The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-10
Elimination of Pogue's Run Permits
Creating Many Advantages to
Public and Private Interests.
ABOLITION OF THE v1ADUCT
FREIGHT TO REACH DEPOTS WITH.
OUT CROSSING A TRACK.
No Grade Crossing from Massachu-
setts Avenue to West street.
Liberty Street Closed.

Circumstances are developing rapidly in
pointing to a near settlement of the grade
crossing problem in Indianapolis. The
course pursued by Mayor Bookwalter in the
last four months, the commission which
he named to investigate the grade crossing
question from the standpoint of disinterest-
edness and which has made satisfactory
progress. the Supreme Court decision in
validating the track elevation ordinance of
1899 and the open willingness of the rail-
roads to reach a settlement are the evil
dences that sediment is near. OF course
a settlement is contingent on the findings
of the grade crossing commission, but the
city and the railroads show abundant faith
in the ability of the commission to reach
a sensible and Just conclusion.
At to-day's session of the commission
City Engineer Nelson will submit his plans
for the abatement of grade crossings. The
details of the plan are not known, but in
a general way it is intended to answer
several important questions. Besides the
protection of human life and the facilitation
of urban traffic. the plan anticipates the in
tentions of the railroads with reference to
advantages which they may seek Incl
dentally.
The most important of these incidental
plans is the expansion of the Union Station.
This is to be made possible without losing
another street. The station may expand
east across Meridian street and west across
Capitol avenue without a grade crossing
Should the Union Railway Company pur-
chase all the land south of the station be-
tween the alley east of Meridian street and
Capitol avenue, or Senate avenue. as far
south cs South street, the only impediment
to occupying the whole area for terminal
purposes would be the existence of Nc
Nab street. between Meridian and Illinois
streets, and this impediment would be re-
moved by the vacation of this street.
ELEVATION OF TRACKS.
The plan, in anticipating the creation of
new ard larger terminal facilities, provides
for the elevation of the tracks at Meridian
and Illinois streets and Capitol avenue
six and one-half to seven feet. Each street
is to be depressed five to seven feet ac-
cording TO the ultimate decision. This is
a direct benefit to Illinois street, which
now has tunnel under the street grade
tracks The elevation of the tracks at the
streets named will require the raising of the
Union Station floor 10 an equal height,
which is two or three feet higher than the
present floor of the Union Station waiting
rooms and ticket offices.
AS already stated the key to the whole
plan Is the elimination of Pogue's run.
The engineer will present a double plan
in reference to this achievement. If ii is
determined TO convert the run into a sewer
no further than Is necessary an incident
TO the track elevation scheme the sewer
would begin at Vermont street and ter
inmate at South street. where IL would
again become an open stream. But il IL
is to be complete sewer plan the engineer
would have to begin at Newman street
(the southwest end of Spades place., and
continue to Wisconsin street and the river.
the present outlet of the other sewers.
Between Vermont and Newman streets
the sewer would replace a number OF old
defective sewers. Between South and Wis
consin streets IL will help to solve the
Indianapolis Southern Railway question, as
this road follows Its course from Wisconsin
te Merrill streets in gaining access to the