The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-02
The New City Parks.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
1t has been the dream OF a lifetime OF residence
here to the banks of White river and Fall
creek within and indianapolis stone
walled. planted with trees and vines,
and the low and high banks SO pro-
tected and treated as to make them beau
tiful, instead of offense TO the eye. they
now are. Those Of our citizens who have pro-
cured the park law. and have promoted
the present organization of the park board. have
done good thing. Certainly We ought all TO
do what to sustain those who have this
great work in charge. The plan is to begin at
White river bridge. crossing Washington street
take In the low lands west OF the Evans -four
mill and cotton mills northward to the mouth
Of Fall creek, where the water company has
its pumping station and galleries, thence north
east both sides of Fall creek to Hammond
Park. taking in tracts OF considerable
acreage. including the fine grove belonging TO
the Isaiah Mansur estate north of Fall creek
in all about go acres. more or less.
Mansur forty acre tract. and perhaps a few other
bits of land here and there) Is present insight
malarious. In this condition IL has little value.
most of II has never been Used for anything,
and never will be. unless for park purposes.
II is constant threat against the public health.
Now is the time to acquire this waste land. and
put II to this benehcent use IL Is eminently
the right thing to do, and IT has been com
menced In a wise and hopeful way: The law
OF the land and has just provisions for assess
ing resulting benefits against adjacent proper
ty a large proportion OF the OF the work
ought to be obtained from this source. IL this
great work can be successfully prosecuted by
Mayor TaggaIts administration IL Will be re-
membered to its credit for years to come.
While 1t viii take large sum TO procure this
land and construct this system OF parks, II Is
the thing TO do. We are, as city. well able
Our 20 city debt is not large in proportion TO our
population and wealth. This enterprise will pro-
anS the r bcs. o all our people is
civilizing process; it is educational and refining
in the highest degree. There are some things
more desirable than money. This is one OF
them.
We have here already a beautiful city. growing
more every year. But We cannot stop short OF
creating this proposed park system. We must
keep up with the times. We have wisely
laid-out city, with wide streets, well paved,
beautifully shaded and permanently severed We
have rapid transit. modern lights. a great COM
mon school system. and public and private and
a large measure. But let any one, citizen or
stranger, come in contact with this unsightly.
rnalarial region along White river and Fall
creek, ii is thing We are ashamed OF and havs
| TO apologize for.
AT a recent visit Albany -. ".
shown Washington Park. along and both
| sides Of waterway which was formerly old
cemetery. The interments had not been removed.
but do not now appear. This suggests the in
| corporation OF our Green Lawn Cemetery as a
part OF our park system. There arc some OBJ
stecies IN the way. out they are not very seri-
| / esteem IL a fortunate thing that Mr. L. F.
Claypool Is at the head Of this park commission.
| He Is a wise man. and a strong man. and does
not fail TO accomplish things he undertakes.
| The other members OF this board also good
men and very much In earnest am well sat-
win do right between the property owner and
/ the public. While ought not 70 expect
dksre 20 take lands for nothing. even for gool
ah object an this. neither ought eunsie TO e.