The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-13
IMPROVING GARFIELD PARK
Another Enthusiastic Meeting in the
Interest of an Appropriation.
Mayor Denny and Several counciImen Favor
the Movement-g'ha Matter to Come Be-
fore the Council Next Monday Night.


Thsre WAS another enthusiastic meeting of
citizens at the Virgnie-avenue engine house last
night for the purpose of aeifating the immediate
improvement of Garfield Park Tha meeting
was held under the auspices OF the executive
committee of nine appointed 81 the meeting held
week ago but all citizens with the city officers,
were iavited. A. W. Wishard. chairmau of the
executive committee, said that he aud others OF
the committee had seen quite number OF
councilmen and she indications were thatssome
definite action would be taken sc the meeting OF
the Council on Monday night.
General Coburn, for the bene fit of the city Of
ncers. said that it was imperative something
should be dons Immediately toward the improv-
ing of the park. He had visited the grounds
since the last meeting. and found them in very
dilapidatsd condition. The fences were down,
the buildings were in half ruined condition and
the old seats were falling into ruin. Boys had
been tapping the sugar trees, and many or the
finest in the grove were so badly injured that
they would die. II was simply question of
whether or not the city shonld take an advance
step In reference to Arbor day designated
by the Mayor he hoped it would be observed,
but 1t could not be, SO far as Garfield Park was
concerned There we're fifty or sixty COWS ana
sheep running at large 10 the park, and to plant
trees for them TO destroy would be throwing
moneY away. But the day could be observed by
citizens planting trees In Military Park. he
hoped the work. when once begun. would never
end If the custom was regularly observed, In
few years Indianapolis would have the nnest
parks In the West. ii not in the world.
Mayor Denny ssid 1t had become chestnut
for Leonncilmen TO cay. we wou'a nke TO I'M u,
his message 70 the new Council he stated that
when the bonds given sixteen years ago Tor the
purchase of the park GROUNDS were psl Ha o sne
grounds alone would have cost the city $40, OOO
TT intrinsic value of the ground couid perhaps
not be estimated. but if put on the market It
certainly would not bring over SIS, 00O lt was
had cost the city; the Question was. whag
should be done with It. There was no question
but what it could be made beautiful park;
There was enough ground-between eighty and
one hundred acres-and the city would have TO
pay fordt The best thing TO do was to make
appropriation, bat he did not think the city
could spare $4,000 at this time.
cut could be made in the expenses
of some of the departments, and an
not more than So. 900. he thought, could be ex-
pended advantageousy this year. It was mis-
taken idea that there disposition on tho
part of any of the members of the Council from
the northern part of the city to obstruct any
movement looking to the benefit OF the people OF
the South Side. While the CITY was perhaps
not financially able TO spend any great amount of
money start should be made now, and he had
hopes that the next General Assembly Of the
State would give the city some relief He be-
lieved additional tax could be secured without
requiring the real estate owners to pay it, and
be thought some such bill would pass the Legis-
lature In reference to Arbor day. he hoped
entirely. He felt at the time of issuing his
proclamation that perhaps it would not be wise
TO plant any trees In Garfield Park this year. but
could be planted n Military Park. Ar
rangements had been made to have trees on sale
in rear of DIR. Perry's drug store on the corner
of Washington and Alabama streets. and citi-
zans who felt inclined TO do something toward
identifying Military Park would observe the
day. Returning TO the proposed Improvement
Of Garfield Park, he said it would be advisable
to convert about ten acres of the low ground in
10 a lake. by building dam across Pleasant
run. It woud cost much less to m AXE a lake on
the ground than to improve 1T. and nothing
would add more to the beauty of the park than
a sheet of water.
VIM. H. Tucker thought the people of the
South Side were not alone interested in the i'm
proyement of the park. 1t was matter in
which the whole city should take part. Council
aud Board of Aldermen, he believed, would APP
propriate the money. because the people
wanted it done They had obeyed the peoples
request on the strset-car and gas questions, and
they would do SO in this matter. He was glad
cities had spent thousands of dollars on parks
Detroit had recently expended 500, 600 in beau
tifying park three miles MP the river from
the city. and other cities had spent INT
executive committee he had visited the officials
of me j.. NJ & L railroad. and found them will
ing TO have the park improved. II the improve
ments CONTEMPLATED were made the railroad
would build depot and switch there.
Councilman Trusler Favored a $IU,OUU epnro-
nriation. His experience was that debt made
for the purpose of Improvement was good in
vestment. The people of the South Side had
no reason to complain of their treatment. II
tnev had not received their share of the public
money it was because they did not ask for it.
Whenever they called upon the public press for
help they always got it.
Alderman Laut and Councmen Marley,
Johnston, Smith. Kelly. Stuckmeyer and Cum
mngs EXPRESSED their Willingness to vote for
an appropriation of $40. 600 Mr. Cummings
said his idea to create permanent park
fund. by setting aside one-third OF the saloon
tax for that purpose. That would give about
S12 600 annually, and that amount should be ex-
pended until the grounds were put IN frst-class
condition.
At the conclusion OF the speech making Mr..
Tucker offered q resolution to the effect that it
was the sense of the meeting that the Council
should appropriate the $4,000 asked for, ard
such sums annually hereafter as might be needed
to complete the work. Ia seconding the resolu-
ton Edward Dean called attention to the fact
that Indian apolis, q city. had nothing of her
own. The county had built a magn 'fcient court
house; the Union Railway Company was erecting
one of the finest depots in the world; the
State had erected grand State-house and was
preparing to build soldiers monument
5000, 900. The city was strutting in ornaments
that had been given her. and 1t time
provide something che could call her own. The
business of the meeting ended by the appoint
msnt Of Councilman Marley to draft an appro-
priation ordinance for $4,000, to be presented
In the CouuciI Monday night