The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-05
CAPIToL-AvENUE IMPROVEMENTS.
Another Delegation of Property Own
ers Before the board of Works.

Some acrid remarks were made at the
meeting of the Board of Public Works yes
terday morning, when Pierre Gray and a
delegation of taxpayers from North Capitol
avenue appeared to protest against the i'm
provement of hat t~horoughfare from Fall
creek to Thirty-fourth street with wooden
block pavement. Bids for improving the
street are to be received at the boards
next meeting. 1t was after noon before
the last man had been heard and the board
adjourned. Pierre Gray, speaking for some
of his clients, questioned the legality of
the boards action in allowing the with
drawal of names from remonstrance
against block pavements. 1t was his con-
tention that if within ten days after the
board took final action more than half of
the resident property owners demonstrated
the board lost jurisdiction and could take
no further steps, under the city charter.
President Downing said that the board
was fortified with an opinion from the city
attorney to the effect that demonstrators or
petitioners might withdraw their names
within ten days.
Mr.. Gray replied that misrepresentation
amounting to fraud, within the meaning of
the law, had been used to get remon-
stranceS and petitions.
I'VE deny that replied Mr.. Downing,
holly. I'VE did nothing of the kind"
Later he said that the board knew moth
ing of representations made by persons Sc
tuIliS SiSlldluItS = ptllliOiS. ne ueCldE6Q
that no one nae authority to say that the
board preferred one kind of pavement to
another He declared that the board had
left the entire matter with property owners,
and was satisfied that it hau ascertaineu
what they wanted.
J.. E. White arraigned the board severely
for changing its plans so that the section
of Capitol avenue between Fall creek and
Twenty-first street is not to be improved
the determination TO improve the Sec
ton between Fall creek and Thirty-fourth
street. He said hat the north section was
higher than the lower, was improved with
gravel and water did not long remain on
it. h was really needed, he declared,
sarcastically, was for the board to improve
Thirtieth street, 80 that DR.. Stone could
DR.. j. w. Stone was at the meeting to back
up the boards action. He talked right out in
meeting, saying that the appearance of
property owners before the board was to
defeat the entire improvement; that it was
not actuated by a desire to nave macadam
substituted for wooden blocks. He declared
that not one in ten of the residents would
sign a petition for macadam.
Samuel Ashby was one of those who said
that the city engineer had never asked him
what sort of pavement he preferred. 1t
has been reported at the boards Office that
the wish of each property owner had been
ascertained. II. A. Harrison said that all
wanted the street improved, but 1t was a
question as to which would be better. Be
fore the street could be completed he feared
the block would be destroyed.
After the remonstrators were heard Pres
ident Downing said that they had been lis
tened to through courtesy, but the board
felt that nothing had been said which wOuld
warrant a change in its attitude.