The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-28

its canvass of the matter and has secured
legal talent among the best obtainable in
Indianapolis To represent the interests of
the citizens of the assessment district in
the Circuit Court, where 1t is presumed the
statutes of ISa5 tb wa action Of This nnrt ena
pears to be final, and provides that there
is to be no appeal in such matters from its
decision, there seems to be equally poor
chance for appeal or redress in connection
with the actions of the commissioners APP
pointed to assess benefits or damages, as a
close construction of the statutes appears
to give them not only full ministerial but
arbitrary and mandatory powers.
FAIR WARNING.
Certain it is that all citizens from old
Seventh street TO Capitol avenue eastward,
including the entire town of Brightwood.
lying north of the Bee-line tracks and
north to the banks of Fall creek, should be-
displaying a lively interest in the outcome
of this suit, If they have due regard for the
welfare of their pocketbooks. 1t is expect
ed that hearing of this case in the Circuit
Court will be begun at 8 a. m. on Monday,
in Judge Aliens court, and present indica-
lions are that there viii be a large. attend
ance of citizens from the territory inter-
ested. 1t is urged by the promoters OF the
scheme that the building of the Four
teenth-Street sewer upon its present scale
was but a part of the complete scheme for
drainage of this territory, the Fourteenth
street sewer to BE supplanted by the one
now proposed, and that, Intentionally the
capacity of the Fourteenth-street sewer
was limited to less than necessary for ade-
quate drainage. Competent men, who have
made point of watching the flow from
the exit of the Fourteenth-street sewer,
testify that at no time during the past sea-
son has this outlet shown that the main
part OF the sewer was tested to more than
one-half, or, possibly, for a short period,
two-thirds Of its full capacity, and that its
inlet on the south border of the district to
be drained was entirely inadequate
to admit sufficient surface flow to
test the full capacity of the sewer.
This being the case would Indicate
that a far more rational plan than that
proposed would be to increase the capacity
Of the inlet of the Fourteenth-street sewer,
and then, if advantage We're to be gained
mensurate with the advantages to be
gained by private individuals on private
real estate enterprise 1t would be ample
time 10 think of settling this burden OK
from 500 900 to $3.50, 600 Of sewer expenses
upon a portion of the community 80 per
cent Of which would receive no direct or
practical benefits therefrom. And, were
supplemental drainage still necessary, COM
mon sense would Indicate that advantage
be taken of the natural lay OF the land
and of natures direction of drainage as
well as of the needs of the people to the
south of the proposed district, and that
Pogue's run be converted into a sewer aGe-
quate not only for the drainage Of the
district through which II runs, but also
for the carrying off Of food waters from
the district which 1t has drained, lying
northeast of the city for period which ex-
ceeds the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
Private enterprise SO directed as to beauti-
fly and adorn the city, when limited to its
own resources and carrying its own bur-
dens IS not 10 be decried in any sense,
no matter what the returns may be to its
promoters But when private enterprise dt-
Verges from these proper channels and
seeks its own profit through placing assess
ments without limit without power and
without warning upon those who have alb
solutey no interest and can acquire no
benefits whatever from its developments,
it descends rapidly to the level OF the
rnerest scheme and is deserving only OF
the condemnation Of the people
The question had been raised by many
who have examined the boundaries of the
proposed assessment district as to whose
fertile ina gnation could have devised such
tortuous meanderings as those followed by
the boundary lines and the only answer
thus far returned is influence accompa-
MED by a knowing wink. Certainly alarm
ing VagarieS are displayed in these maps.
one lot lying on one side OF ten-fCot
alley will be called upon TO pay its quota
of SIS to 500 for benefits, and another on
the other side will be benefited not at all
In other cases, boundary lines meander
about streets and alleys almost entirely sur
rounding a given piece of property, yet
leaving ii outside the assessed district.
They are surrounded on three sides. Names
of residents of such exempted blocks or poT--
lions of blocks would be odious. Certainly,
throughout the entire matter OF establish
ing these lines discrimination is evident
az is lack of judgment or equity, and
uron this ground alone it would seem that
these entire proceedings should fall.
Indianapolis, June 26 r. II. H.