The Indianapolis journal., 1894-07-28
PUSHED 1T THROUGH
ERENZEL'S CROWD ROLLS Up q
100000 DEBT FOR THE CITY.
school Board Votes to Purchase an
Addition for High School No. l.
MartindaIe Engineers the scheme.


terized the actions of the Frenzel crowd
the commissioners. by a vote of to 2,
sanctioned as pretty little deal that
rare diplomatic, President Martindale, ever
conceived. AT eXtravagant price the
board voted TO purchase the "Rickets'
property, adjoining High School No. 1 on
the north. In the opinion of those who do
not favor the purchase its consummation
is but the successful result of another of
Mr.. Frenzel's carefully laid plans. The
property is owned by John w. Murphy.
of the firm of Murphy, Hibben & Co., and
a warm friend of Mr.. Frenzel. The matter
of buying the property was taken in hand
week ago by Charles Martindale, and,
by his own confession, ''fathered." Appar-
emily the contemplated purchase of the
property was made know 10 several men,
bers of the board but a few hours before
the meeting convened. The matter did not
come up through the regular channel. and
Commissioner Roth, chairman of the com
mittee on buildings and grounds, admitted
that he was placed in possession of the
proposed scheme only two hours before the
question was put TO a vote. President
Martindale called the meeting to order
few minutes after o'clock, and scarcely
awaited the reading Of the minutes before
he introduced the question of purchasing
the Rickets property. With furtive glance
in the direction of Commissioners Black
ledge and Hendrickson, he drew from his
pocket the communication from Thomas c.
Moore, a real-estate dealer. The docu-
ment was not introduced a resolu-
ton, but as a plain communication
1t provided for the purchase by the Board
of School Commissioners of the residence
and premises known as the RcketS
property, situated at the corner of Penn
syivania and North streets. The purchase
price was placed at $4,000, the board to
have thirty years in which to. pay it, the
payments to be made as follows: The
board to give fifteen notes for $4,000 each,
the first being payable sixteen years after
date and the remaining notes TO ,at De pay pay
maturing thirty years after date, said notes
to bear Az per cent: interest per annum,
to be made payable at such bank as L may
direct and all secured by mortgages upon
the premises, the purchaser to assume ana
pay for all pavement improvements made
and contracted for since July Il 1884 ana
also the taxes for the year 1894
1t was further conditioned that the offer
be deemed withdrawn after July 30 Com
missioner Blackledge was upon his feet be-
fore the. communication could be disposed
of and interposed substantial objection
to the scheme. Two days ago Mr.. Martin
dale partially unfolded his plan to the
Commissioner, and the latter at the time
promised to consider 1t. He had done so,
and, after investigation among the
prominent real-estate men of the city, had
reached the conclusion that the board
ought not to entertain it for moment, the
price asked for the property being outrage
ously high. He had been informed that
the owner could not hope TO sell the place
a high estimate upon it. Mr.. Blackledge
thought there was no immediate necessity
for buying that properly, or nyna any aadi'ofal a
believed there was enough grounU
lying Immediately east and in the rear of
the High School building to accommodate
the demand for additional building. In
casting about over the assessments Tor
1891 he said he noted the fact that the
property which it was proposed TO buy
had been assessed for $4,000, and that the
agent OF, the estate had prevailed upon
the amount. Mr.. Blackledge showed that
the interest by the terms of the purchase
would ..d In a thirty years amount to more more
would increase the debt to Sl221OO. The
board was now in debt over 900, which.
with the new schoolhouses to be erected
at an expense of nearly $4,000, would
shoulder an obligation of over 100000 upon
the people. This amount, the commission-
Indebtedness of the city, exclusive of the
Belt railroad bonds. He thought the
at one point had been dissipated by the
experience of other cities. In many in
stances municipalities had been compelled
further contended that the advantage to
be derived from the new training school
would naturally draw many. pupils TO the
cies in High School No. 1. Again he held
that as the city is just beginning to take
in the suburbs. the result of which will be
naturally it would follow that suburban
residents would desire these schools to be
conveniently, located. Mr.. Blackledge
| boldly stated that the owner of the Ricketts,
property would in time gladly seek the
board with a more reasonable proposition
| because he would find very few clamorne
purchasers at the price asked. He begged
| the board to at least give the question
| cluded he glanced at the faces of his COL
leagues and sat down with the air of a
| man who had gone into A hopeless battle.
Mr. Martindale at once asked Commits
soner Appel 10 take the chair and came
| down from his throne. He began by an
nouncing that the proposition was one that
ought not to be treated in light fiippant
| manner He further stated that. for sew
eral years, the eye of the School Board
had been upon this especial piece of prop
erty. He said that High School No ! hal
reached the limit of its capacity and that
| it was necessary 10 take immediate steps
toward preparing for a rapidly-increasing
| attendance. No proposition to sell the High
| School property should be entertained he
| said. because there was being developed d
spirit of veneration for it among its pu-
| pills. The willy president could not under
| stand why an intelligent man of business
should object TO the proposed purchase.
| He was candid enough to admit that he
| was the father of the proposition and
| warned the board members that if they re-
| iected this rare offer they would regret it
| III SS"io " NOiuS. MI. MdTlllluale dp-
| peared to feel somewhat abused and char
| acterized the accusation of secrecy made
| by one of his fellow-members as unjust.
| Mr. Hendrickson arose and made a brave
| effort to combat the forces on the other
| side. He thought there was ample room in
the rear of the High School
R1iIding Isb6Is for args an ersab addition and
modate pupils for fifty years TO come
| He hoped the board would at least go slow
| The spirit of Frenzelism had. however
| taken possession of the session and inn
| mediately after Commissioner Hendrick-
! sors remarks the question of purchasing
| the property was put TO a vote. The deftly
| laid plan of Mr.. Martndale carried 6y a
| vote of seven 10 two. Commissioners Roth
| Appel, Russo, Martindale. Calvin, Loeper
and Adam voted aye Commissioners
| Blackledge and Hendrickson voted. no
| Mr.. Martindale gaZed over the heads of
| the members of the board with that COM
| placarcy for which he is famous For sew
! eral minutes there silence as deep
as the schemes of the president and his pre-
| decessor. There could only be heard the
| scratch of Mr.. Appers self-nking pen, as
II flew back and forth over the paper. Mr.
| Martindale glanced dSkdnce in the direction
| of the secretarys desk. Obviously the
! president was nervous Then Mr.. Appel
arose and handed bit OF paper 10 the as
sistant secretary. II proved TO be a reso-
| luton providing tor reconsideration OF
| or two members of the board looked
! startled and glanced at the president ap-
/ pealingly. The latter Sagely closed eye.
| He understood the import OF a 'clincher. ."
| and was not worrying.
! The purchase which was 50 adrotly rail-
| roaded through the meeting of the board is
! the two-story residence property north of
High School No. l. and OCcupied : a