The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-11
The Problem VIII he Fully Investi-
gated and Advisory Aid VIII be
Given the City's Commission.
MAYOR BooKwALTER UPSET
NOT IN LINE WITH BILL GIVEN OFT
BY WILLIAM FORTUNE.
He Says Another Conference Should
Have Been Held-Mr. Nelson's
Plans-Bill in Full.

Events are shaping the near settlement
of the grade crossing question with great
rapidity. The submission of City Engineer
Nelson's plan for relief to the grade cross
ing commission followed a meeting of rep
resentatives of the railroads here only a
few hours. To-day the Nelson plans
will be inspected, and explained by Mr.
Nelson, at a meeting of the railroad en-
gineers at the office of NJ. w. Mansfield,
engineer for the Pennsylvania Company.
The meeting of railroad officials was
held yesterday morning at the Office of
Volney 7. Malott, receiver of the Vandalia
Railroad. There were present Third Vice
President ]. ]. Turner, Mr.. Scott, assistant
to President McCrea of the Pennsylvania
Company, NJ. w. Mansfield, engineer, and
s. o. Pickens, counsel for the Pennsyl-
vania road; V. 7. Malott, receiver, ]. G.
Williams, counsel, II. 1. Miller, general
manager, and c. r. Darlow, assistant to
the receiver, for the Vandalia: John S.
Lazarus and Chief Engineer Wilson, for
the c., H. & D.; j. Q. Van Wrinkle, super
intendent, John T. Dye. general coun-
sci. and the chief engineer for
the Big Four; G. C. Cleveland,
eral counsel. for the L., Z. & w, and ". T.
Malott, Mr.. Scott, of Pittsburg assistant
to President McCrea of the Union Railway
Company. and Edward Daniels, represent
ing the Union Railway Company.
IN ADVISORY CAPACITY.
1t was agreed at this meeting that the
policy of the railroads should be to fully in
vestigate the grade crossing problem in
Indianapolis with view to advising the
grade crossing commission i'm its work and
presenting the ideas of the roads as to the
kind of improvements that should be agreed
on by the city and the railroads, for the
relief of the grade crossing situation The
duty was assigned to the engineers of the
roads represented at the meeting to meet
City Engineer Nelson and go over his plans
Tor the purpose expressed. The engineers
VIII, this morning, go over Mr.. Nelson's
plans at the office of NJ. w. Mansfield
After this meeting there will be a confer
ence of engineers and it is probable that
the commission will be asked for time for
the engineers to submit such suggestions
and plans as may be finally agreed on to
cover the object desired.
1t was the expression of all the roads rep
resented that some feasible plan for the
adopted and the companies and the city
come together for the purpose of carving
out such arrangements il is possible to
agree on that will perform the service re-
quired.
The railroad and city officials were sur
prised after this meeting to find published
proposed law which was said to have the
Endorsement of the mayor and the Mer-
came from the Commercial Clubs elevated
track commission. This law was discussed
at meeting between William Fortune
president of the Commercial Clubs COM
mission, and the Merchants Association
committee. composed of w. C.. Bobbs F.
NJ Ayres and Charles Mayer Mayor Book
walter was not present at this meeting
The Merchants Association committee did
not commit itself to the measure, according
TO one of the members, but is to discuss il
with Mayor Bookwalter this morning This
conference was arranged for yesterday af-
ternoon but the parties were all interested
In Engineer Nelson's plans and il was post
poned. Mayor Bookwalter and members of
the Legislature from this county who at
tended Sunday nights conference at the
mayors office understood that whatever
measure was to be proposed was TO be
scrutinized at another conference when all
interests, including the railroads, could be
heard. the idea being that the law giving
the city the power would not be so drastic
that the railroads would oppose it,
MIR. Fortune says the law was prepared
by an attorney, and as he looked at it it
carried out the purposes agreed on at the
meeting Sunday night. He said he did not
understand that another conference was
necessary. He had tried to get the mayor
whom he told he could get at 10 80 in
the morning. but unable to do So and
gave out the law because he regarded II
as carrying out fully the purposes of the
meeting.
MAYOR INDIGNANT.
Mayor Bookwalter was indignant when
he saw the law published with his approval
asserted. He said:
81 was not invited to any meeting to con-
slider bill and knew nothing of the bill
made public until late i'm the afternoon.
when received copy. IL was the under
standing of the persons who met at my
Office Sunday night that the bill when pre-
pared should be discussed at another meet
to any member OF the Legislature from
this comfy, so far as know, and refuse
my Endorsement to IL for the specific rea-
son. among otheFss that It seeke to dis