The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-15
WANTS TO DIVERTFUNDS
PARK BOARDS SCHEME TO GET
MORE MONEY FROM COUNCIL.
Tries TO Use "a Northeast Delegation
as "a TOoI-How Money Has Al
ready Bee Used.

make the recommendation. This decision
was announced at the meeting of the board
yesterday afternoon, when a delegation of
citizens from the northeast part of town
appeared to urge the purchase of about
100 acres east of Newman street along
Pogue's run. Messrs. Holt and Lieber were
not present at the board, but Mr.. English
had conferred with them as well as Messrs.
Claypool and Perry, and he acted as
spokesman for the board in replying to the
citizens committee.
A. D. Howe was the first member of the
committee to urge the board to do some
thing for the northeastern section of the
city. He said that while the citizens were
not making the clamor than had been
raised by the residents of the West Side,
they are none the less in earnest. Judging
from press reports of the proceedings of
the board it appeared to them that their
section was not receiving such considera-
ton from the board as it was entitled to
and was not being as well treated as the
West Side. Mr.. Howe said that the people
believe that at least o~ne-fourth of the $780,
600 available for the purchase of lands
should be expended in that direction. In
addition to the Spades and Roberts tracts,
which he was informed the board had al
ready had appraised, he said the people
thought one hundred acres or the larger
part of it in the Yandes and John Han
cock Insurance Company tracts ought to
be bought. He presented petitions, copies
of which have heretofore been published
in the Journal, signed by 700 people, ask
ing the board to take this action. He said
the fact that the people had signed the
petitions was an indication of their willing
ness to be assessed for benefits. II. p.
TovchalI chnuyo1 nI,+1. n tho Dah0p+1 o,aH
Spades tracts. He was informed that these
had already been appraised and the board
was not disposed to waste any time on
them. Then he shove plats of the Yandes
and John Hancock lands, pointing out the
ease with which a beautiful artificial lake
might be made. Much of the land was
already heavily timbered and showed a
diversity of natural conformation which
would make it yield to landscape garden
ing without much work or expense. J. Fl.
Wells read a letter from Hilton U. Brown
stating that the board would make a great
mistake If it allowed the opportunity to
purchase this land go by. He spoke of the
natural characteristics of the lane as max
ing it unusually suitable for parks.
The delegation was about to file out while
President Claypool consulted with Mr..
English over a tabulated statement the lat
ter held in his hand.
Hold on, gentlemen; don't be in a
hurry said Mr.. ClaypooL.
1--WE want to talk this over with you,"
said Mr.. Perry.
SOFT-SOAPING II DELEGATION.
Then Mr.. English proposed as a solution
of the trouble that the committee urge
the Council to transfer $4,000 from the
labor fund. Every member of the park
IanrJ H. -,fI t. . - - ~-o- 1000 =. Eo~~~
of the movement inaugurated by the citi-
zens of the north part of the city and in
fact would like to give parks to every one
that asks for them. The trouble was that
the board did not have enough money at
it's command. He reviewed the action of
the Council in reducing the appropriation
asked from $4,000 to $500, 900. This left the
board powerless to carry out it's original
plans. He said that if the board had been
given what it asked it would nave been
possible to buy all the ground that was
being urged by the committee. Mr.. Eng
lish read figures showing that the 5000, 600
had been exhausted in outright purchases
or condemnation proceedings that had been
commenced. As soon as the condemnation
proceedings were completed the board
would have to pay the money into court
so that in a short time about everything
at its disposal would be exhausted. APP
proximately, figured on the assessments of
damages, the land already decided on will
cost $299, 663, divided as follows:
Fan creek system .........."...... $256, 1853
Dean property 1900
Miller property 20, 800
kirkland property --............~ 5000
Total :. 1929, 663
The Fall creek system is divided into diff
ferent sections on which the appraisements
are stated separately. The section extend
ing from Capitol avenue to Twenty-second
street is appraised at 500, 800; from Twenty
second street to fair grounds, 9,18S; aque-
duct to Capitol avenue, $24 ,553; Indiana av-
enue to aqueduct, 1888, 700; West Washing
ton street to Michigan street, SIT. $685.; Mich
igan street to Indiana avenue, $40, 700, and
the land west of the river, 81, 1876.
After showing that the board had Moth
ing of the original $500, 900 left Mr.. Eng
lish spoke of the fact that $4,000 had been
bond issue for labor, in addition to which
over $4,000 more was obtained in the way
of premiums. He said that if he thought
that the proposition to transfer $50, 600 from
the labor fund would injure any laboring
man he would be the last to make it. AS
result. There would still be 100000 available
in the labor fund for immediate use in en-
ploying labor and improving the parks: 1t
work could os iH commen 1ner B : the hien time o Worf
began the board would be about ready to
take lands that have been condemned and
would have funds from benefits assessed
ready to expend.
In response to a question from a member
of the committee as to whether the board
OOA BAt050 Ak9ClL ~ SAP0iAA It1C VVNs0DV
in the northeastern part of the city if the
Council made the transfer, Mr.. English did
not reply directly, but gave the commit
tee to understand that the greater part of
1t would be expended in that neighbornood.
The board would reserve to itself the right
to inspect the lands proposed and then use
its Judgment about taking all or part of
il. This was about Mr.. Claypool's attitude.
Mr.. Perry, however, pledged himself as
faVoring the grounds wanted by the COM
mittee. He opposed the purchase of the
Miller tract on East Ohio street and High
land avenue, insisting that the $500 put
in that ground ought to be used in the
big Pogue's run tract. As an earnest
of his position, Mr.. Perry moved that
the controller be asked to the
transfer of 0,000. This was seconded by
Mr.. English. Mr.. Perry then moved that
the court be asked to appoint appraisers to
fix the value of the Yandes and John Han
cock tracts. This also carried.
The committee was urged TO exert its in
fluence with the controller and Council.
Are we 10 understand then, gentlemen,
that without this transfer IS made, we set
nothing?" asked Mr.. Howe.
Were out of money was Mr.. Perry's
answer.
In other words, we've come too late"
said another committeeman.
They left the boards Office evidently
dubious OF securing any faVors from the
Council.
city Attorney Curtis reported that he had
examined the titles of the Dean and Miller
lands and found them TO be without serious
cloud. He suggested a few changes that
will make the chains of title perfect. AS TO
the form of deed to be taken where land is
purchased, he held that the usual form of
where the grantor conveys but part of his
land, when he advised that the form used
by the Cleveland park board be followed
out with reference to approaches, etc. The