The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-15
AROUSED BY AN ORDINANCE
A Long and Strong Protest from Manu-
facturers and Many of Their Friends.
They demonstrate Against an Ordinance Pro-
posing to Exclude Them from Operating
Within Certain Limits in the City.

At the last meeting of the Council, Mr..
Finch, OF that body, introduced an ordinances
which has aroused earnest protests from those
whom 1t will affect by excluding their manu-
featuring and industrial operations from certain
limits of the city. The ordinance applies to
varnish and furniture factories. oil warehouses
planning mills and lumber yards. 1t makes 1T
unlawful for any firm or corporation to erect
such mills, warehouses and factories within
limits beginning at the intersection OF First
street and the e., l., ST. l.. & c. railroad tracks
The prohibitory line then extends south along
the road named to Missouri street, thence along
the east line of Missouri street. to South street.
thence east along the north line of South to
East, thence along the west side OF East north
to Cherry, thence west along the south line Of
Cherry and ST. Mary streets to Delaware, thence
west along the old donation line to First
street, the beginning. But provision is
made to erect such buildings and
carry on such operations within the
district named if permission therefor is first OBJ
tanned from fhe Common Council and Board Of
Aldermen. The ordinance is not to affect apy
factories mills now in the territory described.
A violation Of the ordinance will subject the
firm or company so offending to fine not ex-
cseding 800, and each days continuance of such
violation is to be considered separate ofense.
The opposition TO the ordinance. it is pre-
sumed, will be general among manufacturers
and real estate owners It's passage, it is
claimed, will destroy whatever value certain
lots within or adjacent to the district now have.
Along the Big Four railroad tracks there is a
good deal of land of no to anyone, except for
manufac turing purposes. Nobody wants the
lots to build residences them, and there
fore manufacturers can be the only
purchasers. If ordinance prohibits
them from using this land it will not only be
unmarketable, but affect the interests of the
railroads. which would derive a large revenue
from extra trackage to the factories These
lots. it is urged, are especially suitable Tor fur
niture factories, which, with properly ncourage-
ment, could be erected in time SO numerously
and on such a large scale as to make lndianapo-
lis the largest furniture manufacturing city in
the world. Grand Rapids approaches that dis
tinction and yet great part Of the hard wood
used there comes from Indiana Another rea-
son why the ordinance should be opposed is
found in the claims of those who see for Indi-
annapolis this year a remarkable prosperity. If
manufacturers are restricted to certain parts or
the city they say, it will keep out capital and to
n large degree lessen the good that Is expected
F. to come from natural gas.
{ .remonstrance against the passage of the
ordinance was put in circulation yesterday. 1t
is stated therein that the proposed measure is
an illegal and arbitrary assumption of municipal
authority in an attempt to extend the police
powers of the city. not for the purpose OF pro-
tecring the citizens from nuisances which AFFECT
their health, safety morals but for the pur-
pose of interfering with and restricting leeiti-
mate industries and commerce. The slgners
say it cannot be denied that the police power in
herent in municipal bodies may be invoked to
establish fire limits and to restrain nuisances
that affect the morals. health or safety of the
citizens, but the city has authority to inter-
fere with restrain business or traffic harmless
in itself or to prohibit any person from using
his property in any manner that is In no way
,~..s, lair haC AI0
Another objection to the ordinance, as Is
claimed. is because of it's being an unlawful and
unwise interference with legitimate business
STRANGE states, carried on in the largest cities
in the heart of populous and solidly built dis
tricts Even in the very heart of New York
city these businesses are engaged in and flourish
without the least hindrance from city officials.
Grand Rapids. Mich, has especially encouraged
the furniture factories, and they occupy any
available site in the city without objection
These factories purchase a large portion of their
hard woods in this State. and indianapolis. far
from discouraging and discountenancing such
enterprises, ought to be the very center OF the
furniture manufactures of the country. The
same might be said of each OF the other bust
nesses just Mt this time, when the citizens are
straining every nerve TO attract manufacturers.
when the balance of the city's prosperity seems
poised and ready 20 be turned by slight i'm
pulse in either direction, the city ought not,
through it's municipal legislature, to declare
that it does not favor certain classes of business
which represent trade amounting to millions OF
dollars annually in this city.
A third objection is urged in the ordinance
being an illegal and unjust restriction of the
rights of real estate owners In the use OF their,
real estate. and because it tends to depreciate q
very large amount of real estate in the city.
Extending down the c., l., st. L. 81 c. rail-
way track and Missouri street, it is claimed
''and also along the Union Railway Company's
tracks, there is immense quantity OF real
estate the chief element of the value of which
is its availability for factory sites. This real
estate is not only large in the extent OF it's
boundaries, but immense in it's value now
estimated. But let 1t be enacted that this DIS
rrict shall De occupied by factories. and that
the purchas of II must take the risk of lobby
ing through the Council special privilege before
he can it for n factory. and those who
seeking factory sites will look for land not SO
Disseminated against. This land can never
be popular for dwellings stores, and
the owners of il, after the passage
OF this ordinance will fad what they considered
valuable realty to be unstable dumping
grounds. These railroads should be lined with
factories, and hindrance ought to be offered
to prevent it. Indeed. there be good
reason in public economy or convenience urged
in favor OF this ordinance, while the reasons
for its rejection most cogent and cOnvinc-
ing"
IL is understood that the Big Four and Union
Railway Company doing all they can to Sc
cure the defeat of the measure.