The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-06
Demanded That 1t Take Steps
To Prevent Completion of
Freight Route Through Glen
Miller.
NOT TOO LATE TO
RECTIFY MISTAKE.
Another Settlement Between
City and Traction Company
Could Be Easily Effected,
K Is Claimed.

K Is Claimed.
There is practically no likelihood
that the board of public works will
take any steps in response to public
opinion and endeavor to prevent plac-
ing interurban car tracks through
Glen Miller park. Since that meeting
on-the-quiet at the city clerks home,
st is believed there is an agreement
between the members of the board
and city attorney to stand by the fran
chise agreement with the Terre Haute
Indianapolis & Eastern Traction COM
pany, as 1t now reads. The cry of too
late" as raised by City Attorney Study
not valid. Public opinion demands
that the board endeavor to reopen
matters with the traction company and
secure some other site for the tracks.
The board may be expected 1t is
claimed, to turn stony ear to all COM
plants, however.
The members of the board have
heard city councilmen in open meet
ing express their regret and chagrin
that Twenty-third street should be in
its present condition. They have
heard councilmen pledge themselves
to use their efforts in favor of new
location They have direct instruc-
tions from council to endeavor to
DIT tho1y
do It?
A committee of public spirited citi-
kens has been appointed to effect an
organization for the purpose of COM
batting the idea of the desecration of
the park. These persons will devote
their time and energy to bring influ-
ence un0" the board of works, which
now is iaSarded as the sole impedi-
ment. The board has 1t within it's pow
er to propose withdrawal from the
franchise on the part of the city. If
the interurban company is willing,
and there have been assurances that
the company will be willing.
One Member to Blame.
The assertion has been made that
one member Of the board Of public
works. who resides on East Main
street will not favor the annulment of
the franchise. because it will make
probable the selection of the North
Twentieth street route. and he is op-
posed to this. One prominent manu-
facturer OF tho city and a man who
knows more about traction matters
than any other person in the city de-
clared today this same member of the
board OF works is to blame for the
greatest part Of the ENHANCEMENT.
which now exists and that he believes
Main street ought to be reserved for
ice wagons and coal carts.
Il know Hugh MCGOWAN, know
Todd and I know the others of that
group OF men," the speaker said, ''and
I know they are large men of broad
m&nds and IL the city officials had
dealt with them in a decent manner
at the start, the city would not now
find itself In this trouble. If the city
officials had said or would say to
these men: I'VE have made a mistake
and would like to change it. We don't
want the line through the park and a
change will be made. But the obstin-
ancy OF the board of works stands in
the light OF the members and they can
not see through the shadow" he con.
stinued.
Should Stop Outrage. .
The following communication to the
Palladium controverts the declaration
by B. B. Johnson made at the meet.
Ing OF demonstrators with the board
or works, yesterday, in regard to the
use OF North Twentieth street:
When the writer realized how the
traction company which has been of
so much benefit to the merchants and
people OF Richmond generally was be-
Ing prosecuted and misrepresented by
certain public officials. he felt that he
snouid Ike to see tracks run across
the lake and the bear pit in Glen Mil
Ter park converted into a freight sta.
ton. However. We weaken when we
see the enormous cut the railway COM
pany is making at the entrance OF the
Glen and running one Of the most beau.
ful driveways in Eastern Indiana.
While asking an almost impossihle
task OF The Diety. let us pray that for
the time being at least He will imbue
the present city administration with
enough common decency to stop this
outrage. 1t Is needless to say that
the people are responsible. Primarily
the board OF public works is to blame
and the common council has played
z rather close second. Nor let us be
deceived by the statement of the
board Of works and their attorney tha,
1t Is now too late to rectify this mis-