The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-22
NEW PARK PURCHASES
SOME OF THE CHEAP LANDS ALONG
POGUE'S RUN MAY BE TAKEN IN.
Asphalt Companies Successful in
Their Fight Against the Latest
COmer-City Attorneys Views.

But little of interest was done at the reg
ular meeting of the Board of Park Com
missioners yesterday. 1t was announced
that the park assessors have about COM
pleted their rolls of benefits and damages
and that they will be published Monday or
Tuesday of next week. Many inquiries are
being received as to what amount the board
proposes to pay for condemned lands. This
will not be made public until the damages
are published.
committee from the east end of Wash
ington street, which appeared to urge the
purchase of the Christian-Steffen tract, be-
tween Washington and English avenue,
did not receive much encouragement, the
board suggesting that proposition be sub
mitted saying that it would be taken up
later AT present the board has no money
to purchase more land. Controller johnson
has not yet recommended the transfer of
900 from the labor to the purchase fund,
although he indicated yesterday afternoon
that he thought if the board could get land
so cheaply as residents have said the board
could not secure better bargains. A num-
Der OF citizens have urged Mr. johnson not
to stand in the way of parks along Pogue's
run. He feels that inasmuch as land can
be secured so cheaply the city could do no
better than to take advantage of the OPP
portunity, and while not committing him
SELF, ne spoke as though he would be in
IL
understood that sixty acres of natural park
land well watered and timbered, could be
secured for from $4,000 to $4,000. Controller
Johnson regards this as a favorable chance.
George w. Stout, who owns an addition
near the river front, appeared before the
board and urged 1t to purchase five acres
owned by Magdalene Maus, which lies be-
tween his addition and the parks. Mr.
Stout informed the board that he had been
to considerable expense to improve his ad-
dition with streets and otherwise, relying
upon its being contiguous to the parks. He
was informed that he was too late in max
ing his application, as it would delay pro-
ceedings thirty days longer if another
change was made, as the assessors would
have to revise their entire work, which they
have already done four times Mr.. Stout
received no encouragement that the board
would consider his plan favorably. The In
diana Trust Company submitted PROPOSE
ton to sell the land of M. K. Roberts's es-
tate on Brookside for SIS, 600. The PROPOSE
ton was laid away for further considera-
ton. No more land will be bought until
the Council makes transfer or appro-
PIRATES additional money.
]. c. Olmstead has already sub1nitted a.
plan for the White river levee and the
boulevard driveway along the Fall creek
park system. j. c. Power, the park boards
engineer, was instructed to prepare plans
and specifications for the leVee and drive
way at once AS soon as the ground is
acquired it is the purpose to begin work
Mr. Power was also directed to prepare
plans for improving the Kirkland, Dean and
Miller squares, as Mr.. Olmstead has indi-
Gated that it would not be necessary for
the board to secure his services on the
small parks. Confidence was expressed in
Mr. Powers ability to design suitable
drives, lawns, ETC.. for the smaller parks.
A resolution was adopted providing that
benefits assessed on lands adjacent to a
given park should be used for the improve
ment of that specific park. All the mem
bers unanimously agreed that this was the
only fair and just plan. Money secured
from benefits assessed against land adj
jacent to Dean square, for instance, will
not go to the Improvement of the Fall creek
system.
Warrants have been executed for the
payment OF the purchase price of the two
first tracts that the board win purchase,
the Dean and Kirkland squares. A monthly
tenant is in possession of the former. AS
soon as possession can be given the board
the land will be paid for. The Marion
Trust Company is executor of the Kirland
estate After some incumberances are paid
off the warrant will be delivered and deed
taken for the property and the board will
have commenced to actually acquire land
for parks. Secretary Spencer was in
structed to hold the warrants until the re-
uuirements have been met.