The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-14

UNUSUAL LETTER SENT BY WORKS
BOARD TO SAFETY BOARD.
Ignoring the Violation of the Water
Cap Ordinance by the Water
Company.

1t has been nearly six months since the
ordinance compelling the water company to
lower the dangerous water caps, which
threaten the life and limb of bicyclists, was
passed. Yet the city administration has
done little to make the water company
comply with this ordinance, apparently con-
tenting itself to be pacified with the water
company's well-known plan OF lodging
Letters have been written to the water
company and soft replies have been re-
ceived. but the dangerous water caps re-
main and people are thrown from their bicy-
cles every day as result of the neglect of
the authorities and the water company. The
company promised City Attorney Curtis
some time ago that the caps would be low
cred by the time the bicycle season was
well under way. a few changes have been
made by cutting off a portion of the OBJ
noxious caps. but even with these insignifi-
cant changes the projections still
dangerous. City Engineer Jeup is satisfied
that the few changes made by the water
company do not comply with the ordinance.
Yesterday the Board of Works sent let
ter of the Board of Safety. the import of
which seems to be to. render this ordinance
obnoxious. The board Instead of asking the
Safety department to proceed at once
against the water company for maintaining
these Instructions in the roadway. tries to
make 1t appear that the ordinance is d.
rected against projections on sidewalks and
lawns. This construction is not only far
fetched, but is evidently designed to take
the public eye off the fact that the Board
Of Works is ignoring the violation of the
law by the water company. A part Of the
letter is further calculated TO make the
is in itself ridiculous. 1t asks that patrol
men be instructed to notify property own
ers to remove the Instructions on the side
walks and lawns. These connections on the
lawns and sidewalks are not owned by the
property owners, but by the corporations
that furnish water or gas to the property.
owners. While it would no doubt be thing
to be desired to have all distractions on
lawns lowered, yet the ordinance never con-
templated such. The Board of Works is
fully aware of the fact that the water COM
pany violates the ordinance in every part
of the city. The attention of the admins
tration has been called to it and the re-
quest made that the city proceed against
the water company. but no such action
has ever been taken.
The letter Of the Board of Works to the
Board of Safety is as follows:
I'VE herewith send to you a printed copy
of general ordinance No. Ga. 1895, which re-
lates to the lowering of all boxes which pro-
ject above the surface of the street. This
has reference to all projections in the side
walks and lawns, as well as the roadway.
I'VE respectfully ask that you give in
structions to patrolmen to notify all own
ers OF property who are affected by the pro-
visions of this ordinance to at once lower
the surface of the sidewalk, lawn or road
way and projections above the surface"
The ordinance reads:
BE ii ordained by the Common Council
of the City of Indianapolis that all indi-
viduals. firms or corporations using the
purpose of making or using surface con-
nections, outlets, escape pipes or plugs for
water. artificial or natural gas, be and are
hereby compelled to lower to the flush level
| Of the street all plugs and appliances which
now project above Of the street; and that
such projecting plugs and appliances shall
be deemed Instructors within the full
meaning of the law"
The second section provides for penalty,
and says that the maintenance of each OBJ
/ struction shall be an offense, and the third
section provides for the taking effect of
the ordinance in thirty days. 1t was passed
for the time for publication, 1t was in effect
before JAM /.
AS will be seen by the ordinance 1t pro-
vides only for distractions made by gas
and water connections. and was intended
for the specific purpose of doing away with
the high valve covers which the water COM
pany has on all the roadways. The gas
companies covers are and always have
been flush with the streets.