The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-30
Mr.. JOHNSON DRIVES OUT
TAKES A LOOK AT MERIDIAN
STREET AND CENTRAL AVENUE.
City Controller Interested in Good
Routine -Contractor's Troubles.

E. NJ. johnson yesterday drove over Me-
ridian and Thirtieth streets and Central
avenue to learn by personal observation
whether their condition is such as to give
the thousands of bicycle riders who are ex-
pected here at the l.. A. w. meet week
after next good road to the Newly Oval.
Mr.. johnson found that the route out Me-
ridian street and across on Thirteth to the
Oval is in good condition. or will be when
the work on Meridian street is completed.
He found that complaints of the condition
or central avenue, from the Fall-creek
bridge north to the Oval. were not exag-
gerated. Central avenue is being asphalted
as lar north as the bridge and the work will
be completed in ample time Up to that
point there will be one of the finest road
ways to be found anywhere. There has
been some criticism because nothing has
been done to place Central avenue in ride
able condition from the Fall-creek bridge
north to the Newly Oval. Mr.. Johnson
found, on investigation, that that stretch of
Central avenue is not within the city limits.
He decided to urge the County Commission
ers to do something Immediately to place
the stretch of road between the bridge and
the Oval in good condition Calling at the
office of the commissioners Mr. Johnson
conferred with Mr.. Harding The latter
spoke of the fact that the Citizens Street
railroad Company claims to own the thor
oughfare. 1t seems that the road was for
merly gravel road and was purchased by
the company. There has been some doubt
in the minds of the commissioners as to
whether they had the right to make proper
repairs Mr.. Johnson urged that something
ought to be dome. He thought no one would
md 10 nftf 0se4 a..
expanding the necessary money to place the
snort stretch of road in condition for the
riders
while there will be a good road to the
Newly Oval out Meridian Street and across
on Thirtieth street, Central avenue would
be the more direct and shorter route. and l
am anxious to have everything possible
DONE, said Mr. Johnson Il think there is
tlme to make path wide enough for the
very much expense. / shall see the COM
missoners Saturday morning and urge that
something be done: There is but little over
a week remaining in which to do the work.
time
Mr.. Johnson is member of the good
roads committee of the l.. A. W. meet ex-
ecutive committee and is, therefore, anxious
to leave no cause for complaint on account
OF OF tne condition OF the approaches to one of
the central points of interest during the
meet.
Several subjects bearing on the L. A. w.
meet and the Uniform Rank, K, of p, en-
campment were discussed at the meeting of
Mayer Taggarts cabinet yesterday morn
ing. The police were instructed to make
special efforts TO keep the streets clean dur
ing both events. Downtown people will be
prosecuted for sweeping rubbish into the
cutters: Farther out they are cautioned
about littering the streets after they have
been gone over by the sweepers. The mat
ter of extra police and detective service was
left in the hands of the Board of Public
Safety, which will meet this morning to
take some action. 1t was decided to re-
quest the New Telephone Company not to
cut into any more streets for it's conduits
until after the bicycle meet. In an inter-
view last week S. p. Sheerin, vice president
of the company, told the Journal that every
thing possible would be done to get obstruc-
lions out of the way before the meet. A re-
port was made by the Board of Works to
the effect that most of the important street
improvements would be completed next
week, so that the streets would be in good
condition for the big events
1t was decided to move the Office of the
Board Of Safety into the two rooms east Of
the mayors Office formerly occupied by the
city clerk Mayor Taggart and the board
will share the middle room jointly.