The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-05
CITIZENS PLACE DETERMINED
PROTEST WITH CITY OFFICIALS
BUT IT MAY RESULT IN MOTH.
ING.
ARGUMENT WAS HEATED.
It Was Evident by the Tone Of Citi-
zens' Remarks That the Board of
Public Works Is Much In Dis
favor.

Fifty incensed public spirited prop
erty owners of the city gathered at
the Office of the board of public works
this morning to enter a belated pro-
test against the Twenty-third street
interurban line. 1t was an indignation
meeting and the board of public
works was told its action in affirm
ing the contract is not approved by
the general public. T. J. Study, city
attorney and patron saint of the board
of public works told tho citizens
and no one is to blame but themselves.
Study maintained that the time was
ripe long ago for such complaints as
now are eminating, but none came.
1t was dinned into tho ears of the
protestors that it is too late nnw, too
late to rectify what may have been a
mistake. Study said it is the senti-
ment of the demonstrators that the
tracks ought to go any place except
through the Glen, or along some street
that concerns them directly. You
want to shove the tracks on to some
other street where they won't bother
sou, and you don't care how much it
may bother some one else" argued
the city attorney.
Blame Put on Public.
The board of public works is
acting upon the principle it does not
care what may happen as it can not
;be blamed directly. All the censure
Is shifted upon the long suffering and
Slothful public. Its too late, it's too
late," was the persistent argument.
Ehe board denied that it has a chance
TO make any alteration. The board
will oppose any attempt to bring about
The adoption of a new franchise,
tnless assured by the traction com.
pany 1t will not object nor ask addi-
fional favor.
Watson p. O'Neal, republican men,
Der Of the board committed himself
10 one thing, although persistingly
Ge-echoing the assertion the public is
TO blame for the present state of af-
fairs. "If the question is opened UP
again, will never sign n contract
providing for a Twenty-second street
route. signed this one under pro-
test as I did not favor an alternative
route as a second choice. I believe
the logical place for the tracks is on
Twentieth street. I signed it though
and now I will stand by it. / believe
the Twenty-second street route would
be more damaging than that on Twen
ty-third street." he asserted.
Barred From Twentieth.
It was pointed out repeatedly tha,
the traction company Is barred from
the use of North Twentieth street fol
freight purposes by the old franchise
which granted John Lontz and P. j
Freeman, as the Richmond Street &
tnterurban railway company, the
right to use any streets of the city
except North Tenth. North A ant
those streets at the time occupied by
the tracks of the old Richmond City
Railway company. the predecessor OF
the r. S. & I. company. The Twen
tieth street line was operating at the
time. so this street Is made one of tho
exceptions.
Other than to inform members o
The board OF public works that regard
less of what 1t may have been months
ago, public sentiment now stands op
posed to the construction of a line
through the park and to stimulate tn,
board to efforts to reseind the presen
franchise and project another elimi
mating the source of trouble nothins
Is expected to be gained from tnt
meeting of this morning.
Study to Defense.
Speaking in defense of the board o
public works. the city council. and hi.
own interests, City Attorney Study
said he can't see where the officer.
have failed to do their duty. Now
when it is too late. petition come.
In here and l suppose you want to as
lContiaued on Page Three.)