Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-03

keenly the competition of the inter-
urban. paid little attention to the
interurban when it began operations.
Mr.. Henry found it somewhat
difficult, however, to obtain coopera
ton when he wanted 1t, the steam
roads declining to set cars with rails
or poles for him and also refusing
70 hermit him to cross its tracks.
There was no right Of eminent do
main for him to take advantage of.
BEING lawyer, he knew that it was
entirely legal for him to cross the
tracks when he was building upon a
public highway and he, therefore, ar.
ranged the route for his road so as
20 have it on public highway at
every point where he wanted to cross
The railroad tracks. There was no law
in Indiana at the time specifically
giving anyone permission to build a
Tnral line. but Mr.. Henry discovered
that the State law did permit city
lines to extend their service into the
country upon gaining the permission
Of the county commissioners, and 1t
was on this legal ground that he built
This first line and afterwards built
hundred miles more of interurban
road. TODAY. however, he says
laughingly that he would not again
ATTEMPT such a task surrounded by
all the difficulties which had to be
encountered end without the right OF
eminent domain.
Phillip Matter, of Marion, Indiana,
lent Mr. Henry the first 100000
with which to build this interurban,
This was all the money that was
borrowed for that purpose, but soon
after Mr.. George F. Mccullough, Of
Nfuncie. Indiana, Mr.. H. J. MCGOWAN.
of Indianapolis, and Mr.. Randall
Morgan, Of Philadelphia, were inter-
cstel by Mr.. Henry in the organlza-
ion Of the Union Traction Company
If Indiana and this group developed
the present property of that name,
;rcluding the line from Anderson to
Alexandria. Gradually this line was
EXTENDED from Alexandria to Elwood
and Marion, and afterwards the line
from Munice via Anderson to India
napolis was constructed. That corn"
oany now controls AS miles of in
llama end int the entire State of In.
diana there are about 1000 miles OF
line.
Prior to building the line from An
derson to Alexandria, Mr.. Henry was
practicing attorney in Anderson,
Indiana, for about 25 years. He also
was active in real estate and business
circles in the old "Gas Belt" of
Northern Indiana, and became inter-
estcd in local transportation in 1891,
when he bought the old mule line. OF
about five miles in length in Ander-
son for the purpose of extending 1t
for factory developments. Later ne
| electrified this line and eventually 1t
became part of the first interurban
! road. The interurban development. OF
the country might have come quicker
hid not Mr.. Henry become interested
| in politics in 1892 He then ran for
| Congress but was defeated. He ran
again in 1894 and served two terms,
being an active member of what is
nov the "Fcrcign Affairs Committee
of the House" This committee had
n,uch to do with laying the plans for
the Spanish American War and dur
! ing the pre-war period Mr. Henry
frequently was in conference with
President Mckinley.
Mr.. Henry now is President and
/ General Manager Of tho Indianapolis
and Cincinnati Traction Company
This company is arranging to COM
plcta It's road to Cincinnati, the down