The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-23
A FIGHT AGAINST GLOOM
COUNCIL WILL PROBABLY PASS UN-
DERTAkER ORDINANCE.
Committee Favors Giving n. MerId-
ian-St. Residents ReIief-Mr. Whit
sett Not Yet in Control.

The Council committee or public health
last night decided TO report favorably on
the ordinance prohibiting the establishment
and maintenance of undertaking establish
merits on any block or square of the city
where more than two-thirds of the buildings
are residences without the written consent
of a majority of the property owners. The
action of the committee was taken after V.
r. Malott William RI. Brown, CT. M. Bal
lard, A. II. Snow, DR.. II. Van Hummel,
Arthur " Brown and others had been heard
in regard to it. 1t is well understood that
the purpose of the ordinance is to prevent
c. T. Whitsett from moving his undertake
ing establishment to house on North Me-
rdian street, between Michigan and North
streets. An objection to the establishment
has been made by four hundred members OF
the Propylaeum society and petitions have
been signed by 375 residents of that section
of the city. Mr. Ballard said that he was
only two days getting forty signatures.
Every man he talked to was willing to lay
aside business affairs for the while to OPP
pose a morgue in a residence district Mr..
Malott said the excuse had been made that
business was extending north. After care
fully observing the trend of business III
Indianapolis for many years, he said he
was convinced business houses would not be
built on Meridian street north of New York
in the next thirty years, perhaps longer, as
University square would be a barrier. 1t
was his opinion that business houses would
be constructed first out Massachusetts and
Indiana avenues then UP Pennsylvania and
Delaware streets, and across New York and
Ohio streets, before Meridian street would
be taken. A. ". Brown spoke of the de-
+l,r Of hoa nd
other paraphernaiia of funerals would have
on a residence neighborhood.
The committee also had before it the con-
sideration of John NJ Higgins's ordinance
prohibiting any garbage company from al
lowing more than three garbage wagons to
congregate in the city at any one time;
While Mr. Malott was saying that he would
not have undertaking establishment
across the street from his house for any
consideration, Mr.. higgins asked wnat ne
thought about having garbage STABLE IN
his neighborhood. Mr. Malott replied that
he would be opposed to such nuisance as
that also, in tact, that he was opposed to
anything that would mar the appearance of
this beautiful city or annoy and depress
citizens in their homes. w. H Brown and
Mr.. Brown said that MIR. Higgins might
rely on him and his neighbors to get rid or
the nuisance ne was nghtlng. All or tnose
present agreed with Mr.. Higgins that the
stable and long procession or garbage
wagons ought to go,
DR.. Moffett, chairman of the committee,
was in favor of an amendment to Mr.. Hig-
gins's ordnance by which the garbage
wagons used in each separate ward should
be kept stationed in that ward. Mr.. Hig-
gins agreed to this, rather than have the
ordinance defeated While the ordinance
is amended SO as to permit the company to
adopt this plan, 1t is believed the company
will prefer to move its stable out of the
city entirely rather than maintain fifteen
separate stables. vas
c. T. Whitsett has not taken possession
of the property he bought, as the owner
W. H. Ballard, reserved thirty days in
which to vacate. 1t was explained that Mr.
Ballard did not know what purpose the
building was to be used for-indeed, that
he was ignorant of the purchasers name
until the real-estate agent who negotiated
ture 1t is likely that the ordinance will be
passed at the special meeting tonight City
Attorney Kern yesterday told Dr. Moffett
chairman of the committee, that the ordi-
nance is valid. %ts5