The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-17
PETITIONERS ALL TALK At
SAME TIME BEFORE BOARD
Forget Rules of Order Do College
Avenue Residents After
Extension.
THE COMPANY EXPLAINS

A congregation of citizens in the office of
the Board Of Public Works yesterday aft
ernoon had all the ear marks of a political
primary or a ward caucus, but IL was
neither. Several dozen citizens OF Indian
apolis inhabiting that region northeast OF
the northern terminus of the COllege-ave-
nue. street car line, who have petitioned
for and against an extension of the line In
q northeasterly direction, called on the board
20 hear what the representatives Of the
street railway company might have to say
as 10 why such an extension should not be
made. The meeting was an interesting one.
AT different times in the proceedings near
Iy every one OF the several dozen interested
citizens took il upon himself TO act as a
committee of one to represent all the other
citizens present. A number of times these
several committees Of one attempted to
present the real status OF affairs to the
board all at the same time and the result
was a confusion OF tongues that caused
the members Of the board to do serious
damage to their knuckles in rapping on
their honorable table for order.
James II. Jones, second vice president
and assistant general n Of the In
dIanzpoIis Traction and Terminal Company,
represented the case of the street railway
people. but did not always have an easy
time in holding the floor.
Out OF the confusion of statements made
by different representatives OF the pet1tlon-
ers it could be gathered that the residents
OF the vicinity want street car service IN
whatever way il can come TO them. Inc
CONSENSUS of opinion seemed 10 be that the
College-avenue line should be extended
along the bank OF Fall Greek, on the prl-
vate right Of way on Sutherland avenue
owned by the street railway company or Dy
way Of Twenty-eighth street and BoswelI
avenue 70 Thirtieth street. To this route
some of the citizens present objected. as
owned or rented by them.
WOULD NOT PAY.
MI. Jones stated that a line along either
of the proposed routes would not be an ex-
tension OF the ColIege-avenue line. but
would be a switch, a line that no street.
railway company could be asked to lay. and
that never would pay IL 1t were laid.
Furthermore, ne stated. his company has
emp to follow out an order of the
former Board of Public Works and lay a
line on Sutherland avenue, but had been
prevented from so doing by an injunction
now in force, secured by adjacent property
holders. Sutherland avenue, Mr.. Jones
stated. Is not a public street. but a private
way. and as such the board cannot order
the street-railway company to lay tracks
on IL. The former Board of Works, he said.
had imposed on his company by ordering
# to lay tracks on Sutherland avenue when
II was within the boards knowledge that
the street was not a public thOrOughfare
The contention of the street-ratlway COM
pany is that the only practical, business
ike way in which the College-avenue line
can be extended Is over the new bridge
now building across Fall creek, north TO
Thfrty-cfghth street, connecting with the
fair grounds line. This proposition aroused
the undisguised contempt Of the petitioners.
AS a temporary solution OF the Whole
question:, the board referred the matter 10
the engineer, who is to report on 1t at some
future time.
President Downing, of the board, seemed
inclined TO think with Mr.. Jones that the
uortheasterly extention of the Couege-ave-
nue. line would not be an extension OF thar
line. but would be a switch, which the
board could not ask the street car company
10 lay.
'sWhat ought 20 be done" said Mr.. Down
ing. land what probably will be done, VIII
be TO direct the street car company, 10 ex-
tend its line on Cornell avenue north from
thirteenth street. That would strike the
very region IN which the people want street
car service. The people that were before
the board need service, but they cannot
force the company to make a switch from
its College-aVenue line in the way they
propose, We will see that the street-rall-
way company does the right thing In the
matter"