The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-27
Big Local Delegation Greets
Railroad Executive and
His Big Staff on Arrival
Wednesday.
HE GIVES HOPE FOR
YARDS IN RICHMOND
Supt. Mcdonald of Indiana
Division Chides Richmond
People for Alleged Hostili-
ty to Road.

Declarations by Scott Mcdonald,
superintendent of the c. & o. of In
diana, that there is no doubt but that
freight terminal yards. round house,
and repair shops will be located in
Richmond. and statement by Presi-
dent George w. Stevens, president of
the C. & o. that nothing will be taken
away from this city by the road, deep
ly gratified delegation of about twen-
ty representatives of the Young Mems
Business club and Commercial club
who conferred with the C. & o. Off
cials at the north end station yester.
day.
While President Stevens would not
commit himself as to whether the
yards and repair shops would be locat-
ed here. his statement that nothing
would be transferred from Richmond
is believed to have virtually the same
meaning, as the company now has
small yards here, which, according to
the original plans, were to have been
made larger to meet the growing de-
mands of the road.
Upto superintendent.
Pres1dent Stevens also declared
that it would be for the superinten-
dent of the Indiana branch OF the C.
& O. to make recommendations as to
the location OF the yards and shops,
upon which he and other officials Of
the road would pass. Hence Mr.. Nc
DOnald's statement that there need
be no doubt about Richmond being Sc.
lected as the place. seems to clinch
the matter for this city.
Representatives of. the Commercial
club and Y. M. b. G. were highly
pleased with the results of the confer
ence and the announcement of Pres
ident Stevens that he would return
to the city again in the near future
to look into the matter more thorough
ly, spending probably. half day.
The statements of the local men
that there were a number of sites in
and around Richmond, both north and
south. suitable for yards and terminal
purposes, interested the officials.
Fight Useless One.
Superintendent Mcdonald told the
Richmond business men that later
investigation had shown the site
which the company sought to preserve
for yard purposes, by preventing the
opening of South N N street through
1t, was not large enough for the roads
use, and consequently the fight with
the South Side Improvement associa-
tion had all been for nothing. He said
it was just as well the jury decided
against the company.
1t was explained to the local men
that the shops being considered for 10
cation here or elsewhere are not the
main shops Of the company, now locat-
ed at Peru, but small repair shops
which the establishment Oh a freight
terminal and yards would necessitate.
There is no intention on the part of
the company, the officials stated. to
remove the large shops from Peru.
In a friendly spirit, which character
ized the entire conference. Superinten-
dent Mcdonald and other officials
pointed out a contrast in the treat
ment given the company by Richmond
and other large cities along the route,
and then asked the men il they could
blame them for not feeding as kindly
toward Richmond as the might
Mcdonald chides City.
Mr.. Mcdonald declared that when
ever officials of the road stopped at
Marion and other places they were
met by large delegations and every
thing was being done on the part of
the citizens to assist in the building
up of the road. Marion and Muncie.
he said. had offered subsidies for the
location of yards and shops, while at
Richmond the company was made de-
fendant in lawsuit when it attempt
ed to secure q sight
Mr.. Mcdonald then said that the
city through it's engineer. Fred Char
les, had recently notified the company
that 1t must raise its bridge over
Main street. which would necessitate
a complete change in the grade of the
roadbed and cause the company an en-
ormous expense. As the height of the
bridge had been fixed by a former city
engineer, Charles Weber. Mr.. McDon-
aid said he did not believe that the
company could be made to make the
change and be put to the enormous
expenditure it would entail.
Mr.. Mcdonald pointed this out as an
illustration of the trouble the road has
encountered in RihcmOnd. All the