The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-11
Citizens to Publicly Express
Indignation at Building of
The Traction Freight Line
Through the Glen.
"A NEW ROUTEHAS
BEEN SUGGESTED.
Proposed Route Has None of
The Objectionable Features
Found in All Others Yet
Mentioned.

the board of public works in refusing
reopen negotiations with the Terre
Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern tratc-
tion company in the effort to bring
about a revision of the franchise
agreement will be taken at a mass
meeting Of citizens to be held at the
East Main street Friends church this
evening. A large crowd is expected.
The gathering will be open for the
purpose of general discussion. The
meeting is called by the volunteer
committee Of citizens who have been
most prominent in their attempts to
persuade the board Of public works to
alter its position.
It Is probable injunction proceed
ings will follow the meeting tonight.
The concensus of opinion among the
leaders in the opposition Is to the ef-
feet litigation will have to be resorted
to.
Traction Company Cautious.
The company continues in its grad
Ing OF the street, but has made no fur
fher preparation for the purpose of
laying tracks. Twenty third street,
or that portion to be used by the
tracks, is being placed on grade with
Main street. This necessitates a deep
cut in two places. The digging and
grading is near completion, but no
ties have been unloaded, no rails
placed along the proposed route, no
trolley poles placed, or any trolley
wire strung. These facts may be re-
garded as an indication the company
pense or accomplish more than can be
remedied easily and quickly.
Although just at present the great
est public sentiment is opposed to the
construction of route through GGlen
Miller park Wit Twenty-third street, it
Is extremely doubtful IL such senti-
ment would oppose a line into the
park by another route. A few years
ago a proposition was put forward by
the men in charge of the street rail-
way company to extend the street car
line from the old loop, down the slope
and to a station that was to be erected
near the boat house. This group OF
men parted with it's interests in the
company before any action was taken.
although the matter had gone SO far
rs to have plans prepared
| At the present time the street car
company is dischargIng passengers
from the North Twentieth street line
into the park on city property. When
the loop was in operation, 1t was To-
icated on city property. No objection
was made by the public to this ar
rangement, and none is made to the
present manner in which the company
has shortened its track. owing to the
faster schedule, and done away with
the loop. In view Of the fact there is
no way for street car passengers to
reach the picnic grounds or the CEN
trail portion OF the park 1t has been
suggested often that it would be ad-
visable II there was some way the CON-
pany could penetrate farther into the
park. The board of public works in
Its statement yesterday called atten-
fion to this fact.
New Line Proposed.
fnasmuch as such great difficulties
beset the path Of the company as the
result Of the contemplated line through
Twenty-third street, an alternative
route Is suggested. It would not be a
matter OF great inconvenience or ex.
pense for the company to depart from
Its North e street line at about Twen-
tv-fhird CIV
terly around the hillside whereon was
located the old car barns, thence di-
rectly east adjacent to the right OF
way OF the P. c. C. & st. L. railway
company, occupying strip Of ground
owned by the city and constituting the
present. unsightly ravine to the north
of the park lake, and continue east
and south and make connection with
the interurban line near the old fair
grounds. The adoption of such plan
would remove freight cars from any
portion OF Main street, furnish the
company with a private right of way
and at the same time provide accom-
modations for the public by a direct
line through the park, not crossing
or infringing upon any driveways OF
requiring any excavation or fill I'm
any Of the more desirable sections OF
the park.
AS an inducement to the company
to adopt such a route, the city might
permit friendly condemnation pro
ceedings whereby the traction com
yany could secure right of way alons
the northern limit of the park with
out any material expense. The sec
tion of land required could not be sold