The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
FAIR FORTUNES WHIM
MAJOR wILDMAN's REVENGE WAS
OF SHORT DURATION.
He Is Elected Mayor and Appoints n
Model Board of Public Works.
Trials of the New Board.

three days after the October city election,
1855. which resulted in his being made Mayor
of Indianapolis The Office door was locked
and barred. Without was a crowd, nay a
mob of bowling Office seekers, all desiring
appointment The Colonel groaned as he lis
tened to the confusion and for one short
minute wished he was again president of
the Board of Public Works. The telephone
bell rang
'One of those COMPOUNDED reporters, ;,
unused the Colonel he answered for the
forty-ninth time that day, that he had not
yet chosen the members of the new Board
OF Works. AS he impatiently rang off a
thought came to him and he rushed to his
desk With feverish haste. brought about
by three days turmoil and worry he seized
his pen and wrote: President Board Of
Works. w. p. Fishback; Members, d. w.
Bradbury and John r. Allen
That's it, chuckled the Colonel with a
little laugh. such as the stage villain as
sumes when he thinks he had the hero In
his grasp So great was his delight over
the happy solution. that he paced the floor
and reflected upon the glorious revenge. So
upon that day it was announced tina.
Messrs. Fishback, Bradbury and Allen were
to compose the new Board of Public Works.
The next day dawned full of hope, ex-
cept to the new board appointees. The
memory of the fate of past boards hung
around them like a cloud; but notwith-
standing this they appeared bright and ear
ly. at the board Office ready for duty. Mr.
Wildman decided to remain with them the
first day. Some said it was for the purpose
of giving the members points, while
others said it was part of the Colonel's
revenge The board members assumed their
seats and after the congratulations and SYM
pathies of the populace had been received,
PRECEDENT Fishback arose and said
lit is to be understood that this depart
ment will inaugurate some radical reforms.
Rascally employees will not be tolerated
The rights of the taxpayer are to be re-
spected. We will give the people what they
petition for and do everything in our power
to make this the best Board of Public
Works the city has ever seem
Deafening applause followed this speech
Colonel Wildman winked at his friend Meyer
and leaning over to his friend Kramer said
Just wait and see''
Mr.. Bradbury arose and replied to the
demands of the crowd. He began by say
ing:
MY name is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. states
man and philosopher. / represent the Peo-
pie and the People are my friends. There
will be no pipe line between this board and
any asphalt rings"
Then Mr.. Allen was given an opportunity
to speak and he said
up on my street, College avenue, the
people have been paying fifteen cents to
have the street swept. Over on Broadway
they paying half that amount l for
one am tired of paying for the cleaning of
Broadway. know fact that the street
has not been properly cleaned, for we have
not seen contractor up our way for two
Now, gentlemen, we are ready for work.,
said Mr.: Fishhack as soon as order had been
restored.
In walked delegation They seemed agi-
tated. Colonel Whitman saw at a glance
that they were North Alabama street resi-
looked at Mr.. Kramer. and Mr.: Kramer
looked at Mr.. Meyer. They realized what
"As taxpayers of this city," said the
spokesman, 1--WE desire to protest against
the upper section Of Alabama street. being
strated that this board is always Closely
connected with asphalt. We want cedar
''That is a mistake" said another citizen.
We held a meeting and decided upon.
III the board please joined in third,
Il represent the owners of half the prop
erty on the section of the. street in ques-
ton, and we want asphalt
II know something about that street.
piped up q man with drawn and sad
that we don't need any kind of pavement.
Alabama street. from Fort Wayne avenue
TO Seventh street. is as good as any street
Mayor Wildman, recently, president of the
board. leaned back in his chair and laughed
Kramer and Meyer talked to each other in
German and shook hands. President Fish
eonsd erstion. and the delegation toni departed
to make room for another This delegation
10 a nare Il sy Knem h ea M
pensive asphalt was. They said they did.
Another delesation was waiting at the
avenue was not being properly swept
Ah, here Is my meat" remarked Mr..
deesatom to tell lac All Which Hf w sae
recorded by the clerk
rensd + matter Of ano serious naturs
But President Fishback. cut cut the the remarks
correspondence: II was brought to him in
a basket. and the consideration of the
many complaints acR wa was commenced; There
hole on South, Missouri street. One man
men in the positions. x postal card called
the garbage man to make proper collection
One oetter complained of sweeping
much had been charged for an alley in
tersection Improvement. One man said his
s sewer was stepped np Another said the
to the express wagons standing on the
streets. A communication, from the ex-
pressmen asked the privilege Of standing
on Delaware street. One Of the inspectors
was charged with accepting two cigars
from a contractor. A scorching epistle
about 1t, said the entire sewer system of
the. town was constructed upon a false
basis.
An attorney walked in and interrupted
the board with request for a hearing of
the petition OF suburban line for right
of way into the city. 1t was recalled that
four companies were asking the same
route, which was claimed by two of them
The building inspector asked the board to
inspect three old buildings which were in
need of condemnat ton. The controller called
and demanded that the expenses of the de-
partment be reduced. The Board of Safety
asked that an inspection be made of the
hay market and a new building ordered
The Board of Health asked for repairs to
be made at the City Dispensary. Attention
was called to the fact that the pavement
on New Jersey street was not constructed
according to contract. Another citizen said
the concrete In the Ohio-street pavement
which has been down three years, is faulty
and so on, ad infnitum.
Mayor Wildman left the new board in
the midst of its deliberations He re-
turned to the Office and continued his ex-
ultant thoughts He went home and re-
turned In the afternoon The board was
stu celebrating. He peeped in at the win
dow ana went into his office. Late in the