Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-20
CAR SHORTAGE
BLAMED FOR
TRAFFIC CRISIS
officials Declare More Reve-
nues Needed, but Summer
Carriers to Aid.
MEETING AT CITY HALL

The key to the Indianapolis street
car question is more cars, according to
George I.emaux, president of the board
of works.
This opinion was expressed at a meet
ing held late Thursday in the city hall
TO discuss the street car situation. Mem
bers of the board of works, Mayor
Charles c. Jewett and City Attorney
Samuel Ashby represented the city at
the discussion and DR.. Henry Jameson,
Charles Becker and Henry c. Thompson,
members of the board of directors of
the street railway company, were also in
attendance.
Many suggestions and plans were Of
fered to relieve the traffic condition here
but it was decided that further meet
ings will be necessary before active steps
are taken.
TRAFFIC RELIEF
DECLARED URGENT.
1.-THE most essential problem at the
present time is to relieve traffic and get
workingmen TO industries faster" sai1
George Lemaux, president of the board
Of works. "What we need most is more
cars. rather than extensions, turnouts
and cross town lines"
ing. but officials of the car company
maintained that it was difficult to get
ears and said that every effort was he
ing made on their part to relieve the
shortage. Thirty-fve new street cars
have been due to arrive here for six
months. but have been delayed.
Practically every plan suggested yes
terday was met with a statement by
street railway officials to the effect that
the company has not sufficient capital
with which to improve service and there
was a persistent suggestion for city Of
lciaIs to approve a plan by which the
company's revenue may be increased. Rep
resentatIves of the company informed
the board that II per cent Of the gross
receipts for last year had been spent in
complying with orders of the public serv-
ice commission issued last June. This
amounted to more than SS00,00O it was
said, the sum being spent for general i'm
provement and maintenance, none of 1t
being included in the capital account
This expenditure will be shown by the
yearly report of the street railway com
pany. which is now under preparation.
It was said.
QUESTION OF SPECIAL
ENGINEER CONSIDERED.
The suggestion LQaE special eH-i-
ueer be employed to take charge of the
street car system here was brought up
at the meeting and it was decided that
the city could not hire such a man with
the agreement that his salary be paid
jointly by the city and the company.
City Attorney Ashby said that 1t was
Illegal for a person to work for the city
and a corporation at the same time. IL
was said following the meeting that Of
ficials of the company were willing to
cooperate with the city IN an effort to
straighten out the difficulty. DR.. Henry
Jameson informed members Of the board
that the situation was critical. due to
the shortage Of cars and the heavy traffic.
He expressed an opinion that car service
will greatly improve when summer cars
are in operation.
The question of changed routes and
extensions was before the meeting and
Twas decided to have the city engi-
neer prepare plans for changes in the
lines. The meeting adjourned until
called again by the mayor or president
of the board of works.
Nineteen street cars were out Of com
mission in one day last week on ac-
count of burned out motors. according to
DIR. jameson. 1t was also said that in
fuenza and other illness has caused
shortage Of men with which TO operate
cars.