The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-05

Park Lands :" and is signed West Side"
am reliably informed tnat the author Of
this literary effort is a Democratic council
man. Listen TO what this Democrat has to
say in the Sentinel on March 6. five days
after the appropriation was made, and al
most thirty days after the now famous Sth
day of February:
ITO the Editor-Sir: 1 noticed in your is
sue OF yesterday that the park commits
sioners have decided to leave out of the
park system the land on the river south of
Indiana avenue, except that piece near Nor
for propagating purposes. 1t is said by the
board that the land on the river between
Indiana avenue and Washington street
overfiows, and for this reason is not desira-
bic. This is not true, as this land from the
avenue TO Michigan street is levied and
never overfiows, and a small levee from
Michigan street to Washington street would
protect the land between these points.
THE experts who viewed the park lands
all agreed that the land along the river
from Washington street should be q part of
the park as they possess natural advan-
tages that would add much TO any park.
Beside this land Is surrounded by large
population and is accessible to more work
ing people than any other piece of land
named by the board
THE piece of land near Morris street on
the river has never been recommended for
park, and the board admits this, but it
is proposed to buy it at a cost of $1,000 and
use II as a garden or prOpagaung grounds
This land is among the very lowest on the
river and cannot be successfully levied. If
it is necessary to have a propagating
ground the proper place, it seems to me,
would be near the center of the park, in
order that the plants can be taken to any
part of it with the least amount of labor
and time. 1t is claimed that this river land
is owned by 9. prominent city official and its
selection Is due to a desire to please him.
II this is true, then the board will do well
TO go slow, as the public will be sure to re-
sent any action on the part of the board
that smacks of favoritism.
indianapolis, March 5. WEST SIDE.
Does not this prove" concluded the
speaker, that Mr.. Taggart's land was in
cluded in the park system? Does 1t not
prove that they were working a scheme to
secure its purchase and deceive the people?
ing emphatically that it certainly does"
Mr.. Harding, who was next introduced by
the chairman said it afforded him much
pleasure to meet the people of Brightwood
and he would not detain them long. II no
uced in the Evening News" he continued,
IAN editorial arraigning me for statement
l made criticiSing the Taggart admnistra-
ton at a meeting last week. ! said that
the administration had shown poor business
ability when it tried TO buy certain lands
and appropriated $4,000 for it's purchase.
simply spoke of facts when | said that the
Of this land to be $30S 900 for the purpose of
taxation, which you know is not quite up
TO its true value, and they expect to pur-
chase 1t for even less than the amount for
which 1t is appraised upon the books of the
assessor of Marion county. Need / tell you
against whom this confiscation OF land at
such low figure would work an in
justice? Do they call this doing
business from business. stand
pOlnCI AT the amount set by the PARK
Board of appraisers, | say that they could
not purchase this land without confscat-
ing one half of the property in that sys-
TEN, and they have not enough money to
purchase 1t at it's real valuation. Now
Will again make the assertion that they are
either attempting to deceive the public, or
lack business ability Another thing that
strikes me as peculiar is the fact that this
board of park appraisers appraised Mr..
Taggarts land at $500 an acre, while it is
only appraised at $l00 an acre for taxation
1t looks to me very much like favoritism
for the other lands We're not appraised as
much individually as is shown by their as
sessments. Joseph Flack and Sterling r.
Holt are TaggartS bosom friends and they
have appraised his land for three times
as much as 1T was appraised for taxation.
l dc not believe in the contiscation of
property and in this deal favortism has
been shown from beginning to end. Just
look at the crooked line that was drawn so
to include all the ice ponds except that
one owned by Mr.. Holt. 1t looks very much
as though he was figuring on having mo-
nopoly on the ice trade. The Indianapolis
Gas Company is spending its money sending
out it's employees to work for Taggart, and
doing everything to secure his election that
money can do or devise. Can you expect
more. rom Taggart supported by corpora
tions, than you can expect from me, who is
being fought by them? a man is not known
by his professional nor by his words, but he
is known by his acts, his life and his char
acter. Taggart by his conduct and close
relations with John r. Pearson, in my opin-
ion, will not do very much toward securing
cheaper gas for you if elected His case
and mine are up for trial Defore the voters
of Indianapolis. Can you name any act or
statement made by him that declares him
the peoples friend, and not the friend of
corporations? / do not condemn corpora
TONS for they are necessary support of
the commercial world But am in favor of
individuals also having their rights. / ask
corporations to render as strict an account
to us as they are obliged to do to stock
holders. When they try to monopolize streets
to the exclusion of all others l object. No
monopoly can exist under competition, and
my policy is competition.
II. e. Negley next spoke briefly of the
would not come here and invest their capt.
tai. The stand that the capitalist takes is
that If he brings capital here he will have
to help pay the enormous city debt The
speaker recommended that the Taggart adj
minstration appoint bond inspector. In
speaking of the Bell-street sewer, he puts
little faith in Taggarts assertion that in
1.as Of his electinn will not be built