The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-16
AS TO CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Indianapolis has become, in appear
ance, more Of city during the past five
years than it did in the preceding zen
years, or would In the next ten If the
policy of city improvements had not been
adopted five or six years ago. When
that policy was adopted indianapolis
had not three miles of paved streets. No
worse streets could be found in the coun-
try than were the principal avenues after
heavy rainfall. Many of them were a
succession of quagmires, and none of
them could be driven over at fair pace
with safety. During the past five years
a policy has been pursued which has
given Indianapolis as many miles of
good streets as can be found in any
city of its class in the country. This
change has cost money; in fact, good
deal of money. Doubtless, under orders
Of the Board of Public Works, some
streets have been paved which many
think should have been left as they
were. Perhaps the work has proceeded
too rapidly. but if it is a good thing. the
are paved the better. There has been
much complaint, for, while every public
spirited citizen is emphatic for the i'm
provement of the streets, many strenu-
ously object when the streets upon which
their property is located are put under
contract. Undoubtedly, much hardship
has been caused by the street and sew
er improvements. but that is a result
of the system which has long prevailed
OF charging the cost of Improvement to
the adjacent property instead of max
ing general levy to defray the cost of
them.
Considering separated cases and special
localities. the system OF levies for sewers
seems unjust. particularly that feature
which bases the assessment upon linear
feet, regardless of the value of the prop
erty instead Of basing 1t upon the value
of the property. The principle seems
wrong: still. it affords an illustration
of the Henry George plan Of single taxa
ton. But, whether just or unjust. the
system was adopted either in the charter
granted in 1891 or by the first Board of
that system of assessment could not be
changed without causing inextricable
confusion. The system of drainage was
adopted by the Sullivan administration.
Those who should know say that it is the
only adequate system. AT any rate, 1t
was adopted before the present admins
tration came in, and all that ii could do
was to carry out a system already be-
gun and for which contracts had been
made. Whoever is Mayor, the work on
the sewer system will continue to COM
pletion. Some comprehensive system the
city was obliged TO have. Such being the
case. no administration can be fairly
censured for pushing the work unless
IL shall show favoritism in granting con-
tracts. which has not been charged
against any administration.
Much Of the street improvement OF the
past two years was contracted for by
the officials of the two years previous,
and this administration will leave a
number OF contracts to be completed un-
der the next. But the work has gener-
ally been well done. and there is no in
telligent man who will not believe that
IL has generally been done for the low
est market price. There have been no
scandals about the letting OF contracts
no collision between officials and con-