The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-13
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Discussion of the Proposition to Drain the
State Ditch-0rdinance Passed.


The Board of Aldermen met last night, the
entire ten of them present The report of the
committee on contracts, recommending the i'm
provement of Fort Wayne avenue from Penn
sylvania street to New Jersey street. approved
by the Council, concurred in.
The action of the Council in other matters was
also concurred in.
The motion from the Council instructing the
street commissioner to remove the distractions
in Pogue's run at the Eagle machine works, if
not attended to by the works within sixty days,
was also concurred in.
The question of the improvement of the State
ditch, upon which the city engineers estimate is
$25, 00O came up. Alderman Prier stated that
it was badly needed in the thickly settled part
of the city affected by it-a part
of the city that paid a large amount
of taxes, and which had never
asked for anything. Alderman Bernhamer said
he would be in favor of it if it would not injure
the prospects for Improvements in the matter of
drainage badly needed on the South Side. Alder
man McHugh was opposed to the proposed work.
Alderman Pritchard stated regarding theq question
of expense, that the engineer had acknowledged
that his estimate was too large, and said that he
would favor advertising for bids for the work,
which would give basis to go upon, but which
would not ne arily bind the board to proceed
with the work.
Alderman Rorisoh said that when the June
rise came, if Pogues run overfowed its banks
and flooded adjacent cellars and came up South
Meridian street. to occasion still more damage
suits against the city, he, for one, would find it
difficult TO explain why he had voted to appr0-
pirate money that would have prevented that
damage to the draining of comparatively
open territory in the northern part of the city.
Alderman Cox was in favor Of advertising for
bids
The motion from the Council 'sThat the city
civil engineer advertise for bids to widen and
deepen the State ditch soon he shall have
completed his plans and specifications as therein
required" was then adopted.
Ordinances were passed: To build sewer in
and along Morris street, from Chestnut street to
Madison avenue to grade and pave with brick
the south sidewalk of Brookside avenue, from
Clifford avenue to Omer street; to gravel first
alley south of Brookside avenue. from Clifford
avenue to its eastern termination.
The usual appropriation ordinances were
passed.
An item of $147 in favor or Eugene Saulcy,
city assessor, for transferring real estate, came
up. Mr. Bernhamer objected to paying sal
aired city officer, whether good Republican or
treasury, and the account was referred to the
judiciary committee
report was received from the Board of Health
in reference to the wagon and harness in the pos
session of William Griffin The board thought
the property could not, under the circumstances,
be recovered The report was received The
board further reported that there were numer-
Gus complaints from city and county officers, Of
| tramps and disreputable characters frequenting
the basement hall of the court house. and asked
ha pt dant of
police to send an officer thI ough the halls every
hour to clear them out
City Clerk Brueing begged permission to say
that he was not among the city officers who had
made complaint. He thought that the frequent
ers of the halls were not tramps, but laboring
men who were out of work.
Alderman Pritchard was Of opinion that the
Board of Health was getting too nice. He had
never seen any tramps filing the halls.
Alderman Bernhamer thought the proposed
action was for the benefit of Mr.. George Griffin.
Alderman Rorison said it was new Board of
Health and for that reason did not think it right
to discourage their fervor; that this was their
first communication, and moved TO refer it to the
committee or police. Lost.
Alderman Cox moved to concur in their rec
ommendation. Lost. Ten noes-no vote in the
affirmative.
The committee on finance submitted an item
lied statement showing the amount of orders
drawn on the city treasurer during the year
1884. 1t showed the estimates for the year as
amounting to $546, 300; expenditures, 1913 $50 SO;
expenditures in excess of estimates. So, 350.83
The committee fire department, to whom
was referred the motion from the Council that
the chief fire engineer be requested to reinState
Robert Braxton and remove P. johnson, who
was appointed in his place. recommended that
the motion be adopted Alderman Bernhamer
was opposed to doing this on the pressure of
single newspaper, the evening News Nobody
else demanded it, and the chief fire engineer was
to be held individually responsible for the man
agement of his department.. The matter was
referred back to the committee.
Alderman Bernhamer introduced motion
stating that there were numerous complaints re-
garding the Citizens Street Railway Company
from residents south of Washington street, in re-
gard to the inadequate accommodations fur
| nished by that company, and asking that the
company be requested to give this board at it's
next meeting an account of the different routes.
their length, switches number of cars, etc.
Adopted
Ordinances were passed to improve the first
| alley south of st. Joseph street from Illinois
street to the first alley east to improve first al
ley north Of Third street west to first alley west;
to grade and gravel Beecher street and sidewalks
from Shelby street to the first street east
The board. on motion, adjourned TO call in a
body on Governor Gray and Lieutenant governor
Manson, and extend to them a welcome to the
city,