The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-15
PRICE ON TAGGART LAND
HOW MAYOR IS TO PROFIT THROUGH
PARK COMMISSION.
Valuation of His Swamp-C. a. Book
walters Speech in the Fourteenth
Ward Last Night.

night, was rOuSlng event III HuHlbSiS dS
well as in interest. The Twiname home
is prettily situated on a wooded knoll over
looking Shelby street and Pleasant run, at
the corner of Barth avenue and Roll street.
The meeting, which may be strictly termed
a Harding meeting" was held under the
trees on the lawn. A platform, heavily
draped in the stars and stripes, had been
erected just in front of the house On the
long veranda were chairs for the ladies,
many being present, and out on the lawn
were seats for the men. The yard was
crowded with voters and they were full of
enthusiasm.
The decorations in the yard were taste
fully arranged Pretty flags twined about
the trees and bits of bunting of red, white
and blue fluttered from the shrubbery.
Bright-colored Japanese lanterns were
swung here and there, ard shed a mellow
light on the green carpet of the lawn Early
in the evening the rattle of the drum and
the clear notes of the fife attracted the
people of the neighborhood and before
o'clock there was scarcely standing room In
the yard. James E. Twiname presided as
chairman and introduced the speakers. All
who talked were accorded the most respect
full attention, but there were rousing cheers
of assent now and then that was plainly
indicative of the temper of the meeting.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Harding, the Repub-
lican candidate for mayor, was only able
to say a few words. The cold from which
he has been suffering for some time has
resulted in a distressing hoarseness that
stubbornly refuses to yield to treatment
AS he told his hearers, however, he hopes
to be in condition within the next four
weeks to talk at length to the people of the
South Side. Mr.. Harding was the first to
be introduced. He was recognized when he
stepped to the platform with a tumultuous
cheer. He said he wanted to speak to his
hearers of the things that concern them and
to which he expected to direct his attention
when he assumed the duties of mayor. He
spoke of the Beecher-street bridge, which
he could see in the distance, and which
seemed to him to rise as monument TO
the faulty work of the present city adj
miniStrat ton. He spoke of other matters of
personal interest to every South Side citi-
zen and each reference to the things so
familiar to the residents of that particular
district brought responsive cheers from
earnest hearers. Mr.. Harding promised the
voters in front of him that if they would
stand by the ticket he represents and elect
him he would guard their interests as jeal-
ously as he would guard the interests of a
client who came to consult him. He as
serted with emphasis that the people Of
the South Side will be looked after.
THE TAGGART SWAMP.
AS Mr.. Harding retired from the plat
form there were cries for "Bookwalter,"
and this hustling young Republican was
hurried to the stand. He spoke of matters
of peculiar interest to the South-side peo-
pie. His reference to the Beecher-street
bridge provoked both cheers and laughter.
Then he took up the park qaestion and
threw a ray of light on dark mystery.
He said among other things:
People residing in the southern portion
of the city, fortunately for them, are OUT
side of the assessment scheme established
by Mr.. TaggartS board of appraisers. The
line drawn by Joseph Flack and his friends
does not come south of Georgia street, but
that such is the fact is more a matter of
luck on your part than of intention on the
part of the city authorities. When the park
scheme was originally drawn some influence
to me unknown, but of which you can
doubtless form an intelligent idea before 1
have concluded, induced the park commits
SionerS to include certain territory ada
cent to the Fourteenth ward. Lying west
Of the Bluff road, south Of the Belt, ex-
tending. to the center OF White
property was included in that said to
be needed for parks, and fifty acres of it
belonging to Thomas Taggart was included
in the south part of the city, at all familiar
with real estate, but what knows the char
acter Of this land. Subject to overflow and
impossible swamp for months each year,
even the hardened conscience Of this adj
ministration could not justify its action on
the theory that this land was necessary for
public parks but 1T is claimed to take 1T
for propagating ground l appeal to any
man familiar with real estate values to
say whether 5000 is not an outrageous valu-
alton to place upon land absolutely worth
less for any purpose.
Lying along the north side Of Raymond
street, commencing with White river and
running toward the Bluff road, were thirty
lots. These lots, by reference to the town
ship assessors book, can be found to have
been appraised at a valuation of $40 each.
Mr.. Taggart'S board of appraisers, when
fixing the valuation of these lots for park
purposes, said to the owner, Come to the
city treasury and receive $40 for each lot
Lying along the south side of Raymond
street, beginning with White river and run
ming toward the Bluff road were other lots,
equally as valuable if either could be said
to have value as those north Of Raymond
street. To the owners of these lots Mr..
Tagart's park board has said, Come to the
city treasury and receive $22 each for your
real estate Who owns these lots? Those
lying south of Raymond street, for which
the city has to pay $22, belonged to the
John J. Smith estate to w. l. Ripley, S.
F. Galloway, ]. ]. Stanley, r. II. McCrea
and others. These gentlemen, bear in mind,
are to receive $22.
TAGGART GETS THE PROFIT.
"Those lying north of Raymond street be-
long to a friend of the park commissioners,
no less friend that Thomas Taggart Re-
member, he is to receive $40 Is this the
business you wish to characterize your city
administration A word as to the value Of
this real estate. Mr.. Taggarts fifty acres,
which his friends the park commissioners
took into the park system and which his
other friends the appraisers value at $500
an acre, is assessed for taxation at 800 an
acre. Mr.. Taggarts lots are assessed at
$40 each. The lots south of Raymond are
also assessed at $50. / have taken occasion
to-day to inquire of men posted as to val
ues in real estate, and the highest eSti-
mate / could secure upon this acreage was
$3.50 and upon the lots $25. AS matter of
fact, neither have cash value, the lots
being used as speculative trading property,
being dickered off without abstracts for
mining stock, worthless equities in improved
real estate and wildcat schemes in gen
eral
Admitting that this property has a cash
value estimated, l inquire what use has
the city of Indianapolis for ground practi-
cally worthless to any one else? Is this not
another instance Of the use of the city gov
eminent to reward personal and political
friends at the expense of the tax payers?
street are considered so much more valua-
BILE than equally as good property south of
Raymond street? Is 1t not proof positive
that friend was to be rewarded at your
expense? Let us be fair about this The
lots north of Raymond street are forty feet
frontage. Those south of the street are
thirty feet frontage On the same relative
value however, the owner of the north
lots should receive but $3.50 instead of $40
each. Now, my friends why are you not
called upon at this time as are your less
fortunate fellow citizens to the north to
pay an unjust assessment for the improve
ment of this property? l will tell you When
the appropriation ordinance went to the
Common Council the amount provided for
therein was so reduced that the Park Board
was compelled TO drop out some part of