The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-15
ASSESSMENT FOR PARKS
BOUNDARIES OF TERRITORY THAT
Nus PAY FOR THEM.
Property of Appraiser FIack, Who
Sterling r.. Holt, Escapes.

on account of the Fall creek park system.
The territory was less in extent than was
supposed. Through the densely populated
residence portion the boundary runs about
six blocks from the outer lines of the sys-
tenn. AS yet the amount of benefits are not
announced, but it is said that they gradu-
ally diminish as the lots are more remote
from the parkway. Washington-street
property forms the southern base line of
the benefited tracts, beginning at Illinois
street and running west to the Peoria di-
vision of the Big Four road beyond White
river. All property along Washington
street, between Pearl and Court streets, is
assessed as far west as the first alley east
Of Bright street, which is the eastern
boundary of the benefited tracts north of
Washington street. Pearl street con-
stitutes the southern boundary to
the Big Four road. From that
point the line trends ENTHUSIASTICALLY to
Belmont avenue, thence north to White
river; thence from the intersection of the
river and Shriver avenue to Lake street;
thence in a northeasterly direction to the
Intersection of Northwestern avenue and
2 street; thence on Twenty-ninth street
to Senate avenue; thence north to Thirtieth
and east on Thirtieth to Kenwood; north
to Thirty-frst; east on Thirty-tirst to a
point between Pennsylvania and Delaware
streets; thence north to Thirty-eighth street
and east on Thirty-eighth to take in How
lands addition east of Fall creek; thence in
a enthusiastically direction to the corner
of Thirtieth and Ralston avenue, thence
zigZaging southwest to the corner Of Twen-
ty-third (old Bruce street and the Belt
Railroad; thence west on Twenty-third
street to the alley east of Pennsylvania
street; thence south in the alley to
the first alley south Of Twenty
first street; thence west to the first alley
east of Illinois street; thence south to the
first alley north of Eighteenth street;
thence west to the first alley west of Cap
itol avenue; thence south to the first alley
north of Thirteenth street; thence west in
the alley north of Thirteenth street to the
first alley east of Howard street; thence
south to Tenth street; thence west on Tenth
street to the first alley east of West street;
thence south in the alley east of West street
to st. Clair street; thence west on st. Clair
street to the first alley west Of West street;
thence south to Indiana avenue at its juno
ture with North street; west on North To
the first alley east of Douglass; south in
the alley to first alley south of Michigan
street; thence east to the first alley east
Of Bright street; thence south to Court
street and east on Court street to Illinois
street, the beginning line.
The boundary lines above given are cor
rect in the main. They were hurriedly
transferred from an indented map in the
Office of the board.
IMMENSE PUBLICATION NECESSARY.
City Attorney Curtis yesterday afternoon
submitted an opinion TO the board on the
subject of the method of advertising the
proceedings of the assessors. He holds that
the assessors must give ten days notice OF
the time when they will hear property own
ers with reference to the value that has
been fixed on lands that are condemned and
the benefits assessed against adjacent free
holders. The notice must contain
the name of every person affected,
together with a description of his
lands, as nearly accurate as pos
sible, and the amount Of benefits or dam
ages fixed. The publication should be as
complete as delinquent tax lists. There is
TO be a total publication of thirty days.
Something like twenty thousand tracts of
land will have to be described and the
names of the owners given where known.
This means ar immense amount of work
and big printing bills for the board to pay.
Secretary Spencer says that it will take
several days to prepare for the first pub
LEGATION. When the lists are published each
person residing or owning property in the
district above described will learn what his
share of park benefts'' will cost him.
The benefited districts adjacent to the
smaller parks-the Dean property, the Kir-
land property and the Miller property-al-
ready purchased, are more cir cumscribed
and will not extent more than two or three
blocks from the park lines. The bounda-
rieS Of the district benefited by the Pogue's
run district will not be made known until
1t is aScertained whether the Council will
transfer the 1000 asked for that purpose.
1t will be observed that the plan. of as
sessing benefits on Washington street as far
as Illinois street n1aRPS assessments
against such aluable property as Park
Commissioner Claypool's Bates House cor
rer, Dickson & Talbott's Park Theater cor
ner, the Lorraine Block, a large number of
flour mills and many other valuable hold
ings. They were assessed on the theory
that West Washington-street property will
increase in value as a result OF its opening
into the southern end of the river parks.
There is surprise that benefits We're not as
sessed to q greater distance than half a
mile from the park lines through the heavy
populated districts of the north side. 1t
within a mile of Fall creek that he would
have to help pay for the parks. OF course,
that this is not true will please many, but
more far-sighted persons are wondering
how the commissioners expect to improve
the $500, 900 worth of land already purchased.
Long before the White river levees are con-
structed it is predicted, the benefits will be
exhausted, leaving the board with a sys-
tenn Of half-completed parks on it's hands
to show for an expenditure of a half mill
lion dollars. The commissioners have al
ready declared that they expect the Council
10 appropriate large annual sums IOr DARK
improvements.
APPRAISER FLACK ESCAPES.
1t Is said that Park Assessor Flack, who
own large tracts of land in and around
Haughville which will be considerably en-
HANGED in value on account of, the lower
river bottom system Of parks, is not as
sessed at all. While the lands west Of the
river were assessed at a greater distance
than those on this side of it, the line was
so carefully drawn that it does not take in
any of Mr.. Flack's valuable possessions.
At the time the deal was made with Mr..
Flack whereby he dismissed his suit
against annexation in consideration of GER
tain inducements" made to him by Park
Commissioners Holt, the Journal pointed out
what the inducements were. E1ack wanted
the parks to extend down to Washington
street instead of ending at Fall creek on
was said that the benefits against Haugh-
vile citizens would pay both for the land
and subsequent improvements. HaughVille
citizens Will undoubtedly pay much of the
money. At the same time Mr.. Flack is
equally benefited with his fellow-towns-
his portion of the benefit is concerned. The
administration reaps the political advantage
of having a Democratic stronghold within
the borders of the city and sets a good
deal of store by that fact. as ii might throw
the election in its favor. Haughville gets
a few acres of parks; the administration
gets an immense amount of political adj
vantage; Mr.. Elacks property perhaps
doubles In value; the citizens OF HaughVille
and indianapolis pay the piper. Nobody
knows just what interest Commissioner
Holt has in 0arnATUatiu the Administered fnu