The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-30
LETTERS. TO THE EDITOR.
What to Do with Porue,s Run.

There has been so much said and written
on the subject of the foods in Pogues run
that we all ought to be pretty we'll informed
by this time yet will venture to add a few
words by way of review of what has been
said, and to reaffirm my own convictions,
long since formed.
MIR, Sherer, our present efficient city en-
gneer, has repeated his opinion that much
may be done by widening and deepening the
present channel, enlarging culverts, raising
bridges, etc. Gen, T. A. Morris Endorses
this, and reafirms his practical knowledge of
the impracticability of carrying any
portion of the Pogue's ran
watershed into Fall creek. Now,
let us take sensible and practical views
of the whole question, in the light of all
these observations and experience. The older
citizens will remember, in the primitive days
OF the city, that the valley of Pogue's run
was low and marshy, covered over with a
thick growth of timber some standing and
much fallen, through which the creek made
its way in many meanderings. At every
freshet this whole expanse was covered with
water. As clearings were made, streets
opened, new channels made by cut-offs, and
ponds filled, the channel was finally con-
fined to substantially where it is to-
day. The railroads coming in,
one after another, found this valley
affording the most feasible locality to get in
and through the city. By these other inn
provements were invited in this direction,
and the land gradually was reclaimed and
appreciated in value for commercial. manu-
featuring and railroad uses until the very
bed of the creek became valuable in 1867.
The Junction Railroad Company paid the
late Captain Wiley $50 per front foot for the
creek fronting on Virginia avenue, since
covered over at large expense, and not only
used as delivery yard at the freight-house,
but used as a common highway from Vir-
ginia avenue to New Jersey street. The
city, in opening and extending it's streets
across the creek, adopted such plans
and waterway for bridges and stone
culverts as the engineering skill
deemed sufficient to pass the water under all
the various lines of railroad took the city
bridges and culverts as a guide for their
structures. But under extraordinary rain
falls they have proven insufficient, And
why? Simply because, as of old, the water
has sought its old haunts and has covered the
entire original basin; so that it was of no
consequence whether there was bridge over
the creek, as the low grounds were all COW
cred
This valley of Pogues run is the natural
drain for a large surface, and should have
been so recognized, and utilized in
the sewerage system of the city.
The writer recognized this a number of years
ago, and in making the walls on either side
of the bank between Virginia avenue and
New Jersey street the foundations were put
eight feet below the bed of the stream antici-
pating its being lowered, by some authority
|, in company with the then
city engineer, prospected this valley
from the mouth of the creek up as tar
as New York street, and made tracing with
amount of fall in that distance. believed
then, and do yet, that the true policy for the
city and property owners will be to construct
a sewer OF sufficient capacity, to be ascer-
tanned by competent hydraulic engineers,
com mencing at the river above the Belt rail
road bridge, where the flow from the sewer
would be in straight line with the channel
of the river, and following up as nearly as
possible the present bed of the creek, to
about the point indicated, say at New York
or Michigan street. By this and the aid of
the present Washington-street sewer (if its
mouth can be kept clear we will have a
complete base for the final sewerage of the
entire city Then, as has already been we'll
said by others, there would be no creek in
the way; the many costly structures across
the stream, with their constant expense of
repairs would be done away with,
and all the waste or useless land owned by
private parties, utilized and made valuable.
The expense will be a large one, but will
sink into small proportions when we take
into account the losses and inconvenience
by repeated overfows and the many ex-
penses that could be named incident to pres
ent conditions, and the enhanced value to
all property to be benefited by such i'm
provement.
The city and owners of property to be di-
rectly and indirectly benefited, should de-
wise some comprehensive system, not as a
present expedient, but as a permanent i'm
provement for the future, and proceed with
the work in such way that it may be COM
pleted in series of years without any ap-
parent burden to any interest. Adopt the
proper plans, be sure we are right, then go
ahead. j. Mr.