by
the board and were prepared to enter into
contract with him TO pay fixed charges
agreed to for terminal facilities. This was
the first time, he said, that the interurban
roads were in harmony with the Indian
apolis Street-railway Company and they
had decided, because Of its superior facil-
! tiles, TO let the Indianapolis company pro-
vide the terminal system. Indiana polls is
| a growing city, he added, and Indiana is a
| growing State. What was good service
when [ came here few years ago." he
said, would not now be half service, so
/ rapidly is the population of Indianapolis
/ increasing All the roads will have to face
| heavy expenses for the improvements that
this growing population will demand and
| they are united in the belief that the city
! will make no mistake in relieving them
/ of the proposed car tax. They are agreed
TO the terminal plan if this tax is re-
| moved"
LARGE RETURNS.
| Mr.. MCGOWAN said the investment in a
terminal station would be so large that the
returns in taxes to the city would be equal
| to the proposed car tax and the city would
be none the loser. Besides the kind OF a
station that it was proposed TO build would
itself be a monument to the enterprise and
character of the city. He said he would be
ready in G few days to ask a contract with
the city for this terminal station. or
course. he added, he knew that the COM
panies could not be forced to join in any
such scheme but they were now prepared
to meet the city more than half way If the
car tax was removed. If it was not re-
moved the companies would, of necessity,
nave TO act Independently.
Mayor Bookwalter asked him If his ter
! minaI plans included the use of the loop
down town, which the board has urged.
| Il intended 70 mention that" said Mr..
MCGOWAN Necessity will force not only
| all Of the interurban cars bat many of the
local cars OF Washington street. We ex-
| pect TO use a loop system on streets which
we will agree to with the board later"
| Are these interurban companies now
| prepared 20 sign contracts with the car tax
| eliminated?' asked the mayor.
They are The Greenfield and Green
! WOOD companies have just signed their con-
tracts with the indianapolis company.
The mayor then invited expressions in
reference to the car tax. Mr.. Fauvre ok
| planned that this provision was one OF the
chief obstacles 10 signing on the part OF
the Greenfield line Another had been the
MCGOWAN had offered a fair contract and
| they had signed II. Mr.. Fauvre said he
| had inquired, and no other city taxed its
| tnterurbdn cars.
w. G.. Irwin, OF the Greenwood * Frank
lin line, said IL seemed strange, I'm view
| or all the apparent benefits that the inter
shoaId insist were pg,hsinS tnat the cay
| the competitors of the interurbans were
not taxed, but, many years ago. had been
| voted subsidies to enable their eonstruc-
| ton.
| NUMBERS TRANSPORTED.
The mayor made some inquiries about the
numbers transported by the three lines now
in operation. Mr.. McCuIloch, OF the Unior
Traction Company, said the interurban bus
! mess ndu developed into I'VE times VIVA
it was at the beginning. Mr.. McGowar
said he was willing to submit the archi
tects plans and contract with the board il
a short time. but could not. for business
reasons. disclose the site selected for tn,
terminal
MIR. Adams. of the Shelbyvile line, sale
that every cent that the interurban road:
received for bringing passengers into th'
city and taking them again 10 its limits
would be required 20 pay the trackage am
terminal charges. Ia other words, the com
pantes would get nothing for hauling pas
sengers inside the city limits.
President McCulloch OF the Union Trac
tiCn Company. then made an eloquen
speech He said when Cecil Rhodes wa
being criticised for his acts In South Afric;
a great EnSlishman, in defending him, de
clared that some men thought in towns
some in cities. a few in nations, but Ceci
Rhodes was the only man who thought il
continents. Here is a chance. said Mr.
McCulioeh, for the municipality OF Indian
apolis 10 think and act In the broadest man
ner, not a country town, but as a con
tinent No city in this country, large o
small has eight lnterurban roads certain
nine probably and ten possibly. that viii
be I'm operation TO ~ within eighteel
/ Ve ~