The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-13
NO SEWER IN POGUE'S RUN
MAYOR TAGGART SENT OUT THIS
WORD BY HIS SECRETARY.
AlIayed the Trouble That Was Brew
ing for His Administration i'm
Northeast Part of City.

Pogue's run will not be converted into a
sewer. Such was the word sent by Mayor
Taggart To the meeting held last night at
Van Sickle's Hall by the resident owners
of property adjacent TO the historic stream.
over two hundred men interested i'm the
subject gathered at the hall above No. 80
Clifford avenue TO demonstrate against the
proposed new sewer, with ]. Il. Wells in the
chair. The committee on resolutions ap-
pointed at the last meeting reported the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were unanimous
ly adopted:
Whereas. The question of the conversion
of Pogue's run into a sewer is under con-
sideration. and whereas said Improvement
%, II made. will be a heavA burden upon
the owners of real estate adjacent TO said
stream, be IL therefore
Resolved We do not believe said i'm
proVement would be OF practical utility.
We believe there is a better and less en-
pensive way TO provide for the overflow of
PoSues run. We would suggest the re-
moving of distractions. deepening, WIDEN
ing and strengthening the channel ana wall
ing the sides where necessary. 1t would be
thus retained an open stream, which is
certainly desirable. especially the part
passing through the proposed park. BY
making small lake or dam the park could
be supplied with water from this stream
the year round. We do not believe the
the property owners VIII justify the eH-
penditure, which we believe would be
enormous If the sewer Is made sufficiently
large TO carry all the water We do not
feel that in addition to the other high
charges and assessments against our prop
erty we can, especially during these hard
times, stand such assessment. We do not
believe ii is within the jurisdiction of the
Board of Public Works to convert a natural
stream of water into a sewer and then
charge the cost of same TO adjacent prop
erty owners a sewer as provided by the
charter of the city of indianapolis. We
stand opposed to said sewer as proposed
and will use our best efforts to prevent the
contamination of the same
Herbert Spencer, Mayor Taggart's pri-
vate secretary, was present and was given
permission by the chairman to speak. His
first words were oracular: THE Pogue's
run sewer will not be built" Mr.. Spencer
then went on TO say that Mr.. Taggart had
authorized him TO say that he was opposed
TO the sewering of Pogue's run and to
assure the citizens present that nothing
would be done by the Board of Public
Works further than the deepening. clean
ing and Strengthening of the stream.
Although this communication from the
mayor, if confidence were placed I'm it, re-
moved the chief occasion for the meeting,
some of those present had their ammuni-
ton with them and could not re1rain from
firing il Off. Some warm speeches We're
made by o. n. Wilmington, Fremont AL
ford, T. j. Truser and others, condemning
the proposed plan OF converting Pogue' $
the city officials generally for their dis
position TO make assessments as heavy as
possible on property owners.
1t was proposed that those present be
asked To sign their names TO a paper stat
ing the amount of money they would con-
tribute i'm case a lawsuit should be neces-
sary to protect their interests. There was
some discussion on this question. Some of
the members present thought such pro-
ceeding would be foolish in face of the
mayors communication and others thought
il best not to rely on the promises of the
ly enthusiastic in his advocacy of radical
measures. He had no confidence In Mayor
Taggart's promise and thought the citi-
zens ought TO look after their own interests
while they could. The cooler element pre-
vailed however, and the proposition was
showing a diScOurtesy TO Mayor Taggart.
4 remonStranCe against the proposed sewer
had been prepared for signatures, but this.
too, was cast aside as being measure TO
compel the mayor to do what he had al
ready promised to do. The remonstrance
committee, however and they were given
discretionary power to call a meeting and
secure signatures if it should become neces-
sary.
A collection of $3.50 was taken up to de-
fray the expenses of the next meeting.
Pogue's run will take no further action
until they are satisfied that Mayor Tag
CART will not fulfill his promise. In such
an event they have sigEified their intention
TO fight the sewer scheme by every means
in their power and to subscribe a fund for
night favored the plan of deepening and
cleaning the bed of the stream at what
ever cost, but the sewer scheme was con-
demned as a useless expenditure of money.