The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-21
RECOMMENDS UNIFIED
STREET-CAR SYSTEM
Engineer Tells Board of Public
Works Intelligent Plan Should
Be Adopted.
SYSTEM IS NOW FAULTY
City and Street-Railway Officials
Should Consult and Reach
Agreement
SYSTEM is NOW FAULTY

Discussing at some length the question of
street car line extensions. City Engineer
Jeup. in letter to the Board OF Public
Works. yesterday recommended the adop-
ton of general plan for a system OF street
railways in the city, and TO this end adj
vises that conference be held some time
in the near future by the Board of Works
and the indianapolis Traction and Termi-
nal Company.
As has been demonstrated by the number
OF requests for street car extensions along
certain streets, serious complications are
met by the board in fixing the routes since
there is no general system of car lines to
be followed. At the present time there are
ten requests before the board for extensions.
Some Of the routes asked conflict with the
general system. and should many such ex-
tensions be constructed the system would
become complicated and inconsistent. BY
tangible plan of car lines which could be
followed in the future the work of locating
the advisable routes of all extensions would
be greatly facilitated.
ENGINEERS LETTER.
Mr. Jeup's letter to the board is interest
Ing, in that il discusses the various extern
sions now pending before the board. Ii
reads follows:
Referring to the petition for the extern
sion of the West Indianapolis street car
line from its present terminus at Belmont
avenue and Howard street, In and along
Howard street to Sheffield avenue thence
10 Morris street, | beg 10 report that an
extension along this route or an extension
in Belmont avenue and Howard street
north TO Morris street, thence west to
Morris street to Bismarck avenue will give
street car service TO a district which is
not adequately served at the present time.
However, an extension along the lines pro-
posed IS not in accordance with the gen
eral plan OF a street car system which
would be adopted for this section of the
city. In connection with this petition for
a street car line. / think the time is OPP
Fortune for discussing the question of
street car extensions in general
petitions on file for street car extensions
now pending before your board as fol-
lows. W Brookside-avenue line CD extern
sion OF the Pennsylvania-street car lire.
Cd extension of West Indianapolis lire "a
extension OF the English-avenue line Isl
a line IN Churchman avenue, GO extension
OF the College avenue line, Cd extension of
Mlenigan-street line, 60 extension of the
Brightwood line, Q0) while a petition has
not been filed, will soon be filed for a
line in Hillside avenue from Nineteenth
street TO BlOyd avenue
In addition to the petitions for extern
slons, the franchise OF the Indianapolis
Traction and Terminal Company provides
Tor certain croSs-town lines and other lines
the route of which are not yet defined
URGES GENERAL PLAN.
In view of the large number of petit
toners and of the lines proposed, it occurs
10 me that general plan Of a street car
system for the entire city should be agreed
upon between your board and the street.
railway company, and after a full hearing
IL found necessary by franchise provisions.
ratified by the Common Council
make this suggestion for several rea--
sons J. Resolutions have been adopted
for several improvements north of Fall
creek between Meridian street and Central
avenue. In the absence of a general nIan
Tor street-car system, the widths OF the
streets as provided in the plans and speci
hcations adopted by your board does not
TAKE INTO consideration the extension of
street-car lines, because street-car routes
IN TINS district have not been defined
Snould general system of street-car lines
provide for line on Hillside avenue from
Nineteenth street north to Bloyd and he
yonu, then proper provisions should be
made 10 make this street the proper width
Tor such line
Resolutions have been adopted for side
Mdihs ana curb in Cornell avenue from
91hnlr,eenth street to Nineteenth street
should the street-car system provide for
line in Cornell avenue then the nlans
should be modified so as to increase the
width Oh the street for this purpose.
BRIDGE QUESTION ENTERS.
intimately connected with the extern
ia
the question OF bridges which will be con-
structed between Meridian street and Cen
trai avenue, and the question of whether
the boulevard should be crossed bv street
car lines at all, or whether a separate street
car system should be provided for the ter
rltory south of the creek and another for |
the territory north of the creek. In con-
nection with this proposed extension the To- |
cation of north side cross-town line |
should be taken up. The franchise of the |
indianapolis Traction and Terminal Com
Rany does not define any route for such a |
nne between Central avenue and illinois |
street A-.0''
IS. A number of street car lines have hoe,
este piisned inconsistent with the street car |
system and We're located to serve local con
1ltionS at the time of their construction
The route OF these lines could be changed |
street car company.
4. In any general system for stree. car |
lines the question of the safe crossing Of |
cars at steam railway tracks should he
considered. As plan will be submitted bv
Runway companies for the separation OF
grades, the proposed general system OF
street car lines in the city should be consid
n n1su IN connection herewith. | have in
cnusetts-avenue crossing at East Tenth
street. Should. for instance. plan as pro-
posed De adopted for the safe crossing of |
cars at Massachusetts avenue and Tenth |
street, and no undergrade crossing be pro-
vloed at Thirteenth street il is probabIe |
tnat general system would provide that |
Ill cars from the northeastern section Of
the city would run through this subway ar
massachusetts avenue.
The routes for the entrance Of
tnterurban cars into the city have now been
established, with the probable exception
OF the 1. & &. route. that the question
OF streets To be occupied by these com
panies Is no longer a question of doubt
when establishing general street-car sys-
tenn.
In view of these facts consider il very
desirable that the city be in possession
OF plan for a system of street RAILWAYS
With a plan OF this kind before the board
the question which would have to be con-
e1oered when petition has been presented
Tor the extension OF street-car line would
De SIMPLY the question whether such an
extension would be reasonable for the
board 10 order or whether the time had |
come when such extension should be |
ordered. In order to avoid delay in MAX
ing any OF these extensions which have |
peen refitfoned for / would suggest II this
Iscofnr1endation meets With your approval |
tnat the board arrange mt as early date |
as possible conference with the street |
car company TO discuss this question: 80
Will Repair Water Tower
IL was decided yesterday by the BOARD |