The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-07
WILL NOT BE OPENED.

Protestants Against the Opening Of Broad
way Gain Their Point.
Yesterday morning was the time set by
the Board of Public Works for hearing re-
monstrances against the opening of Broad
way from st. Clair street to Massachusetts,
avenue, and big delegation appeared. It
was headed by q committee composed of
MessrA Thad Rollins, Louis L. Haag. w.
V. Wheeler. s. j. Wilson and DR.. NJ. Fl.
Field. Mr.. Rollins as spokesman for the
committee, presented two circumstances.
One of these was signed by ITO property
owners, representing five thousand front
feet The signatures also represented IS
per cent. of the property-ownersf IF ON So.
Clair TO Eighth street. and 95 per cent.
from st. Clair TO Christian avenue. The
other petition was signed by sixty-tive
pr0perty-owners living In the section that
would be subject to apprasement Mr..
Rollins stated that the demonstrators
owned more than one-half the front feet
from ST. Clair to Eleventh street, while
the petition for the opening was only
signed by fifteen prOperty-Owners, who had
failed to state how much property they rep.
resented. The proDerty-owners based
their opposition to the opening of the
street on two grounds. he said. In the
first place 1t was not necessity,
but merely sentiment. and the
question was whether the board would,
upon the petition of fifteen men; open the
street against the expressed wishes of ITO
property He realized that the
board had such power IL 1t had mind to
exercise it. In the second place. the thor
oughfare. il opened, would only extend to
Massachusetts, avenue, and the only hind
rance against reaching the latter thorough
fare now from Broadway was the fact that
there was q Jog Of 40 feet at st. Clair street.
After inquiring If the city would pay any
of the expense Of opening the street and
learning that it would not, Mr.. Rollins con-
tinued:
IF you open Broadway to Massachusetts,
avenue you have got to arbitrarily say
that the people shall stand the entire ex-
pense regardless of whether 1t benefits
them not. This would not be a put lIc
Improvement in the sense that IL opens
through street"
Mr. Rollins was followed by attorney w.
w. Spencer. who talked on the same line.
He said IL would cost from sec, 600 to $780, 900
to open the street. which virtually meant
that that amount would be expended in
denIOlishing improvements. IL would be
better to spend this amount OF money In
paving the street He pointed ont what he
said would be the damage to the property
and failed to find that any benefits would
accrue.
Mr. Wheeler spoke next. saying that the
assessments against property would work
hardships In a great many cases. AT this
luncture President Conduit said that whom
the petition was filed the board was given
TO understand that majority OF the inter
ested property-owners wanted Broadway
opened. He would like to hear from some
OF the men who had signed the petition. and
ex-Judge Norton spoke. He thought the
people were laboring ander the mIsappre-
hension that only small amount of the
property would be assessed. His idea was
that all the property on Broadway to the
corporation line would be benefited. and
ought to be assessed. He thought that
was what the present law conte mplated.
Don't all those who signed the petition
live near Seventh street," asked attorney
Spencer.
Il believe they do.n said Judge Norton.
Wouldn't the burden of the assessments
fall on the property-owners between
Christian avenue and ST. Clair streets"
again asked Mr.. Spencer.
Pm not the one to make the aesess-
ments." said Judge Norton, "but i think
property north would be assessed"
President Conduit then stated that the
assessments would be made according to
the benefits. but the lower property would
be most benefited, and consequently
would be assessed higher. He then stated
that the board had heard quite enough
oratory and politely limited that IL was
time for the committee to withdraw. d.
rect question was put 10 him, however. and
he said he did not think the opening OF
Broadway would be great public benefit,
and that the board had decided not to open
the street. Edward Hawkins was one of
the iyners of the petition.
8Louis +. Hsag. chairman OF the COM
mittee of remon strants. has written o card
Of thanks 70 the board Cor Its decision.