The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-07
PARK LANDS DECIDED ON
MAYOR WILL HAVE THE POGUE'S
RUN CHAIN IN THE SYSTEM.
A CONCENTRATION Meeting at Bright
Furnishcd-NaturaIG Gas Rates.

Mayor Taggart and the Board of Public
Works have decided definitely that the
Pogue's run lands shall be included in the
park system. This fact was announced last
night at the mass meeting in Brightwood
by Joseph b. Wells. who has been one of
the most persistent in agitating this subject
for a year. He said that he was authorized
to say to the meeting that this had been
decided OH by the administration, without
naming his informant. II is understood that
the information was conveyed to Mr.. Wells
by one in confidence of Mayor Taggart.
Quite a number of short speeches were
nude, Indicating a deep interest on the part
of Brightwood citizens and residents of the
northeast section in the subject. j. b. Wells
has presided over the park meetings and
last night acted as temporary chirman until
]. c. Burkline, of Brightwood, was made
chairman. A. H. Kemper acted as secre-
tary. Councilman Smith, of the ward in
which Brightwood is located; w. p. Messer-
smith, G. w. Bush, j. B. Caskey, j. G..
Schwartz. Thomas Royal, DR.. Morris, DR..
w. II. Johnson, c. Z. Thornton and others
spoke enthusiastically, and the meeting
turned into sort of congratulatory affair.
Mr.. Wells introduced the following con-
gratulatory message to the mayor and
Board of Public Works:
I'VE the citizens of the northeast portion
of the city in mass meeting assembled, con-
graduate Mayor Taggart and the Board of
Public Works upon their decision in favor
of the PogueS run park system. and be-
lieve that the future will prove the wisdom
of the purchase of the entire Pogue's run
system of 1870 acres
The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Early last summer the agitation for parks
toward Brightwood began when a mass
fifnrr h.ll1 hall .apfft flaIk
avenue and old Twelfth street Petitions
asking the Board of Park Commissioners
to consider the land were circulated and
presented TO the board, which subsequently
accompanied a committee of citizens over
the lands. Controller Johnson accompanied
the party and has ever since been an adVo-
cate of the purchase of the land, which in
cludeS about ten acres belonging to M. II.
Spades, seventeen acres known as the
twenty acres, and the John Hancock and
Yandes tracts, each containing forty acres,
all of which at that time could have been
bought for about $45 900. The Spades tract
lies between Brookside avenue and South
Brookside avenue now known as Rowland
street,, the two thoroughfares coming to-
gether at the point of a sort of triangle be-
yond Newman street. The lands branch out
wider toward the east and north and there
is much diversity in the topography. in
Guiding very high bluffs on the two larger
tracts, overlooking a large amount of low
land. AT little expense. compared with
what the proposed lake above Indiana ave-
a lake could be made on Pogues run, as
was pointed out when the subject was first
discussed last summer. Last night Mr..
Wells suggested that if the land were
bought at once and a force of men set to
work very preceptibe results could be ac-
complished this year with the $4,000 labor
fund about which there has been so much
talk. Not only would labor be employed,
but appreciable results would follow the ex-
penditure of a little money. The citizens
who favor Pogue's run parks say that the
$6S coo it is estimated would be required on
the Indiana avenue lake-$40, 900 for a dam
and $4,000 for excavations-woud both pur-
chase the Pogue's-run land and make very
attractive improvements.
ThOe who have watched this struggle say
that Ntessrs. ]. b. Wells, c. Il. Thornton and
those Who have been associated with them
in this effort for nearly year to be
congratulated. 1t is not denied that nothing
would ever have been done for the north
east section of the city had not persistent
demand, backed by thousands of petitions
and numerous mass meetings, been made.
Since the park matter has come into the
hands of the mayor and Board of Works the
mayor has shown disposition to give this
part of the city some consideration, even
If it was necessary to lop off part of the
river-bOttom and Fall-creek parks. He has
suggested that the Indiana-avenue lake
might be dispensed with the system stop
ped at Twenty-second street or Central
avenue for the present.