The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-16
WEST INDIANAPOLIS FINANCES,
Something About the Affairs of the Suburb
Scheme to Light the Town.

Mr.. John O'Day, of West Indianapolis, treas
urer and foreman Of the Nordyke 81 Marmon
machine works, has furnished Journal reporter
with some interesting facts in regard to the
financial condition of that fourishing suburb,
and enabled him to get glimpse Of the true
inwardness' of some of the propositions for the
improvement of the place which is now under
very general and earnest discussion. The town
board is not allowed to levy taxes on any but real
property. This makes an apparently high rate
of taxation to an actually low payment But
one notably good result shows out of it. There
are very nearly no delinquencies Out of
81, 285 assessed for the past year there was a
total of $35 of deinquencies. The total of
taxable real estate is 1854, 900. The levy for
general purposes is Is cents on 800; for roads,
cents; for schools, Is cents. The whole
rate for State. county and town pur-
poses is but $144 on 500. The limit
of the levy for general purposes is so cents, SO
that at present the rate is 35 cents within the
limit The revenue the past year was ST. ,285;
the yield of the road tax $3.50 and the town sa-
loon tax 1926 or total of So, 160. The total of
expenses the last year was $3.50. This covers
everything chargeable against the general fund
The expenses this year will probably reach
81, 100. surplus of $1,000 is expected
from this source. Altogether the town
treasury has an accumulation already
Of 4,476.57, of which So, 1878 belorte
to the road fund. There being no use at present
for this find, it is all accumulation. and levy of
% cents made at the first organization of the
town government, under an apprehension OF a
big outlay for road and street work, will explain
the unusual magnitude of this find. 1t will thus
be seen that the town government is financially
as sound the national government, and, pro
portionally, has as large surplus The wiser
heads propose to utilize this idle amount, instead
of leaving it to rust in roasted sloth"
The demands upon the road tax are SO light
that it may be made a nominal levy, and most,
or ALL Of it be applied to general purposes AS
loan, to be repaid with proper interest when
needed. In addition to this is the annual sur
plus of the general levy, with a margin of over
two-thirds of the whole limit Of the general
levy to run to, or 30 cents of a limit of 50.
These resources it is proposed to apply to
lighting the town with eighteen Jenney lights
of 1000 to 3, 900 candle power each, including
the four already in use at the intersection of
Morris street and Kentucky avenue extension.
The Jenney Company will furnish the lights for
So, 800 year. Thee town will have $1,000 of
surplus general revenue with the accumulated
road tax, for which there is present use,
and the ayails of further general levy
anywhere within the remaining 80 cents of the
limit. A rate OF ~ cents additional,
or 35 altogether, would cover the outlay, and the
road tax could be merely nominal-l cent or the
half of it. This levy could not be made till next
May. collected till the April following, 1887,
so it wouldn't hurt much for nearly two years,
and the surplus of the road fund could supply
the greater part of the means for that time.
Thus stands the question of resources, as
shown by Mr.. O'Days books, and of their appli-
cation as appears in the proposition for lighting
the town. In addition, the Light Company pro
poses to establish factory il the town that will
employ 200 to 300 men in making electric light
apparatuses If this is not done the COM
ment of the light light, ' or s. 800 ~ T2e
town is to use the light one year, with the
privilege of renewal for two more. The advo-
Gates of the project say that there is prospect
of other industrial establishments locating in
the town if suitable light can be had All the
large tax payers are for the proposition,
the Nordyke & Marmon company, the
Belt road and Stock yards company, the
car works, the Standard ol-stove factory,
the Roofing Tile Works. The abattoir the Vim
cennes railroad, the Street railroad, the two ele
vators-these will pay more than half of the whole
expense of the lighting system. The matter was
under discussion on Monday night, by the board,
at the school house. before the largest crowd
that has yet been collected in the town.
The division of opinion followed the line
of the Belmont bluff closely. The residents on
the "upland"-the old "Belmont"-were gen
orally opposed. and were represented by Trustee
Charles Reisner The residents in the new
quarter east of the Vncennes road, were mainly
for the proposition, and were represented by
Trustee Baker. The chairman, Conover, was
not determined, but seemed inclined to 20 for
the lighting scheme The subject was laid over
till next meeting