The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Would 1T be impertinent to ask whom it
may concern a few pertinent questions
about the location of the Union Railroad
tracks. now that 1t is an open question?
certainly near no disrespect to that able
commission that is wrestling with it at
the request Of the mayor, for, though its
decisions bind nobody, they will re-
ceive at the hands of the Council. as well
as of all the people. much consideration.
First Of all, let me ask, do we the peo-
pie. want elevated tracks at all, no matter
who pays the cost? Our children may
want them fifty years hence, when our
population may be a million or so. but is
that a sufficient reason for discommoding
as well as burdening ourselves premature
ly with them in advance of the time? AS
to the pretext which they are urged
that Is most emphatically a false one Sc
curity to life and limb is not in Ii at all
More than twice as many serious accidents
happen with the trolley cars as happen
with the steam cars, and there is no sug-
gestion of elevating their tracks The un-
disgusable truth is that 1t Is scheme of
the railroads to run through the city at rail-
road speed without the danger of an occa-
sional suit for damages, just as the trolley
cars run. 1t is the railroads that want the
tracks elevated, not the city. Can we af-
ford to allow them to elevate their tracks
even II they propose to do IL at their own
expense? 1t may seem a small matter TO
them that every passenger that gets on or
off here must climb descend the stairs
at the station, especially since just as many
passengers will go and come, and they will
all pay the same fare as If there We're no
stairs to climb. Can we afford to do this
just 10 exempt the roads from an OCCASION
al damage suit? OF course there is no fine
to be feared for violating the speed ordi-
nance Will the commission take into its
account the fact that an elevated track will
practically divide US into two cities-North
Side and South Side? 1t is bad enough as
il is in politics and business and social
life. but elevated tracks would deepen and
broaden the chasm almost much as a
river would. Is the commission to pass
upon such question as that?
But. more than everything else. can we
allow the railroads to practically destroy
many of our most profitable industries
These have located here In good faith that
they might enjoy forever. at least for a
long while, the inestinable advantage of
grade crossings, and they have at great
expense made their railroad connections
accordingly. Will the scope OF the commits
sions inquiry require them TO ask at whose
expense these tracks are to be adjusted to
| the elevated tracks? And suppose IL finds
| as certainly 1t must find that the adjust
ment of every switch TO every present
manufacturing plant is to be paid for by the
! railroads. who is TO pay the extra cost to
| the scores of new plants that will come
| If we continue to offer present un-
| rivaled railroad facilities. If. indeed. any
| difficult and more important question for
| somebody to solve. whether the commits
! sion attempts Ii or not: who will compen-
| safe the present manufacturers for the
| inevitable loss they must sustain in be-
| ing deprived of the present advantage they
| have over Chicago and other oenters of
| industry in this very item of railroad IA
| cilities? II is not the cost of adjusting
| their switches TO the elevated track sys-
| tenn that is most to be protested against
| the loss of this advantage over rival es-
adjustments is paramount to everything
else II seems to me, therefore. that the
/ first question for the commission to settle
| Is whether we want the tracks elevated
/ now or not. matter at whose cost or
| what may be the decision of the Supreme
/ Court in the case now before IL. I certain
| ly do protest against all this cost to the
| city, even II the railroads foot the bill for
| the work, only To keep the roads from
paving damages for killing somebody now
| and then by reckless speed. The safety
J of the people is not In II little bit. nor
| the welfare of the wealth OF the city. as
/ represented by our great manufactures
| Less than half a dozen well-located via
! ducts will relieve the danger as to cross
/ ings and some day the people will demand
! that street and steam railroads shall reou-
| late their speed 80 as to secure all posi-
bic exemption from damage.
Indianapolis. Jan. "a. u. L. SEE.