The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-13
PARK HEARINGS BEGUN
BOARD OF WORKS FINDS 1T HAS BE-
GUN A BIG JOB.
The Name of the demonstrators Is
Legion, and but Few of Them Can
BE Heard in Day.

The Board of Works began the nearing or
remonstrances against the park assessments
yesterday morning, taking up the section
extending from Washington to Michigan
street. Mayor Taggart and City Attorney
Kern were present the latter conducting
the cross-examina ton of witnesses intro
duced by demonstrators to establish the
value of land owned by them which the
board proposes to appropriate for parks.
court stenographer was engaged TO take
down all the evidence. BY o'clock p m.
the board had disposed of this section, with
the exception of the interests of the Mauses,
which were not heard on account of the alb
sence of their attorney. Charles W. Smith.
of Duncan, Smith & Hornbrook, who is out
of the city. Following were the remon-
strators and their attorneys heard yester-
dya: Brewer & Love Bros. George T. Ev-
ans and the Indianapolis Bleaching Com
pany, represented by W. A. Ketcham; Wal
ter j. Hubbard, represented by Mccullough
& Reinhard, and Jay G. Voss, represented
by Ayers & Jones.
Under the assessments Brewer & Love
Bros. We're allowed 1925 for the land the
board proposes to take, and were assessed
as benefited on remaining property at ST.,
40. They did not object to donating the
land to the city which it is proposed to con-
denim. but claimed that the remaining land
was not benefited. and introduced evidence
in support of their claims. Many witnesses
were introduced by Mr.. Ketcham on behalf
OF his various clients. Thomas H. Spann
testified that the property of the three first
demonstrators. being mostly machinery,
could not be appreciated by Improvements.
Mr.. Love, of the firm, said that when the
land was bought it was subject to over
flow. but had been filled up, and a levee
would not benefit 1t any. William Gordon
also testified in support of this contention.
George Wolf said if the proposed roadway
was to pass the Evans mill and might be
used by them and their patrons it would be
of some benefit to them. On cross-exam-
ination by City Attorney Kern, Mr.. Spann
said that any tract of twenty-five acres con-
tiguous to parks would undoubtedly be BEN
Gifted.
w. A. Ketcham made a short argument
for his clients, contending that even if the
board had any jurisdiction to assess benefits
the property of his clients was of such
character as not to appreciate. He con-
ten tende6 that there was no power granted by
assessments for benefits on account Of
parks
The land of W. j. Hubbard has been as
sessed at $500 an acre. Jay G. Voss, in
troduced as a witness, spoke of efforts that
had been made to have levee constructed.
If that were accomplished he believed Hub
bard's land would be worth $500 to 5000 an
acre. AS 1t now is, he doubted whether it
had any real market value. Efforts to have
a levee made and survey that had been
taken showed a levee of sufficient height
and forty feet wide on top could be con-
structed for from $500 to $1,000 On the
lowest estimate this would be less than
500 an acre expense to the property affect
ed. After d levee was constructed lots
would be worth $2oO each as the land lay
in easy walking distance of the manufactur-
ing regions of West Indianapolis and
Haughville and would make desirable homes
for laboring men. The efforts of the city
tn "a
velop what the land is worth now, not what
1t would be worth If levees were to be con-
Structed some time hence. George w Stout,
who owns and has sold some land in that
vicinity. thought the present market price
was from $500 to $500 an acre. w. w. Hub
bard thought that his brothers land would
easily be worth $1,000 acre if it were pro-
tected from backwater by levees. Close
pressed for its present value, he fixed it at
$500 to 5000 an acre.
Jay G. Voss, assessed some $500 for ben
etits on abutting land south of Michigan
street. was the last remonstrator He
stated that he was not opposed to parks,
but simply wanted to call attention to the
fact that he had been assessed just as
heavily for land that he had filled up so
that it was above high water as those own
Ing low lands about him. He insisted that
there ought to have been some discrimina-
ton made. He disclaimed any intention of
being niggardly. He had no objections to
the assessments made on lands that he had
not filled up, as he believed the proposed
roadway along the river would benefit his
grounds. Mr. Voss argued that the board
ought to have included his land in the sys-
tenn. He said if they took the land he had
filled up he would donate the low land, al
ready of such character as to make
good lake. to the city free of charge This
the mayor explained. could not be consid-
cred at present, but might be taken up by
purchase later on The board was pleased
with the briefneSs and directness of Mr..
Vosss presentation of his ideas.
For to-day's calendar the following prop
erty owners and their attorneys will be
heard with reference to the section between
demonstrators. Attorneys
Agnes G.. Patterson. +. A. Parker