The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-10
Standing in the bright light of the COM

Its universal well-being in all that makes
its name great among the cities of the
American republic it will not be devoid
OF interest or profit to the earnest. active,
busting citizen of indianapolis of today
to occasionally look backward through the
dim vista OF departed years and contem-
plate the primitive methods of the city
fathers who held the reins OF local gov
eminent and guarded the interests of the
people more than three score years ago,
and then note the changes, due to popular
growth and demand, which have been
runG in as the years have rolled away into
the past.
On the evening of Oct. II. 1882. Samuel
Henderson, John Wilkins, Henry Z. Co
burn and Samuel Merrill, having been
elected trustees at a popular election held
a few days previous, were sworn in by
Caleb Scudder, justice OF the peace, and
duly organized as trustees Of the corpor-
alton of the town of Indianapolis" 1t
was new thing THE having an organ
lied form of government for the commu-
nifty, and one of the first steps taken was
to authorize Mr.. Henderson TO write to
Madison and Lawrenceburg for copies OF
"the most wholesome and beneficial laws"
in operation in those towns.
That the health of the community was
uppermost in the minds of these old city
dads" lie shown from the record of their
second meeting, for as soon as John G.
Brown, an elected member of the board,
J.. 4 l.. Al
OF office he introduced the following
Resolved. That John wilkins be appointed to
procure a suitable house Tor hospital should
the sDHsmouic cholera visit this town, and also
two suitable nurses TO attend thereon, and the
necessary furniture.
1t was then ordered that the practicing
physicians OF Indianapolis town be re-
quested to hold a consultation and state to
the board what are the most suitable
means to prevent the introduction of spas
modic cholera and what might be the
most suitable remedies for the disease in
Its first stage, and also to make such sug-
gestions would tend TO promote and
preserve the health of the citizens should
the disease visit our town. Ii was ordered
that l.. Coburn be requested to notify the
doctors OF the boards action. At the
next meeting OF the board Mr.. Coburn
Ii was ordered published. On the even
ing of Wednesday, Nov. Z, 1882, the board
met and adopted code of about fifty diff
ferent ordinances. They were such as
were demanded sixty years ago. perhaps,
but they have peculiar jingle when read
at this day.
1t ID not an unreasonable proposition
that of all cities in the middle West there
Is not one at this time more thoroughly
overrun with vagabond, ownerless dogs
than Indianapolis. Sec. III of the first
ordinance adopted by the first town board
Of Indianapolis read as follows:
Every householder who shall keep or suffer
10 remain on his premises more than Ons dog
shall, Tor each dog, more than one, pay an an
nuttta Of s..
These Old village Lawmakers we're evil
IDENTIFY not inclined to be oppressive or
unreasonable in their official relations
with the citizens of Indianapolis, even
when seeking the general improvement OF
tho community, rs can be understood
from reading OF sec. u OF the same or
dinance, which read:
Every person owning more than six hogs or
shoats, running at large in the streets, shall
pay for each hog over elk al annual tax Of 90
cents.
The board was determined, apparently,
to keep abreast with the necessities OF the
times. Tor among the first laws enacted
was the following:
II any person shall fire gun or pistol within
the town limits, except in defense of life or lib.
erty, or shall fly any kite cause a kite to tall
within the limits, or shall run or gsllop horse
IN any oil the alleys or streets of the town, the
person so offending shall forfeit not lees than
81 nor more than -.
An ordinance which has remained as a
fixed law through all the intervening
years was enacted by this first town board.
1t has undergone several changes, how
ever, but in it's primitive form it read as
follows:
Amy person having charge of o wagon and
horses who shall 20 from and leave them q n
fastened in the street and without unhitchng
the trace-ehains, shall forfeit not exceeding So
The board was disposed TO secure all
possible revenue and compel those who
came here only TO gather in the money OF
the people to take it ont of circulation. 10
pay for the privilege. This can be seen
from the following:
Any person or persons wishing to exhibit a
show OF wax figures or animals or any perform
Rnce where money ~ paid TO see the same, such
person or persons shall take out a license for
such exhibition orperformance, for which shall
be paid for each day tWoaty times the charge
of the admission OF an adult to 50 ch exhi bition
as n tax for such license, and such sum being
paid TO the treasurer the clerk of the board
shall issue such License; and every person ex-
hibiting as Aforesaid in tho town without such
license shall forfeit 50. and the person on
whose premises such exhibition shall be had
shall also forfeit 50 for permitting such exhibit
ton.
Some OF the regulations for the govern
ment of the town market were, "a viewed
in the light of the present time, amusing
Among these was one that provided a
penalty for false weights and measures
One of its clauses was as follows:
Meal offered for sale In market shall be
heaped, and the market master shall decide on
the suifciency thereof; aud any one refusing
to comply with his decision shall forfeit the
meal offered for sale, and the market master
shall Immediately seize IL and sell 1t to the
highest bidder and pay the proceeds to tho
treasurer.
At the next regular meeting of the
board, Nov. 81, 1892, the following officers
were appointed: Gledden True, marshal I;
Obed Foote, treasurer; Thomas Chevin,
marketmAster; Josiah Davis, assessor,
aud Isaac n. Heylin. secretary
On Feb. 10. 1893 after several town
marshals had tried it" and resigned,
Samuel Morrow was appointed and de-
clined, and Edward Mcclure, known
throughout the village in those DAYS as
big Mack" received and accepted the
appointment, only TO resign within three
days. The community was a compare
tiveIv Deaceiul one but there WA an ela-