The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-23
Cfty's Grade Crossing Committee Be-
gins in Earnest Its Work of
Investigation.
MR.. C. E. CoFFINs RESOLUTION
BUSINESS INTERESTS TO BE INVITED
TO MAKE STATEMENTS.
City Engineer Nelson Called Upon for
Maps and other Data-Other
Matters of Interest.

The grade crossing commission held its
second meeting yesterday afternoon. 1t
found a table and chairs in the Office of the
Board of Public Works. There were seven
places at the table each with blotter on
which the name of the member was In
scribed, so as to identify his seat. Another
seat was reserved for persons appearing
before the commission. A separate desk
was provided for Secretary Ross, and
table for the newspaper men. The ar
! rangements were complete. The commits
sion had not expected to find carriages
ready to take members on tour or the
railroad intersections, but when they
learned of this the session ended after
brief talk and the trip was taken.
AT the opening of the session Chairman
Bennett stated that the subcommittee on
programme had not been able to complete
its work and would not report until the
next meeting. Another meeting of the sub
committee will be held tonight and re-
port will be made at to-norrow's meeting.
Chairman Bennett said one of the frst
steps of the commission would be the in
spection of the surface track systems OF
the city. This brought out the fact that
the board had ordered carriages. Chairman
Bennett asked City Engineer Nelson If car
riages would be available in all the inspec-
ton work.
Mr.. Nelson has an established reputation
as a pedestrian-another for blunt speak
ing.
For the most part we'd better walk"
said he. And the commission laughed.
Mr.. Nelson then said that the most i'm
portant parts of railroad systems were not
accessible with carriage and that IL was
almost necessary to walk over most OF IT
to get an adequate idea of the details. 1t
was agreed to use the carriages on hand
and view remote portions of the track sys-
TENS.
MR. COFFINS RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Coffin introduced the following reso-
| luton, which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the Commercial Club Ele-
waited Track Commission, the Merchants
Association Elevated Track Committee, the
Board of Trade, the Union Railway Com
pany and all railroad companies entering
the city, all manufacturing companies and
shippers, and any and all other organiZa-
lions or interests concerned in the matter
of grade crossings, be and they are hereby
invited to present such information as they
may have TO offer, bearing upon the queS-
lions to be considered by this commission,
and that all such organizations be accorded
| the privilege of being represented If de-
| sired, at the open sessions of this COM
mission
Chairman Bennett said the commission
would Immediately call on the engineer for
maps and drawings relative to the subject
| in hand DR.. Jameson asked the engineer
| what he had prepared Mr.. Nelson said
| he had brought the tracings of the railroad
| systems made by his predecessor, Mr.. Jeup,
| had much other material in his Office which
| would be available at particular times and
| could be easily brought when needed, but
| which was constantly in use in his Office for
| other purposes. He said he had maps that
showed all the switches, but not their
ownership.
DIR. Jameson asked if the engineer had
plats which showed the relative elevations
| of the city. Mr.. Nelson said he had the
| contour maps made by Rudolph Herring,
| the expert, who designed the citys sewer
| system, and which were abundantly COM
| plete for the purposes He would also pro-
| vide the commission with copies of Mr..
| Jeup's report. which was explana tory of
| his track elevation plans submitted in 1900
| to the Board of Public Works
The commission decided TO meet again to-
morrow afternoon at $3.50 and then the pro-
4 gramme of investigation will be approved
| Under the Coffin resolution 1t is expected
that the organizations and individuals who
may desire to appear before the commits
| sion will file notice of such intention with
| Secretary Ross and the commission may
| then arrange the time for each to appear.
| This will facilitate the work of the board
| and make it convenient for those who wish
| to appear. Secretary Ross is taking full
| report of the transactions of the commits
| sion.
| . IOOh.
| The visit of the commission and En-
| gineer Nelson yesterday was to the Big
Four tracks, northeast of the Massachus-
setts-avenue crossing. the Belt tracks and
| the L. f. & w. The Big Four Cleveland di-
| vision was followed to Brightwood. Incl
| dentally the commission saw Chairman
| Benefits large factory-the Indianapolis
| Stove Company-which has a switch drop
| ping into its yards. At this point-Malott
! avenue-the grade of the tracks is six feet
| above the street grade and from there to
! Brightwood is an incline grade upward.
| The commission drove west from Bright
| wood to point north of the Atlas engine
| works where the Belt tracks connect with
| the L. z. g. w. and c., /. & L. (Monon.)
| The commission left the carriages and
| walked for a mile on the Belt track OBJ
| serving the switches that connect with the
| Atlas works. The examination of the l.. E.
| & W. and C., l. & l.. tracks was inter-
rupted by darkness.
| planned the sewer system which is provided
| for the region.
| The commission will probably complete its
| personal inspection of the surface tracks
| before hearing any interests. The decision
| was reached that, when the tracks between
| Massachusetts avenue to South West
| street examined the entire commission
i walk from one end to the other For this
| trip one Afternoon will be set aside. 1t may
| be several days before the commission has
informed itself sufficiently to use the maps
| and drawings of the engineer for its full
| advantage.