The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-03
Board of Public Works Refuses
To Sign New Dayton &
Western Franchise Delaying
Negotiations.
FREIGHT ROUTE FIGHT
HAS STIRRED PEOPLE.
Opinions Expressed on Route
Now Building and Pro-
posed Routes Varied in Ex-
treme.

Council will not have an opportunity
to ratify the Dayton & Western fran
chisa this evening, for the reason that
the board has not yet signed the fran
chise. Members Of council confident
ly expected that the board would take
this action in time to have the matter
disposed of this evening, but as the
board has ignored councils request
that the franchise be signed. the ac-
ton of the city fathers this evening
will be watched with considerable in
terest.
The board states that the franchise
will be signed. under protest, but this
action will not be taken until the T.
H. I. & E. is ready to place it's tracks
along North Twenty-third street.
thereby showing 1t is acting in good
faith In regards to establishing a north
end freight line. Council has threat
ened to suspend the Main street
freight ordinance in the event the
board further delays In signing the
d. & W. franchise. The shippers are
not In favor of council taking this ac-
ton but IL is not known whether the
councilmen will make good their
threat.
At the council meeting this evening
a petition signed by several hundred
citizens, asking that a car line not be
placed on North Twenty-third street,
will be presented. City officials are
wondering what object there is In pre-
senting such an agreement at the
present time. pointing out that the
franchise. In which the traction CON-
pany is given the right 10 place its
line through the park. has already
signed and the traction company is
now operating under It,
1t is the general impression that the
car line now being placed In Glen
Miller park is there to stay notwith-
standing the popular sentiment
against 1t. The board of public works
will insist on the line being kept there
and 1t is very doubtful IL Injunction
proceedings to compel the traction
company to operate elsewhere would
be sustained.
Citizens Aroused.
| But little variance in opinion Is
shown by local citizens who have TAX
en- keen interest in the proposed plac-
ing OF traction line through Glen
Miller park along the site of Twenty.
third street The location of the
track is described generally as a "de.
secration." Public sentiment seems
to be in favor of the use of the North
Twentieth street tracks for a freight
route.
In an interview DIR. s. Edgar Bond
was emphatic in his accommodation OF
the board of public works for its at
titude In the matter The doctor saws
AS l note the uninterrupted progress
OF the street railway company in It's
attempt to place the freight line
through Glen Miller park, my other
wise peaceful disposition is made te
boil as I think of the short sighted.
ness of our board of public works and
council which permits such desecra
ton OF our beautiful park The tracks
will be at the very entrance and ex
tend across one of the most beautiful
sections OF the park. They will de
stroy one of the most popular drives
also
IF such thing is permitted. 1t sure
ly will be huge monument to tht
shortsighted policy OF the board
which has sought diligently to protect
the small things tas transfers to out
side citizens1 and risked the indigna
tion OF our citizens. The general opin
ion has been in favor of Twentieth oil
Twenty-second streets. We certain
ly commend the board OF works fol
not signing the new ID. & w. franchise
IL that may be used as leverage u
secure the removal of the line from
the Glen, IL our courts fail"
Business and professional men ex
press views similar to those of DR.
Bond, who was a little more drasti,
than the mafiority oft he others.
A citizen in communication TO tn,
Palladium, states that IL is Away
easier to sign petition than it is u
suggest a remedy for an alleged evil
He also makes the following state
ment: The writer feels that il mus
be quickly apparent to anyone givin;
the matter much consideration, tha
2 IL this agitation should result II
: changing the line to North Twenty
second street, IL would mar the beau
: ties of the park in a much more con
: spicuous place than the present Twen
c ty-third street route, and besides d.
r great damage 10 the park property an.
= property along the entire west from
n of the street. So the petitioners hav'
o little to gain and much to lose unless
: they can suggest more satisfaction,
q route than any yet proposed Had vi