The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-23

ing to only q few thousand dollars. a title
from the State TO land worth at least
$20,0 coo. 00.
CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY.
"In short. until within the last ten years
this land was all an open common. The
improvements upon it to-day aggregate by
actual measurement about five acres OF
actual buildings, including all shanties. etc.
The aggregate value OF all improvements
will not exceed half a million dollars, a
sum smaller than that received by the
same parties from the street-cleaning con-
tractors of Chicago for the privilege of
dumping their carts within the area. With
the exception of about three acres no taxes
were paid upon all of this properly until
the fal! of 1881. No streets were eXtended
through the property until after We made
out scrip locations, except one street next
Huron street.
Since we made our application the So
called riparian owners have failed utterly
10 show n chain OF title from the United
States TO them, and have relied entirely
upon the claim that the original survey
ought to have included this land, and upon
rank misstatements of fact made for the
purpose of exciting public sympathy.
There was never a case In any court
about which so many misstatements have
been printed nor such reckless exaggera-
lions made. Thus long lists of prominent
Chicago people, OF national reputation. have
been published as residents of the tract in
question, whereas in fact not one or such
persons ever lived upon this property or
has any interest therein. Statements have
been made that the entire property was
covered with elegant homes, extensive fac
tories and valuable Improvements; whereas
IN fact over % per cent. OF il is vacant land.
In the matter of commissioner Lam
oreuXs decision 1t was made after an eX-
haustive trial of the case and a review
gwen upon the petition OF our opponents
In which they were given a second month
at their request for further preparation,
and the in which lasted several
days. The commissioner had the case un-
der amusement for nearly three months.
His finding of facts and conclusions of
this latter fact that led to such a heroic
effort on the part of the Chicago parties to
secure a rehearing in the case. 1 am sat
isfed that if Secretary Bliss had fully I'M
derStoOd the case or had had any previous
experience in the department or in any law
court, he would not have granted the re-
hearing. The fact that Judge Lamoreux
had given out a copy of his decision after
it was rendered and duly recorded was not
a violation of any statute, rule or the right
OF any party in the case. 1t is a frequent
custom of judges making special findings
largely the forms submitted by the attor-
neys, and In many cases even to ask the
attorneys of the winning parties to draw up
the Chicago parties requested the privilege
of submitting their idea of what the find
ing of the commissioner should be. To this
he consented, and then notified our attor-
neyS TO do the same. He made his finding
Feb. 70, and recorded it the same day. In
NhS u ina q OAC vi u dl-
torneys called upon him TO inquire IL the
case had been decided. and to urge that it
should be decided before March 4. He was
informed that it had been decided, and that
the copies would so out TO attorneys upon
Tuesday following. Monday being a holt
day. Thereupon he asked If he might not
nave a copy then. and the commissioner
gave him one. While this was not an ev-
ery-day occurrence it was not an unusual
or remarkable thing, and was not a viola
ton of the right OF any one. the state
ment put out by the Chicago newspapers
that the commissioner had previously de-
cided the case otherwise, that he had writ
ten two decisions, one for each side, ETC.,
are all absolute falSehoods, promulgated in
theshope of throwing confusion in the case
and doing us more or less injury.
"Ou attorneys have asked the secretary
granting the rehearing set for April 5.
Should our motion be overruled we shall:
try the case again April 3. and are con-
fident that it will be decided in our favCr.
We know that the facts and the law are
both with us, and do not believe that with
all their wealth and influence the million
aire spectators who are fighting us will be
able to overcome defeat or TO hold the land
which they have been trying to secure
without either right or law in their favor.
1t is simply a cold question of facts and
the effort to mix in sentiment by dragging
in the homes of prominent people and wild
ows and orphans and promulgating all the
other falsenoods that have been put out, is
all rot"