The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-19
TERMINAL MEN PERSIST
THEY SAY THEY WILL fight FOR
RIGHT TO CITY's STREETS.
VIII Make the Matter a Political Is
sue if the Present Board of
Works Resists Them.

Those Interested in the Indianapolis Inter-
urban Terminal Company may endeavor 10
make a local political issue out of the re-
quest to the Board of Works for a terminal
franchise and the right to enter into COM
petition with the Indianapolis Street-rail-
way Company. Charles Finley Smith and
j. w. Chapman say that their petition to
the Board of Works is a very small part
of their plans and that they intend to fight
for their franchise if they have to appeal
to the voters in a city campaign.
d you not believe" Mr.. Smith was
asked last night. that the Board of Works
will refuse to give you a franchise?'
mo. sir" declared the president of the
Interurban Terminal Company. Il think
we will get what we want"
The attitude of the Board of Works is
apparently not in favor of granting the
franchise, I" it was suggested.
."Well. L want to say right here" replied
Mr.. Smith, that if we can't get what we
want by this Board of Works we will be
able TO get it from a Democratic board.
We will appeal TO the people, and We will
then see what explanations this Board of
Works will have to make TO tneir con-
stituents."
IF necessary" added Mr.. Chapman, I'VE
can fight the board and appeal to the pee
pie"
Mr.. Chapman denied that he had con-
tempiated Withdrawing from his alliance
with Smith and the terminal company. He
said that his interests are now. as formerly.
with the terminal company and that he is
in the fight to the end. He said also that
William C. Irwin is not flirting with
Hugh j. MCGOWAN for a contract. and is
not ready to separate himself and the
Greenwood company from the terminal
agreement. Smith corroborated Chapman
and remarked that he was glad the paper
roads were out of the agreement. Now,
he said, the fight could be pursued by men
who mean business without interference
from anyone.
Mr.. Smith. accompanied by his attorney,
Augustus l.. Mason, spent several hours
yesterday with the Board of Works endeav-
oring to show that the indianapolis Inter-
urban Terminal Company is a bona hde,
responsible concern and that its intentions
are serious. He took occasion to comment
on the desertion Of his cause by the Central
Traction Company of Indiana and the resig-
nation of ). l.. Rauh as treasurer or the
Interurban Terminal Company. He init
mated TO the board that he knew several
weeks ago that the Central company was
dickering with another interurban corpora
ton and that it was growing disaffected,
and was not in spirit with the terminal
people and himself. He says he Informed
Mr.. Rauh that he would have to resign
and that the Central Traction Company
would have to get out of the agreement.
The InIerurban Terminal Company Is not
weakened. he SAID, because 1T stands in the
same position that 1t was in a month ago
as regards the Central. company; and as
far as the Lebanon line is concerned, Mr..
Smith declares that it is a paper road"
and never impaired strength to the termi-
nal company.
MR.. MASON'S ANALYSIS.
A. L. Mason, who delivered a long and
carefully-worded speech in behalf of the
Terminal Company, analysed the petition
for a franchise section by section. AS the
franchise relates to a local street-railway
company, Mr.. Mason pointed out that it
is the same as the franchise under which
the present company is operating, with a
few important exceptions. He laid much
stress on the Scent fare proposition. The
indianapolis Interurban Terminal Company
makes no provision for compensation TO
the city. he said. because it has been found
that the Scent fare is the lowest under
which a company can operate and keep
out of the hands of a receiver. Instead Of
paying a direct tax to the city, he said,
the company desires to give citizens indi-
vidually a chance to save money.
At this point he took occasion to say
that the indianapolis Street-railway Com
pany pays $4,000 TO the city for the privi-
iege of making $4OO, 600. BY a AGENT fare
4 the present company has an annual income
of about 81, 00,000; with a Scent fare it's
income would be about 1900, 900. He asked
If the difference should not be retained in
the pockets of the citizens who have to
use the cars.
Mr.. Mason told the board that interurban
roads may give indianapolis a population
of 10000 people within the lifetime of per-
sons now living. Nothing should be thrown
in their way, he declared, and every effort
should be made by the city to give them
fair treatment.
He made an earnest plea TO the board TO
retain Ohio street free from tracks for the
present and not to allow it made an OBJ
struction to interurban enterprise. 1t is
the key to the interurban situation. he
said. The erminal Company proposes TO
make Ohio street the center of its system.
Lewis c. Walker, who followed Mr.. Ma
son, said he thought it singular that all
the facts about the desertion of the Central
and Lebanon companies should have been
collected just before the meeting. He found
fault with the newspapers also for using
the news Immediately before the hearing.
A member of the Board of Works said
yesterday that the board probably would
return an answer to the franchise petition
in two or three weeks. There was ne rea-
son for delaying the matter. he said. since
the board knows as much about the whole
thing as it will know a month from now.
He intimated that the franchise would not
be granted.
BREEDERS o. aIEREF0RDS.