The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-27
FORMER ENGINEERS PLANS.
The Only Local Set for Track Eleva-
ton Ever Prepared.

The sessions of the grade crossing COM
mission will cause constant reference to
the Jeup plans for track elevation, largely
because they are the only complete and
comprehensive plans ever prepared for In
dianapolis. Bernard ]. T. Jeup was city
engineer during all of Mr.. Taggarts admin
istration of city affairs, but his plans were
evolved during the last year of the mayors
second term. City Engineer Nelson has
covered all of the same ground as Mr.. Jeup.
but whatever recommendations he may
have to make are still kept to himself, al
though he is preparing to give his views as
an engineer to the commission. For the
purpose of further enlightening himself on
the practical work of elevation he is now
in Chicago examining the methods used
there. Mr.. Nelson and Chairman Megrew,
of the Board of Public Works, went to
Chicago Saturday night. They spent Sun
day in observing the elevated system of
the South Side. Mr.. Megrew returned yes
terday, but Mr.. Nelson may not be home
until tomorrow. The Jeup plans are being
used as a basis for convenience.
In his written statement of the plans,
filed with the Board of Public Works in
August. 1899. Mr.. Jeup said he had tried to
solve the problem in way to answer all
these purposes: To provide enough sub
ways for the access to all parts of the city
without crossing surface tracks, to elevate
the tracks with the least expenditures to
prevent expense to those who maintain pri-
vate switches; to prevent the disturbance
of the present freight houses, so that ship
ping rates and expenses should not be in
creased; to avoid more than minimum dam
age to abutting property.
To answer these purposes he proposed the
abandonment of the Big Four track
through the northwest part of the city for
through passenger and freight business,
transferring both around the Belt road,
leaving this track only for service to man.
ufacturers.
To elevate the Lake Erie, Big Four and
Monon tracks between Washington street
and Massachusetts avenue, there to be no
surface tracks at either Washington street
or Massachusetts avenue, but between
these streets two surface tracks for manu-
| featuring service should be permitted, they
| to be approached from the elevated tracks
| at the street named.
To elevate the Big Four tracks cleveland
| division) between Massachusetts, avenue
and Tenth street far as Hillside avenue;
| to provide an undergrade crossing at valley
| Drive.
/ To elevate the Lake Erie and Monon
| tracks at least as far north as seventeenth
| street.
To elevate the Union tracks from Wash
| ington street to Senate avenue; TO eilml-
/ nate surface tracks at Delaware. Penn
sylvania. Meridian and Illinois streets; to
/ permit surface tracks between Delaware
! and East streets, the freighthouSe district,
| for their service; to close Liberty street
| to vehicles to permit the descent of the
| elevated tracks TO grade; all tracks west
| of Senate avenue to be elevated. but one
surface sidetrack may be permitted.
| To elevate the Panhandle and c., III. & ID.
/ tracks to a point east OF State avenue 10
permit an undergrade crossing at that
| street: provision for an undergrade cross
| ing at Rural street.
To elevate the j.. M. & /. tracks to
point south of Downey street.
/ To elevate the /. q V. tracks to the, White
| river bridge, permitting surface sidetracks-
To elevate the Big Four tracks (Cin-
| cinnati division) from the Union tracks TO
/ Noble street, the bridge across the tracks
| at this point not to be disturbed; recon-
| mends depression between Noble and Leota
streets: undergrade crossings at state and
| English avenues.
! In his explanation of these plans Mr..
Jeup said only twelve switches would re-
quire elevation, the access OF the freight
business to the terminal station would not
! be interrupted. The greatest depression
provided in the plan was at West street,
where Ii was eight feet below the present
grade of the Vandalia tracks. and tracks
| are elevated five feet, this being done 10
| give an easy grade for the immense freight
| business OF kingan & Co.
The plans contemplated no alteration OF
| the Union Station other than the elevation
| OF the train sheds. They made the Vir-
| ginia-avenue viaduct useless. but contem-
| plated the reopening OF Alabama street
| The estimated damage to property was
wholly based on those factories whose