The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-05
TEN CENTS A FRONT FOOT
THE ASSESSMENT FOR MOST OF
PARK-BENEFITED TERRITORY.
Commissioners VIII Take Possession
of Davidson Tract i'm Few Days
constitutional Point.

before the Beard of Park Commissioners
at the regular meeting yesterday afternoon,
though the board closed the transaction
for acquiring the Davidson property, on
East Ohio street for which S23. 500 is to be
paid to-day after the deed signed by Kath-
crime L. Miller is approved by City Attor-
ney Curtis. The ground will not be thrown
open for park purposes for few days.
Some annoyance has been caused the oc-
cupants by persons coming into the
grounds. The board announces that no one
is at liberty to enter the premises until
the house has been vacated. Secretary
Spencer informed the board that the deed
to the Kirkland property would probably be
delivered by the Marion Trust Company
to-day.
w. E Mick & Co. offered the board the
tract of land adjoining Jackson Park for
$4,000 A formal proposition from w. E.
Christian TO sell the board sixty acres
southeast for $4,000 was also received
Both were ordered spread on the file.
Park Engineer Power submitted drafts
for the Improvement of the Kirland square
The plans show the usual walks in ge-
ometrical designs, with flower beds, foun-
tain in the center and grass plats. Mr.
Perry favored beginning the work at once
but President Claypool advised that ac-
ton be deferred until Messrs. Holt and
Lieber could see the plans. This conceded
with Mr.. English's views and action was
deferred. Controller Johnson was present.
He expressed the opinion that the work
could be paid for out of the labor fund now
available. Mr.. Claypool seemed to think
that the board ought to wait until money
was received from the benefits that are to
be assessed against adjacent property, as
the board has already adopted a resolu-
ton that the benefits on account of a given
park shall be applied to it's Improvement.
There was some informal discussion of
the suggestion that the Park Board is con-
stituted under an unconstitutional law. A
morning paper said yesterday that the
point raised was O. serious one and tried
TO throw the blame on Mayor Denny's adj
ministration, saying that between the fool
legislature of 1895 and our able city gov
eminent at that time, 1t is quite possible
that a finesmess of fish has been prepared
Commissioner Perry was asked as to how
the law came to be passed. He said that
for several months the Commercial Club
and Board of Trade agitated the subject of
park law. AS result of the discussion
a joint committee was appointed from the
two organizations, and Mayor Denny APP
pointed a committee to act in conjunction
with it. He was requested to do this to
show the Legislature that the idea met the
sanction of the city government. AS Mr..
Perry remembers, Mayor Denny appointed
a committee consisting of George Tanner,
Councilman p. j. Ryan and Commissioner
Perry. The committee held weekly meet
ings for four months Park laws of va
rioUs other States were carefully studied,
and much care given to the law that was
finally introduced by Representative Leedy.
H. G. Allen, now judge of the Circuit Court,
was a member of the committee, and gave
the drafting of the act much thought, con-
various questions that came up. 1t was
the intention to give the board large dis
cretionary power, as those of other states
have. Mr.. Claypool was a member of the
Commercial Club committee but was alb
sent when the law was drafted. Neither he
nor Mr.; Perry had ever heard the point
that a five-year tenure of office was uncon-
stitutional until the suggestion In the Jour-
raj Thursday. Mr.. Claypool says, however,
owners are dissatisfied with the method Of
assessing benefits provided in the law,
claiming that all taxes for improving the
parks should come from the general fund,
as the parks, if benefting any property
benefit all alike.
Mayor Taggart was at the office of the
board yesterday, but left before the meet
ing, after talking with President Claypool
Controller Johnson dropped in after the
mayor left, but the business they expected
to present was not brought up.
THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT.
Messrs. Claypool and Perry think that
there will be less dissatisfaction with the
benefit assessments when people learn that
they are not heavy. On Washington
street the benefits renge from 81 a front
foot in close proximity to the river bot
tom parks down to 50 cents. From the
Bates House corner east to New Jersey
street the Washington-street assessments
are so cents a foot. For about the same
distance on Market street they are 20 cents
a front foot Above Ohio street, within
very large district the assessments are but
10 cents a front foot. In other words, the
owner CT a fifty-foot lot, not more than
$50 feet deep, will be assessed SIS. Over
$50 feet deep the lots are assessed IL cents
a front foot The following are the bound
airy lines of the district within which the
Beginning at the intersection of the north
line of Ohio street and the alley east of
New Jersey street; north to old Sixth
street; east to alley east of Ash street;
rorth to alley north of old Eleventh
street; east to L. Z. & W. tracks; north to
alley south of old Seventeenth street; west
to alley west of Bellefontaine street south
lege avenue: south to old Fourteenth
street: west to alley east of Talbot ave-
nue. south to old Twelfth street; west to
Talbot avenue; south to old Tenth street;
west to alley east of Illinois street; south
to old Ninth street; west to alley east of
Senate avenue; south to alley between old
Fourth and Fifth streets; west to Lafay-
cite Railroad; south to old First street;
est to the canal; south to st. Joe; west
TO line between Fayette and West streets;
south to st. Clair; west to alley west of
West street; south to Indiana avenue;
down the avenue to North street; west to
allev west of Ellen street; south to Allie
to Ohio street, and east to the beginning.
on property east and north OF the sec
lions bounded the asse SSmentS increase
gradually 20 81 a front foot.