The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-19
Desirable to Have Him Design a Gen
eraI scheme for the Indian-
apOIis System.


ito see how the parks are progressing.
You know was here a year ago and made
a partial report to the board. 1t is my Gus
tom to visit cities where l have been en-
ployed every year or so to see how things
are getting on
Have you submitted any additional
plans?''
Il have not"
Have you been requested to do any adj
ditional work?"
mo. You know the board has not yet
come into possession of the lands"
DO you expect to return soon?'
II think not
Mr.. Olmstead said, as he stepped into the
elevator, that he was at the boards COM
mand whenever it might desire any service
from him. He excused himself from fur
Their conversation, that he might get to the
Union Station in time for his train.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Olmstead
came here when the park board was first
organized, looked over available park lands
and submitted a rough design of the lands
that ought to be acquired
Speaking of Mr.. Olmsteads visit Mr..
Claypool, president of the board, said that
no arrangements had been made with him,
but he had been requested to make prop
osition to the board early in June. Mr.
Perry has been particularly anxious to
have the board secure Mr.. Olmsteads serv-
ices. The firm with which he is connected
is probably the most famous in landscape
gardening and designing parks of any in
the world. Much of the beauty of the drive
ways and landscape scheme of the worlds
fair at Chicago was due to the efforts of
the firm, at that time Olmstead & Elliott
Hr tod No fc
creating parks in a score of places in this
country. They have been particularly sue
cessful in designing the beautiful landscape
features on the Vanderbilt estate in North
Carolina Messrs. Perry and Claypool both
think OlmStead should be employed to de-
sign the picture and general scheme
for the parkWayS before anything is done
at all. The idea is to have an arrangement
with him for say three years. BY that time
the work would be well under way and
minor details could be carried out by en-
gineers. Some members of the board, while
agreeing as to the desirability of this idea,
are considering the expense. Mr.. Claypool
said yesterday that he had no definite idea
as to what the expense would be- buy III
other cities the artists had charged from
$40 to $40 an acre aeeording to the scope P
country. Unless the general scheme is de-
cided before the work begins Mr.. Claypool
said that there was danger of serious mis-
takes being made.
1--WE have an Illustration of this fact In
the Soldiers Monument" said he IF Bru-
all of these changes would not have TO be
made. Changes in work are expensive. We
ought to have general plan TO begin with
and then work up to it. 1t will take years
to perfect the parks. When / was abroad
L saw a cathedsal begun 500 years ago and
they were still working on it and carrying
out the original ideas.
If terms are made with Mr.. Olmstead he
will be asked to submit pictures and de-
sign a general scheme His entire time
would not have to be spent here, but the
work could be carried out by engineers;
While Mr. Olmstead was here yesterday
beginning at Washington street, by Com
missioners Claypool and Perry and ex-
pressed satisfaction at the determination to
recommended some months ago. AT the
afternoon conference Messrs Lieber and
English met Mr.. Olmstead, the latter for
the first time: Mr.. Holt was not present.
After the conference Mr.. English said that
he was not sufficiently informed as to Mr..
Olmstead's plans to express an opinion on
them, but speaking at first blush he said
that he was inclined to agree with Messrs.
Perry and Claypool as to the adVisability
of having Mr.. Olmstead prepare a general
scheme for the pathways.
Mr.. Perry was the first to suggest Mr..
ouanted wf aiq his ne ideas an tba Is better od
not care to commit myself on the question
of employing him for three years until L
am better informed, but it strikes me as
being good idea from my present infor-
nation. l only talked to Mr.. Olmstead
about five minutes as he had to hurry to
Louisville at 5 o'clock
What about Mr.. Power?'
MIR. Power, as L understand it, will at
tend TO carrying out the practical engineer
ing work. He has proved very valuable to
the board and we could hardly spare him..
;, Although Mr.. Power is inclined to think
himself capable of doing everything the
board might require, he is not disposed to
put any obstacles in the way of Mr.. Ohm
stead's plans, and if the board decides to
employ him will cheerfully do everything
to carry out his ideas He is to furnish Mr.
Olmstead with Typographical surveys and
other data he wishes for immediate use
Mr.. Olmstead submitted u preliminary
proposition to the board some time ago. but
1t has been mislaid and he will prepare an
vile.
Mayor Taggart met Mr.. Olmstead at the
Office of the board and heard what ne had
TO propose. Last night he said that he was
inclined to think it might be necessary
later on to have Mr. Olmstead come here
AT present, however, he believes that
much of the rough work can be done by
the board. There is a great deal of work
like building boulevards, filling in low
saou iil ana building levees, that would not
require the supervision of landscape
gardener. The mayor does not anticipate
danger of mistakes in this line of work.
1t is not likely that contractors will be
given an opportunity to make profit out
OF the work on the parks. Mayor Taggart
SAID that it would be his idea for the board
10 90 the rough work directly under the
supervision of the park engineer and that
ne would request that this course be fol-
loWeu. he De1eVeS that 1T will be cheaper
ana more satisfactory than to have it done
py contractors, who would expect to en-
ploy labor at the lowest price and make as
much out of it as possible
"Large" East-End Park Meeting.
A meeting to discuss the subjects for
parks in the extreme eastern part of the
city was called to be held at 1902 East
Washington street last night. A dozen or
more people gathered in the hail. but no
one seemed to have charge and after wait