1912 - Fort Wayne Citizens Find Project of Uniting Three Sections of City By Street Openings Subways

SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE 2, 1912, THE FORT WAYNE -GAZETTE 15. Fort Wayne Citizens Find Project of Uniting Three Sections of City By Street Openings and Subways Momentous Ninth. Ward Residents Started Movement for the Opening of a Through Street Seven Years Ago and Have Not Ceased Working -The Height of N. Y. C. and St. L. Railroad Tracks Invites the Construction of Subways- A Plan for Connecting the Three Distinct Sections of Fort Wayne. (R. Earl, Peters.) Recognized as the neucleus of Indiana'8. industrial .activity, famed throughout the .49 8 city that has applied the principle of progresston rather than preach it, Fort Wayne has yet many questions of public concern that must .be grappled with before the ideal of her citisenship has been attained. Decades have passed into oblivion since the city of Fort Wayne first occupied in the country's spotlight a prominent place as A business center, 'and during these years her corporate limits have been extended over such a vast acreAge that almost before the publio catches its breath for another. stride forward It is realized that the city, divided and subdivided as it la, north and south of the river and 'the Penneylvania tracka, 18 in fact, a city of three cities. It will therefore be realized by those of Fort Wayne's citizens who grasp the gravity bf the situation that important among the problems that confront Fort Wayne to-day, is that of providing direct access from one part of the city to the other--the opening of streets and erection of bridges across the St. Mary's river into Bloomingdale, and the construction of sub-ways under the Pennsylvania, Wabash; and, .if necessary, the Lake Shore railroad tracks. When it is considered that but one thoroughfare (Walton avenue), runs from the northern to the southern limite of the city, and, that this street lies on the extreme east side, the isolation of the mouth side from the - central portion. and the central from the north side la realized. Yet very easily the north. and south aides might' be connected with through streets---and particularly, if track elevation and other 'contemplated 1m- provements were made to work hand In hand. This fact was clear to the members of the North Side Civic Improvement association as evidenced by the resolution, passed by that organication last winter in favor of elevating the tracks in the southeastern part of the city. In this era of street- endeavor many plans have been gested for the , connection of the | north south sides by through streets and for what it may be considered worth the following suggestions are submitted: Barthold Street. North side residents and many who live. .in other wards' have manifested deep concern In regard to the proposed opening of . Barthold street ACrOSS the river. Starting at the corner of Pfeiffer avenue and Meridian street, -thence south to the end of Meridian, it is found that by, extending Meridian street one one-half blocks, It. connects with Barthold street; thence south on Barthold street to the river: here it 18 Buggested. that the river should be straightened. Barthold extended to the new channel, a new bridge built and Van Buren street turned slightly to east to connect Barthold street at the bridge: thence south on Barthold to the N. Y. C. &amp; St. L. railroad tracks. At this juncture it is found that the tracks are ten feet above the level Superior street, Inviting track elevation, at Van little Buren expense; street to thence ital southern extremity at Lavina street where it la found that by extending Van Buren street about 160 feet, Barthold and Broadway can be connected. at the beginning of the slope to the subway. This little extension would be equal In the advantages ,it would afford. traffic, by elevating Broadway on which there are double tracks, to' another subway. ContinuIng south Broadway to Jackson street it is found that only one hduse and 8 strip land 150 feet in breadth stands in the way of connecting Broadway and Beaver avenue, which runs straight south to the City limits. avenue and Wells street, thence south Starting sty the corner of Pfeiffer to the Wells street bridge it is found that "by swinging the proposed new Wells street bridge, slightly to the west, a connection is afforded with Webster street. Continuing south on Webster street to C. &amp; St. L. railroad tracks we find the tracks ten feet above Superior street, again offering opportunity for track elevation. Continuing farther south Webster street past the traction. company's new station to the proposed subway the Pennsylvania and Wabash tracks' to Pontiac street It is found that for a distance of two blocks. Webster street is cut in two, then it extends on to the city limits. Harrison Street. Starting at the corner of Sixth and Harrison streets. thence south on Harrison to the Lake Shore &amp; MichIgan Southern right- of -way it is found that just where It is now needed there was at one time a street crossing, these tracks called St. Mary's, which has since been vacated: thence across the tracks to the river where the proposed new bridge connects with Harrison street on the south side of the river; thence south on Harrison street to the proposed new depot and subway at the Pennsylvania and Wabash tracks; thence south to the city limits. One advantage Harrison street would have as a through traffic street Is that no city cars are operated upon it. Clinton Street. Starting at the northern limits on Clinton street, thence south to the N. St. L. railroad, where there 19 again a ten foot rise to the tracks, Inviting inexpensive track elevation; thence south to the Pennsylvania tracks where A subway is necessary before a connection can be made with Clinton street on the south side of CICH AVENUE BARTHOLD LAKE. SNORE CITY PARK ARo PLY GROUND PROPOSED RIVER STREET A SUPERIOR COLUMEM ON NICKEL STREET NICKEL PATE PEARL MAIN THE MEN WHO SAW POSSIBILITIES IN CONNECTING STREETS A. K. Barthold FAHLSING, Chairman Committee. JOHN W. SCHAEFER, •Member Barthold Street Committee. the tracks which then runs south to Pontiac street; by making two short turns Jane street is reached which might easily be connected with Piqua avenue which leads to the southern limits of the. city. Starting at the northern city limits on Spy Run avenue going thence south to the river It is found that by swinging the bridge to the east Spy Run avenue could be connected with Lafayette street; thence south on Lafayette street to the N. C. &amp; St. L. railroad. There It 18 found that while railroad company is occupying this, part of Lafayette street, as a matter of fact it is dedicated across the way. This la exceedingly fortunate for city, particularly in view of the fact that again is found an invitation for inexpensive track elevation on account of an up-hill grade on Lafayette street to and Wells atreet the only entrance. HENLINE. Member Barthold Street Committee. HERMAN WITTIE, Member Barthold Street Committee. the tracks, of ten feet; thence south on Lafayette street to the city limits. and beyond, the only obstruction being grade crossing of the Pennsylvania -and Wabash railroad companies. The Coombs street bridge will connect the middle east end with Lakeside. Walton Avenue. Walton avenue is the only: street connecting the northern with the southern limits of the city, obstructed grade crossings. It is argued that in the event the above improvements are made in fu-ture years the arrangement will be significant from a business standpoint to north side merchanta; will provide desirable _entrance to Bloomingdale and be of vast benefit to the city as a whole. NICHOLAS KELTSH, Member Barthold Street Committee. JOHN WEFEL, Member Barthold Street Committee, North Siders Get Busy, Although their only means of entrance to the city proper bas been and is now by way of Wells street, residents of Bloomingdale did not become active- looking to the opening of streets across the St. Mary's river until seven years ago. At that time A. K. Fahlsing, Nicholas Keltsh, Frank Henline, William Shaffer and Louis Jautz Inaugurated 8. movement by the enlistment of public sentiment, for bridge across the St. Mary's. river at Barthold street, to be extended across the city property to Broadway and Van Buren street so as to give Bloomingdale a north and south thoroughfare and thus save the residents of that locality a walk of nearly one mile in going to the middie west section of Fort Wayne. The first act of the above named. men was to arrange a meeting to be Drawing showing the course of the St. Buren streets JAUTZ. Member of Barthold Street Committee. HENRY FRANKE, Member Barthold Street Committee. held 1n the Precious Blood Catholic church hall, which was largely attended. The project obtafhing a bridge at Barthold street met with the approval of those assembled and a committee Instructed to Investigate the matter was appointed 88 follows; H. - Keltsb, A. K. Fahlsing, Henry Franke, Jr; Louis Jautz, Samuel Henline, Herman Wittie and John Shaffer. After due consideration the committee prepared a petition and obtained 700 signatures after arduous labors. The committee then went before the board of public works and exacted from that body 8 promise that in the event the county commissioners would construct the proposed bridge they would open the street as prayed for. In 1904, Ninth ward citizens held a mass meting and formed an organiza- Mary's river after it is straightened, as connected to make through north and Lion for the purpose of Insisting. upon the materialization of the Barthold street bridge project. Subsequent meetings were held and lettera from of the church organizations in the ward, indorsing the movement, wore read. to the body, The: Retail Merchants' association voiced "Its approval and with all of these encouragementa the society prepared for busy and guitful career. In order, to determine how many people walked over the proposed route the committee took a count one day with the result that they found 945 persons walked through river bottome aside from 49 vehicles that went ante same Was laboring also route. men learned and a that fifty at school least children pass at this point two or three times each day . during dry weather. With these facts at hand the committee held a meeting July' 31, 1911, at which It was decided to call meeting of the citizens -of the ward on Aug. 8. The meeting was largely attended and the Barthold street Improvement. was. exhaustively. discussed. Present at the were Charles R. Lane, H. Worden, R. B. Hanna and other we men 'of the city. The visitors delivered addresses in which they urged 8 number of Improvementa including approaches to the Ninth ward. Upon the motion of A. K. Fahising those present organized what 18 nO™V known 88 the North Side Civic Improvement •association, organisation that has accomplished much. At the next meeting of the association 8 resolution WAS presented by Mr. Fahlsing asking for the opening of the street and the following committee appointed: A. Fahlsing, chairman: Nicholas Keltsh, Henry Franke, jr.: Louis Jautz, Samuel Henline, John Wefel, John Shaffer, James Irwin and Herman Witte. Since that time the committee has labored Industriously for the success of the Improvement, although strong opposition 'has been manifest at times. As a consequence board •of public works has opened the street. All that now refrains to be done to have accomplished the ends of the commit+ tee, is the straightening of the river. What it Will Mean. Bloomingdale people who are clamoring for the -Improvement, say that it will mean to the citizens' of Fort Wayne: A north and south street- through the city from the Goshen to. the Bluffton road; that thousands of people will be able to KO north and south through the middle west of Fort Wayne without being compelled to walk a mile out of their way; that delivery service for the retail merchants and the farmers will have a street to travel on without coming Into contact with street cars: that fire protection for not only BloomIngdale, but property owners on Broadway, Superlor and West Main streets and Nebraska will be infinitely better; that It will eliminate water from the -lands and connect al of the city property into one strip, thereby making it a park of thrty acres; that it will mean the dre‹ring of the river and accordingly dupense that has ed the with the stench anne and will provide a desirpublic, able site for 8 playground for children. .Appeal to All CiaZens. committee of Me North Side The Civic Improvement asociation is apnealing to all of the citizens of Fort Wayne in their movement to ward; provide better access to Me they are asking for advice from any one desires address elther the who committee the association. They claim that dot until the Improvement is -made they cease activity. Drawing showing the bend In the St. Mary's river at Barthold 'street Bloomingdale, into prpoosed and showing Barthold, and Van south thoroughfare.

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

1912 - Fort Wayne Citizens Find Project of Uniting Three Sections of City By Street Openings Subways

1912 - Fort Wayne Citizens Find Project of Uniting Three Sections of City By Street Openings Subways

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette