The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-08
THE ADMINISTERED PAVING.
Committee of RemOnstrnnts Say that
Mr. Chriatinn,s Chnrge Is Untrue.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
The statement of Mr.. w. F. Christian in
the Journal concerning the Alabama-street
Improvement is possibly misleading to those
who do not know Mr.. Christian or only
know him by his surname. There is not a
grain of truth in what he says So far from
opposing the speedy improvement Of the
street the remonstrants request and urge
its Improvement at once. They simply say
that they do not want the asphalt. OF the
whole line proposed to be improved more
than four-ffths of the resident property
owners protest against asphalt OF the to-
tai number of front feet, excluding the pub
lie squares and property owned by foreign
corporations, more than seven-eighths of the
entire line protest against it. The remon-
strants are simply pursuing the course
pointed out by the law. They appeared be-
fore the Board of Works when they were
notified to appear there and presented their
case. The board sat down upon them. They
then filed a remonstrance, as the law pro-
vides, signed by four-fifths of the resident
property holders, which transferred the
question to the popular branch of the city
government They were informed by the
Board of Works that the papers would be
promptly sent to the Council for its action
last Monday night. They went to the Coun-
Gil chamber and were there told that the
papers were not there. This looked like a
trick on the part of somebody acting In the
interest of the asphalt ring. Tuesday MORN
ing members of the Board of Works were
asked why they had not done their duty
and fulfilled their promise, and the answer
was that they had several reasons" which
were not disclosed. At last. however, they
promised TO do what they should have done
and what they promised to do before, and
we are now informed that tie papers have
been sent UP. This causes two weeks of de-
of Works and not to the remonStrants The
Board of Works and some newspapers seem
to have the notion that when the board
votes hundred houSand-dollar mortgage
upon the property OF the citizens IL is i'm
pertinent intermeddlng on the part Of the
citizens. who are called "l<ickers, to pursue
the method pointed out by law 10 see that
they get honest work for their money. II
may be well for the Board of Works and
Mayor Denny to understand that an uncon-
erty of the citizens TO the asphalt ring may
become unpopular and may excite ugly sus-
Dicions. Let il be understood that the re-
monstrants on Alabama street stand for the
speedy Improvement by methods which will
secure honest competition and permanent
Improvement at a cost which will not dis
tress citizens who are already overburdened
with taxes and assessments. When Mr..
Wildman says as he is reported as SAYING
that shall have asphalt or nothing he
shows that he has very poor conception
of the functions of public servant Such
Language Is very appropriate III the mouth
of a boss but the boss is a person who
sooner or later comes to grief
1t is due TO Mr.. Fishback to say that Mr..
Christian misstates the matter as to him.
Mr. Fishback has 135 feet fronting on the
proposed Improvement and was invited to
conference at Mr.. Christians residence to
organize in opposition to the asphalt i'm
provement At a subsequent meeting, be-
fore ii was known that enough signatures
could be obtained TO a remonstrance to re-
move the question TO Council. there was
feeling expressed that an injunction suit
should be brought to prevent the letting Of
the contract and test the question in the
courts. The expense OF such a proceeding
came up, and Mr.. Fishback gave IL as his
opinion that ii would not cost the property
holders to exceed 10 cents per front foot.
He has not been employed to bring such
suit. and nothing has been said or agreed
upon about paying him anything. II IL shall
become necessary TO employ an attorney
and we should employ him or any other at
torney we would expect 10 pay him for his
cation seems to be unnecessary. for we have
faith in the members of the Council, whose
duty IL is to see that where a great majority
of those most deeply interested protest
against a particular kind Of Improvement
1t shall not be put upon them simply to
crafty the pride of one man or to line the
pockets of two or three others.
ROBT. W. LONG.
DAVID HAZARD.
l.. l.. TODD.
j. r. CHRISTIAN.
JOSEPH II. EVANS.
G.. +. RAFERT.
GEO. II. SWAIN.
ROBERT DENNY.
Committee for the Remonstrants.