The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-28
TAXPAYERS TO DECIDE.
The Washington Street and Pogue's
Run improvements.
Are They Necessary ?-Expressions of Opin-
ions as to the Importance of Each-A
Plan for Raising Needed Funds.

The ordinance passed by the Common Council
on Monday night, providing for the improve
ment of Washington street by the laying of Me-
dina stone between Pennsylvania and Mississippi
streets, is matter of considerable Importance
10 the property owners along the line, and the
proposition is opposed by some about as strong
ly as it is favored by others. 1t is generally
agreed that the improvement of the street is
needed, and the Medina stone pavement ia
heartily favored by ms my of the business men.
The property owners, however, claim that the
COST of the Medina.stone improvement would be
too high
Mr.. Thomas II. Sharpe, of the banking firm of
Fletcher q Sharpe, in speaking of the matter
yesterday, said: 1.-THE Medina stone would cost
too much. 1t is principle of business with me
not to buy anything that costs more than is
necessary. The Medina stone would cost us
about 81 200 for the seventy-tive feet front that
we have. Four block pavemeRts could be built
for the amount of money which the stone would
cost, and the four would last for about
forty years. The expense would be very
much smaller for each Improvement, and
the four together would not be such heavy tax
as would the paying for the stone. There has
been great deal of bad MANAGEMENT in our
street improvements, and think that 1t has not
been unintentiOnal. The fact that the crown of
Washington street is three feet above the side
walks, and shat the pavement on the north eide
slopes so that it is very dangerous for people to
walk on it during the winter, certainly looks
very much as If it was made in
tentiopally. The street needs Improvements,
but don't think 1t needs paving with Medina
stone. 1t might be made very good street by
rolling it and bowldering II, block pave
ment would even be preferable to Medina stone.
| mn
end when tho ringsters of the Council once get
this started. don't know that there is any JOB
in the Medina stone scheme, but the ringsters
generally control all these Improvements. The
improvement of POgue's run is neeessary-the
laying of a Medina-stone pavement on Wash
ingtoD street is not Something must be done
to prevent these Overf0ws. Property is being
greatly damaged, and damage suits are likely
to accumulate, which would cost the city much
more than the improvement. The thing to be
feared, however, is that the Council ringsters
will get their fingers into the job"
MIR. James G. YOhn, who owns thirty-four feet
on Washington street, also strongly opposes the
Medina-stone improvement.
Mr.. Bryce, the councilman who introduced the
ordinance yesterday, stated to a Journal
porter that when he first proposed the improve
ment and presented the matter in Council, he
was OF Une opinion UnaJ Ghe street railway
company would be required TO pay the cost of
| eighteen feet of the street. but he has since
learned that, by the contract of 1878, they can
not be compelled to pay for street improve
ments.
WAsHINGTON-STREET SEWERS,
City Civil Engineer Sherer, when asked If 1t
would be necessary to extend the Washington
street sewer at any time in the future probably
after Medina-stone pavement had been laid
stated that the sewerage of WashIngt street
is now good, and that extension win hardly be
necessary unless required by the houses between
Ill inOs and Mississippi streets. In speaking of
the proposed improvement of Washington street,
he said, II regard the Medina-stone pavement as
The very best that can be made. 1t is an i'm
provement which would last for an age. do
not say, however, that it is necessary. It can
be improved liz other ways, but there is no pave
ment as good as the Medina stOne--it is as good
| as granite, The street ought TO he improved in
some way 1t is Disgrace TO the city. That
| crown ought to be taken off and the street
| the Medina pavement will be about Sl2 per
| linear foot
| THE IMPROVEMENT OF PoGUE's RUN.
! When asked what lie thought the cost OF i'm
proving Pogue's would he, Mr.. Sherer re-
| piled: ''1he temporary improvements will not
| cost any very enormous sum- but 1 cannot ap-
proximate the amount without making some
| calculation The bed of the run will have to be
cleaned out, the bridge distinctions will have
to be taken out, and it will have to be made
wider and deeper in some places"
! "Win this temporary improv ement be suffi-
cient to prevent overhows during heavy rain
| falls9" was asked.
at win be sufficient for the present." Mr..
| Sherer answered" but as the city grows and
greater outlet for the water drainage becomes
necessary, the general Improvement plan will
| have to be adopted. The run will have TO be
wldened, deepened, Strengthened and walled.
1t will have to be made a great sewer for the
general drainage of the city. The cost of making
this Improvement will be something near mil
| lion dollars"
ut is for this purpose that the proposed thirty
cents tax levy is to be made, is it noia"
"What amount woad be required annually for
| the wOrk?"
"AbOut 100000 conld he expended advanta-
geously annually. This amount could be raised
| by twenty levy"
THE SUM TO BE RAISED
Mayor Grubbs, when asked yesterday if
| thirtycent levy would not give larger sum OF
money than would be needed annually for the
work of improving Pn2ue's run, said: "a thirty
| cent levy, 1 suppose, would amount
| to about $4,000 per annum. The
idea of fixing the rate of assess
ment at thirty cents doubtless was to have the
amount large enough after the usual reduction
| is made by amendment. The amount is nearly
always reduced from the original rate fixed.
| When the matter crystaliZeR and the ordin ance
passes, the levy will probably be about ten cents
| of the 500 valuation, l suppose, and this will
| give about $50, 200 per annum tor the work OF
! Improvement
Granville S. Wright, the city prosecutor makes
! the suggestion that the city Obtain money
at n advantage for the Pogue's run improve
nent by selling he Belt railroad bonds They
were issued in 1878, and. will fall due in twenty
years. He thinks that they can be sold advan.
Iageonsy. and the CITY would We profit by using
instead of making the proposed tax levy.
ADDITIONAL OPINIONS.
Clemens Vonnegut said: l am in favor of
street improvement, but hardly think it worth
while to make new street unless it is kept in