The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27
MERELY THROWN A SOP
NORTH EASTERN RESIDENTS WILL.
HAVE NO PARK SYSTEM.
A Small Tract to be allotted Them
Meeting Last Night of Prop
erty Owners.

"A meeting was held last night in the Office
u =. H. thornton in the Lemcke building
~ the executive committee representing
.ne ciuzens OF the northeastern portion of
me CITY, who gathered to discuss the mat
Ter OF securing system of parks for that
section of the city. AT the opening Mr.
ihornton stated that the opinion prevailed
that the Board of Public Works would re-
iuse to purchase the lower portion of the
tract contiguous to Pogue's run, extending
from Newman to Rural street hut would
compromise on the purchase of the eighty
acres included in the John Hancock and
Yandes tracts. which form the extreme
eastern end of the proposed park system.
he explained that the board tried to hold
the project up as one to establish a local
PARK and thus evade the appropriation of
the amount of money necessary to purchase
the land by claiming it to be exorbitant
for such purpose.
The plan, however, is and always has been
the establishment of a main park for this
locality, and by comparison with the
amounts expended on Garfield Park or the
new Fall creek and White river systems
of parks the cost will be exceedingly small,
it is claimed.
In speaking of the plan to curtail the park
limits to the limits of the eighty acres in
the Yandes and Hancock tracts, John V.
Coyner, surveyor of Marion county, stated
that the scheme was all but impracticable,
lnasmuch as it is isolated, and in order to
be available for the purpose intended it will
De necessary to open a new street leading
to the tract, which cannot be less than
one hundred feet wide and proportionately
expensive. Furthermore, there must also
be a. bridge built over Pogue's run which
must also be of the best construction, ana
therefore, equally expensive. he urged that
the money Which they would be compelled
to spend thus would almost, if not quite
buy the additional land required to form
continuous park system.
A prominent official present then stated
that the opposition to the measure would
not come from the Council, but from the
mayor and beard. He assured those present
that the representatives of the South Side
would not oppose it, as it had been repre-
sented to them that they had got the lions
share in the way of park improvements
when they got Garfield Park. :
The proposed park is natural one, andlit
is believed that $4,000 in addition to the
purchase price will complete all improve
ments necessary. 1t will take sl,000,000 or
81 100000 to improve the White river and
Fall creek systems. 1t is claimed, however,
that the board is inclined TO be parslmonlous
with regard TO the Pogue's run plan, and
4. ]. Montgomery, member, recently told
the speaker that it was almost certain that
the eighty-acre tract would be purchased,
but more. Mayor Taggart also stated
recently in plain words that if there was no
northeast park provided for there would be
no Fall creek park The park or rather,
park, seems assured, but the people want to
know how much of a park they are going to
get.
WANT NO orb.
The universal sentiment throughout the
entire district is that rather than take less
than they originally asked for they will ac-
cept nothing. If the park is established at
all they believe it is not only desirable, but
imperative, that the city should control
Pogue's run, both because Of it's natural
scenic advantages and also from SAM
tary standpoint. While speaking of the
benefits which will probably be assessed
against the property owners adjoining the
park the sentiment expressed was that all
would cheerfully pay 1t. Mr.. Coyner, speak
ing for himself, said that he would nave
five hundred fronts feet to pay for, but would
consider it privilege to pay Tor sucn
beautiful Improvement.
At the suggestion of Chairman j.. Is. w els
and Councilman Willis smith IN OF brag grn-
ing and wait on the mayor ana Boalu Oh
Public Works, and, besides personally repre-
resolution. drafted by Mr.. Thornton and
signed by the entire body;
ITO the Mayor and Board OF PUBIC I'M
proyementS-G entlemen: The Undersigned,
appointed a committee to present Lne
section of the city for park for t4 4tsnf seGo
to the fact that that part of the city lying
north of Washington street ana east Oh
Pennsylvania street is entirely. without
parks. while every other section of the city
has been reasonably well provided Tor IN
this respect We do rot feel, therefore,
that we ask too much when we. petition
your honorable board 10 purchase the entire
tract of 100 acres lying along Pogue.s run,
extending from Newman street to the Bel s
follows: Twelve acres of the Spades tract,
1888 acres of the Roberts tract 20 acres ce;n OF
the Vaien and other small tracts adjoining;
40 acres of the Yandes tract and 40 acres OF
the John Hancock tract This entire ss sra aGd
natural scenery equal in beauty to any
about the city lies within the city city III nml.s,
ture In addition, the city should conIr1i
the stream and keep it in thoroughly
sanitary condition. We believe that TINS
entire tract can be purchased for not to ex-
coed $4,000, or an average of $340 an acre,
and perhaps for less. If the board VIII
purchase this land. remove the fences and
throw it open to the public this season, our
neonle will be entirely satisfied, and VIII
not ask or demand that one dollar De ex-
pended this year for improvements