The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-10
SAYS, HE PLAYED DOUBLE
KENWOOD-AVE. PEOPLE ARRAIGN
BOARD OF WORKS PRESIDENT.
Delegation to Visit the Council
Gas Company May Take the Street
Car Peoples Federal Tack.

Charges of an unpleasant nature are
made by residents of Kenwood avenue
against M. A. Downing, president of the
Board of Public Works. A delegation of
them went to the City Hall last night ex-
pecting to lay their grievances before the
Council, but learned that that body would
not be in session until next Monday. They
explained the situation to three members
of the finance committee, who were hold
ing meeting. Roger Parry J. r. Reeves,
+. G. Reeves, E. H. Habig, w. f. Swisher,
a. A Monfort and G. A. Stephenson We're
in the delegation Burt Patton, Charles
Toon, Charles Wheatcraft, DR.. Ridpath, f.
M. Topp and others are interested in the
case.
One of the men told the finance commit
tee that some time ago petitions for ce-
ment walks next the curb line were cir
culated and signed by nearly everybody on
kenwood avenue. To two of the interested
parties Mr.. Downing subsequently said that
the board had granted the petitions and
had decided on a curb sidewalk. AS it was
the general understanding that this was
the boards decision the property owners
paid little attention to the boards actions
and never knew that curb walks were not
to be laid, until after the contract was let
stakes for walks next the property line.
When this discovery was made last week
a property owner went to see Mr.. Downing
again. Mr.. Downing then said that the
board had never intended to put in a curb
walk, according to the statements made last
night. He said that it was too late for
the board to change the specifications with
out unanimous consent. 1t was impossible
to get this, as some of the property owners
are nonresidents, beside which there is one
man, Charles Worth. who owns eighty feet,
who objects to sidewalks next the curb be
cause six trees he owns would have to be
leveled. Mr. Downing explained that the
board decided to put the walks next the
property line to save those trees. 1eSter-
day Worth offered to withdraw his objec-
lions to curb walks providing the other
property owners would make up a purse
of $40 to compensate him for the loss of
the trees. This angered the property OWN
ers and they decided to appeal to the COun-
ell. They said last night that they got no
satisfaction from the Board of Works or
the engineer. One of their number yester-
day consulted an attorney with reference
to bringing a suit to stop. the work, which
has just begun. Half of one OF the six
squares has already been torn up. Members
of the finance committee explained that the
Council could do nothing unless there was
remonstrance signed by more than half the
property owners. Inls has to be done, how
ever, within ten days after final action
owners relied upon Mr. Downing's state
ment that curb walks were to be laid, the
time in which to file remonstrances elapsed
before they knew that change mad been
made in the specifications, they say. Some
of the expressions used against the presi-
dent of the board last night
charged that he had pulled the Wool
over their eyes, one man remarklng that
this is just another Capitol-aVenue case.
There was talk of laying the case before
the mayor.