The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-23
1t Is Thought All Projected Electric
Lines VIII BE Controlled by In
diannpo1is Company.
MCGOWAN NOW IN THE EAST
JOINS GEORGE f. MCULLOCH. WHO
HAS BEEN THERE SOME TIME.
Indianapolis Gas Company Will Not
Take Vote of Its Customers
Date of Discontinuance.

Those who are inclined to accept smoke
a sure evidence of fire are expressing
the opinion that gigantic local interurban
deal is on and that its consummation is
about to be made. The spectators, in
Guiding many who have direct financial in
terest in the interurban companies that
will be affected by such a deal, say that it
would not be surprising If the many inter-
urban lines now entering the city, those
that are being constructed, those that have
been projected and financed, would be
merged into one interest and operated by
the same syndicate that controls the In
dianapolis street railway.
The straws pointing to this, they explain,
are the present unanimity of the roads on
all questions and the rapid manner in
which the interurban atmosphere was
cleared. They also find another straw in
the long absence of George +. McCulloch
in the East, to which he returned after a
brief visit here two weeks ago, and the
further fact that Hugh j. MCGOWAN left to
joiE him Saturday night. Before leaving
Mr. MCGOWAN did not fix a time for the
conference between the shippers and the
interurban representatives on the maximum
Board of Works on the elimination of the
car tax proposal. The most important
straw, according to the spectators, is
terminal arrangements proposed by Mr..
MCGOWAN and which, they hold, he could
not make without practical knowledge of
the taking over of the various lines into
one company
1t is now believed that every profitable
line leading from indianapolis has been
provided for and that no terminal questions
are likely to arise. This being so, the
street-railway syndicate represented by Mr..
MCGOWAN and Mr. McCulloch is prepared
to enter into a purchasing deal fully ad-
vised, and, IL is declared, that il has been
its policy to avoid purchasing schemes until
the success of the roads was demonstrated.
VALUABLE CONSIDERATION.
1t is now believed that consolidation OF
the lines now entering the city and about
to enter could be effected with a large capi-
talization, and that the gross earnings
would pay handsome dividends. 1t is not ex-
pected that all of the lines would be taken
over. at least. not all at this time.
One man who is at the head of an inter
urban road said last night: II believe such
a consolidation is not only imminent, but
necessary. L will not say that 1t will be ac-
complished. but the logical conclusion is
that il will be and that II will be the best
solution of the interurban question"
Since ii was announced in the Journal
that Charles Finley Smith would abandon
his Plainheld and Danville line and yield
that route TO Albert Lieber, for his line
which is now about complete. Hugh j
MCGOWAN has been the representative, in a
large way, of the interurban interests. The
deal between Smith and Lieber was formal
ly closed last Wednesday and a deal was
also made by which Mr.. Smith gains access
10 the center of the city over the Indian
apolis company's lines. The proposal oI
Mr.. MCGOWAN to build the terminals for all
the roads the spectators say, could not
have been based on fixed charges satisfac-
tory to all the roads, but rather on fore
knowledge of a consolidating deal that
would make the terminal scheme mere in
cident and eliminate the fixed charge ques-
ton, which, it is asserted. could not have
been disposed of without as much friction
has had caused delay in other phases of the
question.
Others interested in interurban roads de-
MED there is any consolidation being
planned and Mr.. MCGOWAN has been quoted
as saying nothing of the kind was in CON
temptation. Others say Mr.. MCGOWAN has
e habit of making up his mind suddenly or
important matters and that there is ample
ground for the consolidation theory.