The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-06-07
TWO CENTS AT ALL PLACES OF
SALE.
A PUBLIC Benefit.

The proposed closing of North Four
teenth street from e to the tracks of
the Pennsylvania railroad company,
as petitioned for by the Hoosier
branch of the American Seeding Ma
chine Company, hinges on the ques-
ton as to whether or not the closing
or vacation of the street would con-
stitute public benefit. 1t is the con-
tention of the demonstrators. as
voiced through their attorneys. that
such procedure upon the part of the
Board of Public Works would consti-
tute a rank infraction OF the statutes;
that 1t would simply be closing pub
lie ground for the benefit OF giant
corporation; that instead OF being of
public benefit 1t would in reality be
sacrificing public ground for the en-
richment of private business enter
prise and finally that such a precedent
would be dangerous In these days
when the public mind is filled with
ideas about the greed of great corpor-
ations and when manufacturing mo-
nopolies are seemingly in disfavor
with vast majority of the people. it
is easy to persuade the average per-
son that any request of corporation
from from a municipality should be ig-
nored. 1t is quite easy, therefore. to
understand why arguments that
strikes a popular chord can be made
against the request of the Hoosier
Branch of the American Seeding Ma
chine Company. There is no question
that the statute which regulates the
closing of public thoroughfares makes
1t plain that real public benefit must
result from the closing of any street,
but 1t also must be admitted that in
all cases where public benefits have
been unouestioned and streets vacat-
ed there have also been property
owners damaged. There is a provision
that gives such property owners prop
er recourse. The contemplated closing
of Fourteenth street because a great
corporation asks 1t does not in fact
render the question a different one
from that which should arise If half
hn nrfy a1o
street in the city should ask that
their street be vacated. The attorneys
for the demonstrators indicated by
the arguments made before the Board
of Public Works that because a cor
poration had asked for the vacation it
could not be public benefit. The re-
monstrators are manufacturers and
though not conducting plants so pre-
tentious as the Hoosier Drill concern,
bear the same relation to the public
as does the petitioner. They have
their rights and their rights should
and undoubtedly will be considered.
The Hoosier Drill Company should
not be Disseminated against because
1t is great corporation, no more than
the manufacturers who demonstrate
should be refused Just treatment be-
cause they are comparatively small.
The closing of the street in question
undoubtedly will interfere with the
facilities OF the concerns that are re-
menstrating and they are entitled, the
Palladium believes, to damages that
IRE commensurate Herewith. At the
ne time the closing of the street
add to the facilities of the Hoo
sg plant; will permit it to expand,
thereby giving employment to addi-
tional men. For deriving this benefit
the Hoosier must pay the damages
resulting to other corporations. The
eliminating of grade crossing has al
ways been regarded as public service,
and in this respect, II no other. the
proposed vacation of Fourteenth
street will constitute public benefit.