The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-16
WORKS BOARD NAMED
COL. NJ. A. DOWNING, EDWARD AUS
TIN AID W.. SCOTT MOORE.
DIR. c. e. Ferguson to Succeed DE.
b. Nichols Goes to the Hospital.

Mayor Taggart officially announced last
evening that his new Board of Public
Works will be composed of Col. Michael
A Downing, Edward A. Austin and W..
Scott Moore. The first two are Democrats
and the latter a Republican. Mr.. Austin
is appointed as a representative of the
South Side. Mr.. Taggart finally decided
upon his board after much elaboration and
fo~rethought and many consultations. He
says he believes 1t is an excellent board,
and sees no reason why the members can
not serve with peace and JOY to them
selves.
The appointments were a surprise to the
politicians and a terrible blow to the ward
statesmen. 1t was predicted that Sterling
R. Holt. or Frank Maus. or John Oster-
man or Martin Murphy might be members,
but the combination presented was not as
expected. Colonel Downing was chosen be-
cause of his experience in contract work,
and incidentally because he has been a
good Democrat. Mr.. Austin was selected
because he is a good Democrat, and has
never been rewarded in any way. Mr
Taggart says Mr.. Austin is very popular
with railroad men. Mr.. Moore was chosen
because Of his knowledge of specifications,
engineering, architectural and contract
work. Mr.. Downing is retired from active
business, Mr.. Austin is engaged in the
grocery and feed business and Mr.. Moore
is an architect. Each of the new appointees
has promised to devote all his time and at
tention to he affairs of the department.,
not only by holding meetings, but by in
specting improvements under way. Mr..
Taggart has formed a board of men who
agree with him regarding public improve
ment. that Improvement is essential to
the growth or the city, but that 1T should
not be carried on so extensively as to be
a hardship TO the owners of property. Mr..
Taggart lad many applications for men,
Dership on the board from representative
business men, but he thought, and figured,
and speculated, and the names announced
are the result of his deliberations. Mr..
Johnson, the controller, who is Mr.. Tag
CARTS most ardent supporter, says, the
new board is a cracker jack" which,
translated, means that 1T is first class.
Colonel Downin is a man past the mid
years ago from Louisville. For several
years he was superintendent of the Union
Railway Company. In recent years he has
devoted his time to contract work, having
YER and other cities. He has been a sue
cessful business man. Under the old met
ropoptan law he was a member of the
the enemies Of Mayor Sullivan picked Col
onel Downing out as a man to try for the
nomination. Downing meetings were held
nightly and there was q great deal of
activity among the enemies of the Mayor,
but shortly before the election the Colonel
withdrew. Colonel Downing lives at No.
"a North Meridian street.
Edward Austin is proprietor of a grocery
and feed store at the corner of State and
Washington streets. He lives at No. e
oerat Of the East End ssd has been en-
gagged in contract work. For many years
he was a foreman in the repair depart
been a member of the Council and his
appointment is largely due to his work
during the last campaign.
w. Scott Moore Is one OF the leading
architects of the city. His office Is at the
corner of Washington and Meridian streets
and he lives at No. n7 East Michigan
street. He Is the architect OF the Scot
fish Rite building, now under way, and
has lone a great deal of supervising in the
construction Of buildings.