The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-28
SEWER in BELL STREET
ITS COURSE, COST OF CONSTRUCTION,
AND PROBABLE BENEFITS.
Claim that There Has Been DIscrim-
They Now stand, Are Unjust.
TO the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:

TO the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
As the plan or process by which it is pro-
posed to foist upon the people of the north
eastern part of Indianapolis and contiguous
territory the expense of building the pro-
posed Bell-street sewer becomes better and
more widely known indignant comment in
creases rapidly, and the tone of expression
OF the people indicates that opposition to
this so-called public enterprise is rapidly
crystallizing and promises soon to reach
point where the weight of opposition will
be more than can be withstood by the pro-
jectors of the scheme. Certain it is that
throughout the inception and early stages
of progress of this measure in its neces-
sary course through the hands OF the
Board of Public Works and before the Cir
cult Court of Marion county but very little
was known or heard of it among those
citizens who will be compelled to go deep
into their pockets for the necessary dollars
to meet the resulting assessments. In the
great majority of instances those who will
be called upon to meet these assessments,
in event of the construction of the sewer,
were wholly unaware that they We're within
range of the district mapped as benefited
by it's construction. The Journal circulates
widely among the citizens who will be so
affected, and a few brief comments upon
the proposed course and cost of construc-
ton, probable assessment per lot, efficacy
when constructed and theoretical benefits
to be derived from this sewer may not be
amiss and will probably be highly appre-
ciated by those who, possessed of a better
understanding of the entire matter, viii
undoubtedly desire to add their voice to
the general protest which has been raised.
TYPOGRAPHICAL
AS has been stated before through the
daily papers, the advocates of this con-
struction state that it is but the continual
ton of plan proposed by Engineer Her
ring in 1892 for the drainage of the district
originally furnished an outlet by means of
the old state ditch. The statement is uni
formly made by residents of the city who
have been familiar with the territory re-
ferred to that so far back as their memory
reaches (and much farther, this being
from twenty-five to forty years, this dis
trict has been simply a swamp converted
with each spring freshet into a stagnant
pond or mud hole; that the natural course
of it's drainage would be to the south and
southwest by way of Pogues run, and that
the original drainage was in this direction
prior to the construction of the levees on
which are placed the tracks of the Belt
and Bee-line Railroads. Those favoring the
construction of this sewer contend that the
natural drainage was to the west
in the direction of the proposed
construction, Notwithstanding the fact
that in order to secure waterfall TO the
west it was necessary to eXcavate the old
state ditch in many places to the depth
of fifteen to eighteen feet, and the old
Fourteenth-Street sewer, successor 10 the
old ditch, is in many places still farther
below the surface of the territory through
which it passes The proposition for
6ra in urQ hA mixed
Plans on file describe this sewer as a main
sewer for the purpose of removing sewage
yet it rs contended that if this surface
water alone will be emptied into Fail creek
that all sewage would be removed by an in
terceptor tapping this main sewer short
distance from its outflow into Fall creek
For three thousand feet east of Fall creek
this sewer is proposed to be built egg
shaped with diameters of eight and thtr-
teen feet. The proposed interceptor, begin
ming at Fall Creek, for over three thousand
feet shows a diameter (proposed) OF two
feet six inches. The land drained by the
main sewer being practically swamp land
it will furnish a steady flow of water at
all times, not alone during freshet periods
AS is commonly known, sewage matter TO
large extent becomes thoroughly broken UP
and mixed uniformly throughout the con-
tents of the sewer through which 1T flows
within a short distance after it's entry into
such sewer. The plans do not indicate by
what means the proposed interceptor VIII
be enabled to receive only sewage material
and refuse access to surface water as the
plans theoretically propose. Possibly 1t Is
theoretically contemplated That little
thirty-inch trap door at the inlet of the
interceptor will be endowed with intelli-
gence to such an extent that, so long as
surface water passes, it will remain closed
in it's normal position, but the moment any
quantity of sewage matter appears 1t Will
raise it's head inVitingly and extend cor
dial invitation TO such sewage to enter the
interceptor. Certainly 1t is contemplated
by the promoters Of this scheme to develop
rapidly if possible, the district to be
drained, and were a rapid influx or popu-
lz,s% chr fv19n
elapse until sewage connections with TINS
main sewer would be SO multiplied as TO
TAR exceed the capacity of thirty-inch In
terceptor, and in such event but snort
period would elapse until the residents OF
this same district would again be apprised
of the fact that they would g %. be benented
ton of still another sewer for this same
district
WHO WOULD BE BENEFITED?
AS to the actual benefits derived from
this construction, they may be divided
quite accurately into two classes: First
the indirect benefits. arising to those resi-
dents of Jackson Park who, when they
purchased their present holdings of real
estate in that section, were well aware
they were buying in q swamp and should
be ready to take the consequences of such
purchase, even though assured by their
grantors that at the proper time a scheme
second, that class who will receive indirect
benefits by the diversion of surface and
other drainage of this locality from its
natural course by way of Pogues run. and,
under the benefit scheme proposed, will not
be called upon for assessments The first
class deserves but little sympathy, because
of the fact that their purchase was made
with open eyes, well aware Of the natural
disadvantages of the locality in which they
purchased their lots for which they paid
comparatively small sum, and in a great
majority of cases but a small portion Of the
purchase money was paid in cash, the ball
ance being held under second mortgage,
Junior to that given for the purpose Of
erection of their residences, of which but
forty or fifty are now erected in this sec
ton and these range in cost uniformly
from $500 to 500. These are the only resi-
dents to derive practical benefits from this
Improvement. 1t cannot be contended for
moment that any practical benefit ac-
crues to any property whatever lying west
of the L. F.. & w. r. r. tracks, although
the district mapped out as benefited ex-
tends to old Seventh and Capitol avenue.
AS a matter of fact this district west of
the tracks will be distinctly damaged by
the forcing of sewage in large quantities
into Fall creek which flows along its
northern border 1t is further to be noted
that the great and peculiar advantage and
benefit to be derived from this sewer
crues beyond all question to a few men
of plethoric purses who are owners in large
quantities of the area to be drained Equity
would indicate that If their property is to
be enhanced in value, it surely would