The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-11
THREE MILES OF CEMENT.
Council Passes North Delaware Or
dinance-The New Badges.

01nance-I0e new DiuScs.
Over the remonstrances of two-thirds of
the resident property owners living on
North Delaware street. the Common Coun-
Gil passed ordinances for cement sidewalks
on that street from Massachusetts avenue
to Seventh street at its special meeting
last night.
Mr. Montgomery, chairman of the COM
mittee on sewers streets and alleys. which
had the question under consideration for
three weeks. submitted report favorable
to the passage of the ordinance. He re-
ferred to the fact that the committee met
to hear the petitioners for and remonstra-
tors against the Improvement, when
large delegation of property owners, head
ed by Justus C. Adams and Lewis C. Walk
er, appeared before the committee and OBJ
jected to the mprovement-first, the
ground that it was unnecessary, inasmuch
as the present sidewalks are in good condi-
tion and also because il is feared that
shade trees will be killed, in addition to
which 1T was urged that 1t would be proper
TO delay the Improvement Of the sidewalks
until the roadway is repaved. Mr.. Montgom-
cry, in submitting the report, said that the
committee, in company with the city engi-
neer, went over the sidewalks Aug. j, two
hours after heavy rainfall. AT that time
he said, they found water standing In pools
just as had been represented by the petit
TONERS for cement walks. AS to the killing
of trees he said that the city engineer
staked his reputation upon the assertion
that the trees could be preserved by sys-
tenn Of thing. Mr. Montgomery said that
he believed most of the councimen had
ben over the route and were prepared. to
vote intelligently. For one he would vote
for the Improvement. On motion the first
ordinance covering the sesction Of Delaware
street from Morrison street to Seventh, was
ordered engrossed and placed on third read
ling.
In opposing the ordinance Mr.. Payne said
that he doubted the wisdom of destroying
nearly three miles of good sidewalks. AS
a matter of fact. he inquired Of Mr.. Mont
gomery if it were not true that pools of
water stood on the sidewalks mostly where
the walks had been torn up for water and
gas trenches, and had not been properly re-
laid. 1t lay within the province of the city
engineer and Board of Works TO have the
sidewalks properly repaired where defects
were due TO such causes. He said that the
character of the men demonstrating should
be considered. They were men who have
paid thousands of dollars without objection
to Improvements made to other streets
where they owned property and could not
ne Et2dTUtu us cQTOltlc klChtIS. ne re-
monstrance against the first section was
signed by two-thirds of the property own
ers. while they we've so much in the ma
Jorfty in the second section that the
monstrance was net even referred TO the
city engineer. On the third section about
two-thirds of the resident property owners
signed the remonStrance. He also referred
to the fact that trees are dying on several
streets where cement sidewalks have been
laid.
Mr.. Woody, member of the committee
N
trees SO much a question of whether
the Improvement Is necessary. Mr.. Sherer
to dfsprove the idea that cement sidewalks
Kill trees, spoke of those on the north side
Of Monument place. Mr.. Payne reminded
him that two or three trees have died and
been cut down since the cement was laid
and that two or three others near Christ
Church are whitening from lack of water.
Mr.. Sherer asserted that one of the trees
in front OF tho Columbia Club was blown
down and the other nearly dead before the
wa ks were made.
On several demands for the question
president Costello ordered the roll call. The
ordinance was passed on a vote OF 16 TO 3.
Ayes-Clark, Golfer, Dewar, Dudley. Kirk
hon, Madden, Montgomery, O'Connor. Oh
leyer. Pauch. Shafer. Sherer, Smith
Woody. Wolcott and Costello; nays. Muir
ply. Puryear and Payne. Messrs Allen and
ordinances. covering different sections OF
the street. the vote stood the same.
Mr.. Clark said. in explanation of his vote.
that Mr.. Payne's assertion that the remon-
strators were not chronic kickers was not
well taken. as they could not demonstrate
against improvements on streets where
| they did not live. He also asserted that
many people in his. part of town had been
| compelled TO pay for cement walks. Mr..
| Payne replied that while the demonstrators
| could not demonstrate against Improvements
on other streets. they might have brought
! influences to bear TO delay improvements
| as has been done before the Board of
! Works. II many cases cement sidewalks
| had been laid in the south part of town.
| but nearly every case was where there had
] been walks at all. This different
! case. he said. from tearing up miles OF
! good sidewalk in order TO put down &C.
ment None OF the demonstrators would OBJ
/ ject to cement on Delaware street If there
were not good brick sidewalks now i'm use.
a number OF Delaware-street property
! owners were interested spectators TO the
! proceedings. After the vote was taken,
| they filed out of the Council chamber and
| held an Indignation meeting in the corri-
| dor.
CLARK GETS HIS BADGE.
Councilman Clark was made happy last
night when City Clerk Stuckmeyer craved
the Chairs indulgence for few moments.
He announced that he had carried out the