The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-21
Board of Works This Morn
ing Discussed Abuses of
Main Street Structure Ov-
er the Whitewater.
UP TO THE COUNTY
TO REMEDY MATTER
Mayor Gives His Opinion of
the Local Telephone Serv-
ice-Other Matters Before
the Board Today.

The speed maintained by east bound
interurbans in crossing the Main
Street bridge was again discussed at
the meeting of the board of public
works this morning. The danger of
the interurbans ultimately destroying
the structure was recited by city Off
cials, but it was decided to patiently
await the action Of the county COM
missioners, in whose hands the mat
ter now rests. ..
When asked by Mayor Zimmerman
as to the speed which the interurbans
are permitted to maintain across the
bridge, A. M. Gardner, city attorney,
said that he believed there was moth
ing specified in the franchise about
this matter, other than that the inter-
urbans could not operate at a faster
speed than twelve miles an hour in
the city limits. The mayor asserted
that many persons had asked him
about this matter. Other city officials
declared that they had noticed inter-
! urbans crossing the bridge from the
west and they believed the cars were
operated much faster than permitted
by law.
Exceed Speed Limit.
THE cars are operated at a terrific
speed across the bridge" one official
said, "in order to coast under the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad bridge
at First and Main Streets
"Motormen on interurbans say this
|, is necessary because they are obliged
to remove the trolley wire while going
under the railroad bridge, and that it
would be a physical impossibility to
get the cars under the bridge unless
they We're given a good start
Providing the county officials do not
take steps to remedy this condition,
it is likely that drastic action will be
taken by the city
1t is further alleged that the rails
are not properly insulated and that
electrolysis will eventually ruin the
structure.
Mayor Zimmerman suggested that
the legal department OF the city see
! that the speed limit is not violated on
| the bridge
That the city council was victimized
by Lontz and Freeman, who first se-
cured franchise, is the opinion of the
mayor. He declared that he warned
council of this when the franchise was
granted. and that he also forced the
| company to place it's tracks on the
| ci 10 0f hn h,~{I
middle, which was attempted. after
the council granted the company the
| right to use the bridge
As to Power Wires.
A motion was made by the mayor
and passed by the board of works that
the city attorney and the civil engi.
| neer take UP the matter Of preventing
the high tension wires of the company
from being placed SO that they would
damake the trees along the EarIham
campus on National avenue. Engineer
Charles stated at the meeting that the
city would be compelled to watch the
company closely in this respect
| A letter was read at the board meet
ing from telephone company In ILL.,
nois asking the mayor his private op-
inion of the service given here by the
automatic phones.
| You can answer that letter by stat
ing that at times the service rendered
by the automatic phones is very bad
the mayor informed President Ham,
mond of the board
| J. NJ. Lontz, of the F. & N. lawn
mower factory appeared before the
| board and requested that the company
be given permission to maintain the
new park which the Pennsylvania rail-
road company will give to the city Mr..
Lontz said that his company would be
glad to ornament the small park and
to maintain it for the privilege OF
making a small driveway in it. II the
railroad company has no objections,
permission will be given the F. & N.
company to do so. The park will be un-
der the supervision of the board OF
works at all times.
| To Build Factory.
Mr.. Lontz also stated that his com
pany will start to work Immediately
upon the construction of new three.
story factory building The new build.
ing will be erected on Washington av.
enue and will be ~ by 15O feet
/ Upon motion of Mayor Zimmerman
the board of works voted to feed the
horse owned by Homer Hammond
president of the board because the
horse is used by Mr. Hammond in per.
forming city duties. The feed bill will
amount to about SIS per month
/ Barney Feinsfain who has q store
at Grant and Sheridan streets request
led the board TO order the street car
company to remove a "guy" wire
Continued on Page Six-)