The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-24
CITY ENGINEER
OPPOSES RAIL
RENTAL Offer
Steeg Suggests 1924 a Mile
Yearly After Making
Study.
HEARING IS CONTINUED
Works Board Members to
Take Up Question Next
Friday.

Henry B. Steeg, city engineer, to-
lay joined Indianapolis Federation
jf Civic Club representatives and
unorganized property owners in
protesting the rental rate proposed
by indianapolis Railways, Inc, for
use of city streets over which it
operates trackless trolleys.
The hearing on the proposed 20
year franchise was continued by
the Works Board until next Friday
morning at 10. Robert Eby, board
vice president, said city officials
planned. to study the question
further.
The railway company has offered
to pay the city $275 mile year
for use of the streets under a grad
uated scale which provides for pay
ment of $l37 a mile a year for the
first year, increasing to $3.50 mile a
year for the seventh year. Beginning
with the eighth year, according to
the proposed contract, the company
would pay $275 a mile a year until
the franchise ends.
Under present company plans the
lines are to total 49.3 miles by the
end of 1886. On this basis the CITY
would receive approximately S125OO
year
S324.76 Rate Suggested
After making an exhaustive
study OF the utility's proposal, I
have calculated that a fair rate
would be $32476 per mile per year
for street rental" Mr.. Steeg said.
The railway company's expan-
sion program calls for the use of
1877 trackless trolley cars, with is
additional units held in reserve for
emergencies. In addition, the COM
pany is to use 100 cars on rail lines"
He said the department made the
estimate after considering the cost
Of resurfacing streets based on
width, the anticipated life of pave
mentS, the cost of street mainten-
ance in this city during the last
six years, weights of various types
Of vehicles using streets, and the
size of tires and weight distribution
Of trackless trolleys.
Survey Is Made
The department, Mr.. Steeg said,
made a traffic survey on streets
used by trackless trolleys, based in
part on an old CWA check. This
survey revealed that 1873 per cent
OF the traffic was trackless trolleys.
Mr.. Steeg figures the life of city
streets at % years and said MAIN
tenance costs amount to $182.87
cents mile year.
John F. White, civic clubs repre-
sentative, continued to declare that
the utility's proposal was too low,
and added that he thought $500
charge per mile would be the prop
er rate.
Our $275 a mile offer is the
highest we can make under our
present financial conditions" Ar
thur L. Gilliom, Indianapolis Rail-
ways attorney, said.
Asks Credit on New Plan
He asked that the $1,000 which
the utility ewes the city under
terms of the old temporary permits
be credited as a payment on the
new contract. Mr.. Eby said he is
opposed to this.
In his report, Mr.. Steeg said he
had no objections to the establish
ment of trackless trolleys on the
Central-av line if a suitable method
for making the loop at the north
ern terminus can be worked out.
Street cars now are operated on
this line. but company officials want
to change. He and Mr.. White OPP
posed the proposed combination of
the Lincoln-st and Minnesota st
lines.