The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-05
FALL CREEKS COURSE
BOARD OF WORKS CONSIDERING
TWO PROPOSED CHANGES.
a Trip over the Territory-CounciI
PASSES Ordinance Lowering Water
Plugs I'm Roadway.

The new Board of Works has undertaken
a big task at the beginning of its admin
istration. that is. II II changes the course
of Fall creek, a project which it has I'M
der consideration. A trip was made y~ester-
day afternoon over much of the territory
TO be effected i'm the event either one of
the two propositions before the board is
adopted. One plan is TO divert Fall creek
and carry Ii from a point above Schohelds
dam to White river above the Broad Rip
pie dam and the other plan is TO change
the course of the stream at Capitol ave-
nue., carrying it. through a slight ridge,
then across to the river in a due west
line. The latter, it was thought after the
trip yesterday, is the most feasible plan,
and the board felt inclined to look upon
it fa~vorably. provided the interested prop
erty owners can demonstrate TO the boards
satisfaction that the change would be of
material benefit TO the city. Messrs. f.. Il.
Martindale, James Armstrong, DR.. Light, of
Broad Ripple, Secretary Davis, of the water
company. and others interested were in
Guided in the party which accompanied the
board.
The scheme to turn the creek north of
Schofield's mill, it appeared, can only be
accomplished by the expenditure of a very
large sum of money, and even then the
advantage to be gained by the city did not
seem apparent. Ii has been suggested that
much of the bottom land bordering Fall
creek as il lows through the northern
portion of the city could be reclaimed, and
the removal of the unslightly bridges that
span the stream at every street would fol-
low. If this resulted there would be lit
tie opportunity TO construct a picturesque
park along the creek, the main attraction
OF such a park, a body of water, being
removed Again, the cost of a sewer to
take the place of the creek in draining the
territory of surface water would be enor-
nous. To carry the creek over to the river
above Broad Ripple would necessitate ex-
tensive excavations, some of which would
be through ridges. There are several swales
across the country that might be utilized,
although they are not continuous. If the
creek emptied in the river at Broad Rip
pie the city's water supply would be kept
although. as one of the gentlemen showed.
there is no reason why Fall creek, as 1t
how flows. should not be kept free from all
rubbish. The board was much impressed
with the beauty Of the ground just above
Schofield's old mill, which gives a pretty
stretch of a possible park.
The party visited the banks Of Fall
creek near Capitol avenue later in the
afternoon and viewed the proposed course
OF the stream from that point. At White
of about twenty feet would have to be
made through the river bluff, but this
would be the only obstacle. with the ex-
ception of a cut through the levee on the
west bank of the creek at Capitol ave-
nue.. Most of the ground is low and would
need but little excavation. Cal Darnell
claims that three thousand acres of valu-
able land would be reclaimed by changing
the course and that besides this the city
would be able to bridge the creek at Senate
avenue. The assessments of benefits and
damages would be SO equalized that there
would be no cost to the city. Just west
of Capitol avenue Is a tract of over one
hundred acres which could be readily
flooded for a lake. This land belongs for
the most part to the Connecticut Mutual
Insurance Company.
The Board of Works will have a sur
vey made of both routes over which il
is proposed to carry the stream.