Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-07
NEW BELTLINE
PROPOSED FOR
INDIANAPOLIS
Movement Under Way to Build
System Which Will Develop
Rural Districts.
KINNEY BACKS PROJECT

Indianapolis has today another belt
, line Of transportation-on paper--a pre-
llminary plan for the expansion of the
city's industrial domains.
This fact was admitted by II. E.
Kinney Of the H. f. Kinney Grain Com
pany one of the leaders in the dreams
for a Greater Indianapolis
The proposed second belt line has been
carefully surveyed by John Shaffer, an In
dianapolis engineer, who supervised the
construction of several of the Hoosier
interurban lines and other extensive rail
road building.
1.-THE outer belt line will extend from
near Ben Davis, swing southwark just
north to Southport. east Of Irvington,
and loop up north of Broad Ripple, map
ping out for indianapolis a gigantic
manufacturing field holding out an
expansion schedule that is wonder
fully aluring," declared Mr.. Kinney.
OTHERS INTERESTED
IN Project.
About twenty local business men and
fnanciers have been consulted in the new
transportation line project, Mr.. Kinney
explained. Eastern capitalists have been
consulted and their representatives have
visited indianapolis. Final details OF
financing the plan is under way, he says.
That manufacturing indianapolis needs
widening out is evident, Mr. Kinney
pointed out, in the prices demanded for
suitable industrial sites, as we'll as the
growth of the city's residential sections.
The new transportation line will be 4
combined electric and steam road ar
rangement, it is said, enabling the out
lying residence districts to become acces-
sible to each other without congesting
the downtown sections.
n Haekaf% ~
association, and also head of the o. D.
Haskell Lumber Company, also admitted
that he had been consulted on the project
and was heartily in favor of the prelimi-
nary plans.
!. SEES INDIANAPOLIS
GROWING UNDER PLAN.
1T will enable the outlying districts
like Mars Hill to grow. and that means
q Greater Indianapolis" Mr.. Haskell
said.
The promoters Of the second belt line
are said to be planning to secure the CO.
operation of the city in an effort to put
the scheme over.
ITS a plan that is worthy of the IN
qualified Endorsement of the people" said
Mr.. Haskell and Mr.. Kinney, "and we
feel that when the people realize the ad-
vantages Of the plans they will support
the plan in every way"
The outlying belt line will probably
he constructed about eight miles from
the Circle, extending the manufacturing
and industrial sites over an area mora
than twenty-four miles in circumference.
No data has been made public concern
ing the extent Of the financial involve
ment, Mr.. Kinney said, but it has been
estimated that the project VIII cost sew
eral millions of dollars to put it over"
In connection with the present eTpan-
sion program Of southwest Indianapolis
1t is known that a large manufacturing
concern has acquired eighty acres Of
ground near Mars Hill on which to CON
struct a big manufacturing plant
WILL PROVIDE
SHIPPING FACILITIES.
This project together with other ne
cotiations under way for the develop
ment of territory outside the present
belt railroad will necessitate improve
Inent in switching and shipping facili-
ties, and will be added reasons why the
new transportation program Of Indian
apolis should be built promptly.
officials Of the new Lafayette Motors
Company, located at the old Stereotype
plant, Mars Hill, emphasized the need
Of improving the present interurban and
street car service to that plant in order
to enable the company employees to get
to work on time.
D. Mccall White, one Of the heads of
ne Lafayette Motors Company, insisted
that Indianapolis must not slumber in
bringing about necessary improvements
in transportation problems.
NO TINE FOR
HOT AIR, HE SAYS.
Talk has been widespread" said Mr..
White today, land 1t is time that action
was crystahzed out of the hot air. We've
got to get better cooperation from the
street car companies in order to get I'M
der way here at our plant. Well begin
to produce within q few weeks and we
must be able to get our workmen, our
women clerks and officials out here with
out so much handicapped traffic prob
lens. We've got to secure from the
board Of works and the street car com
panies special traffic arrangements in
order to handle probably thousands OF
employees.
"And as far as the new proposed belt
plans are concerned" he continued, "I
am glad to hear Of It. I have not been
consulted yet in the matter in any way
but anything that will enable Indian,
apohs to develop is the thing to take up
I've got faith in the possibilities Of this
city, and If we can have an awakening
we will be able to put over the Cham bet
of Commerce program of industrial
growth. Yet 1t will never be done IL
selfish real estate interests and narrow.
minded traffic officials can not see far
Their than the end Of their noses. I'm
not a knocker, that is, a pessimistio
knocker, but we must do some knocking
while the iron is hot and shape ont
d substantial improvement in order to
bring order out of a temporary chaos.
I'm for big expansion program IN
our present transportation facilities"