The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-03
IRVINGTON is INDIGNANT.
The Richcreeks Demanding Their Gin
terest and Costs"

Irvington citizens are up in arms over
demand made by Richcreek & Richcreek.
attorneys at No. So Baldwin block, Indian
apolis for the payment of assessment,
interest and costs on a sewer in Wash
ington street, Irvington. The question is
absorbing the interest of about 800 property
holders in the suburb. 1t is the topic of
conversation the Irvington street cars
and in all public places about the town.
The citizens are indignant over the
demand, and there is talk of
a mass meeting to discuss and take action
on the subject. The citizens do not object
to the assessment, which was levied upon
them by a committee of sewer assessors
appointed by the Town Board, but the
sticking point is the interest and costs"
asked for by the attorneys. The Irvington
citizens claim that they did not know what
their assessments amounted to and think it
no more than fair that they should have
been notified when and where to pay their
assessments In many cases the assess
ments are small. Some are as low as Is
cents, while other go as high as $40.
The sewer was constructed in Washing
ton street from Coleman avenue to point
1929 feet west of National avenue The
work was done by Contractor III. c. Roney,
of Indianapolis. The work was approved
by the Town Board about Nov. IL and
committee was appointed to assess the
amount of benefit to the various six hun
dred property owners. The contractor sold
the assessments to Richcreek & Richcreek
for $5S7. The assessments amounted to $06S.
The assessment committee had held meet
ing to hear circumstances to the
various assessments but the Irvingtor
citizens did not understand the situation
and few appeared at the meeting. The rea-
son that the citizens were not notified as
to the amount of their assessments is that
the amounts were so small that the Town
Board did not think any one would desire
board instructed the town clerk to send six
hundred postal cards to notify the assessed
citizens. but this order was afterwards re-
called.
Citizens who have called upon the attor-
neys report various results. Some have
paid the full amount demanded by the at
torneys. Others have protested and have
got off by paying simply the original as
sessment. Others, who have refused to pay
COSTS" have been threatened with an inn
mediate suit at law In most cases where
women property owners, have, gone to pay
their assessments they have been charged
the full demand, with interest and costs.
The attorneys say the law does not speci-
fly that they should have notified the as
sessed citizens. The Irvington town attor-
ney says that no costs can be attached TO
the assessments. The whole affair is great
deal of muddle and there are few Irving
ton citizens who clearly understand the sit
uation From these conditions arise queer
situations and misconceptions.
Those who have paid the full amount
demand a rebate. The attorneys will not
give it. Those who have not paid are threat
ened with suit and the end is not yet in
sight. In each case it seems that the sum
of 81 has been added to the original assess
ment This is for interest and costs" If
the attorneys could collect this from the
property owners assessed they would have
ka indignant
citizens do not know upon whom to place
the blame