The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-07-25
OFFICIALS REACH
NO DECISION UPON
TRAFFIC QUESTION
~
indianapolis "Move-on" Or
dinance May Be Adopted
in This City.
-JEFFRIES AT SESSION
President of Traction Com
pany to Take Up Free
Ride Matter.
-JEFFRIES AT SESSION

Much discussion and argument were
features of the meeting held in the
board of works room at the city hall
Thursday night by a committee of
council, City Attorney Bond and rep
resentative merchants for the purpose
of deciding upon some way to elimi-
nate congestion of traffic at the corner
of Eighth and Main streets. Though
many suggestions were made, none
seem practicable.
President Jeffres, of the T. H., l. &
E. Traction company, and Superintend-
ent A. Gordon, of the street railway,
were present. They had been called
because il was believed the schedule
of interurban cars and city cars was
partly responsible for the congestion.
To Change Schedule.
President Jeffries said the schedule
of the interurbans would be changed
so that the cars leaving on the even
hour would be held at the station until
the Eighth street car had passed. No
other change, he said, would be neces-
sary, because the public would de-
mand the cars and greater congestion
would be caused if the schedule were
altered. A change of from Is to
minute service was suggested, but
dropped when the president reasoned
that the operating maintenance ex-
penses of the city cars had been sew
eral thousand dollars more than the
gross earnings and a change would
mean a greater loss to the company.
Police Chief Gormon talked for some
time and advocated that in view of
the fact that Traffic Officer Staubach
turned the switch often for motormen,
another man should be employed and
paid by the interurban company. This
mans duty would be to throw the
switch and, taking the regular reports
from the employees on the cars, drop
them into the box. Too much expense,
President Jeffries said, would be at
tached to this plan.
Wants More Power.
Chief Gormon insisted that the con-
gestion of traffic at the corner Of
Eighth and Main, could not be relieved
unless more powe" was given the Off
Ger on duty there. Under present con-
ditions, he said, help was given Patrol
man Staubach on Saturday night,
when the traffic was the worse. pleas
ure riders" he said, lis a great cause
of the congestion"
George H. Knollenberg was present
and suggested that the city buy and
install cluster lights on Eighth street
and other side streets, expressing his
belief that the people would then walk
on other thoroughfares besides Main
street. The suggestion was not given
much consideration in view of the ex-
lpense.
A move-on ordinance was thought
practicable and the difference between
indianapolis and Richmond traffic Or
dinances was shown. The move-on Or
dinance prohibits a vehicle or automo-
bile from standing for an unlimited
time in front of a store or place of
business. The length of time that
should be permitted was the obstacle
which prevented this method of elm
immediate approval
- Only Reasonable Plan.
However, this seems the most rea-
sonable suggestion which had been ad-
sNanced during the evening. Prior to
the suggestion of move-on ordinance,
PROPOSALS were made that an ordi-
nance be prepared which prohibited
drivers from allowing their rigs and
machines to stand at any place within
fifty feet of the corner
City Attorney Bond asked the men
present to suggest reasonable time
to permit man to leave his horse, We
hicle or auto standing in front of one
of the stores near Eighth and Main
streets in the ''move-on" ordinance. No
one answered his question.
AS none of the suggestions with the
exception of the ''move-on" ordinance,
which had been made during the even
ing. had seemed to strike vital spot
In the question of how to relieve the
congestion of that corner, Attorney
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