The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-25
THOUSAND-ACRE TRACT
THE TERRITORY NOW TO BE con-
VERIFIED INTO A PARK SYSTEM.
Board of Works VIII Adopt a ResoIu-
ton Monday for the Purchase
Water COmpany's Gift.

Mr.. Montgomery, of the Board of Public
Works. said yesterday that at the meeting
of the board next Monday morning resolu-
ton will be adopted for the purchase of the
land for the White river park system The
park corps of engineers will by that time
have finished measuring the acreage of the
river tract and plans will have been drawn.
From these plans the board will decide how
much of the land offered should be bought.
Mr.. Montgomery added that the land be-
longing to the Indianapolis Water Com
pany, extending from Vorster avenue south
along the east bank of the river to Fall
creek, will be given over to the city for park
purposes. This land amounts to 225 acres.
1t connects with the land which will be pur-
chased on the north. Altogether the terri
tory to be made into park system consists
of about one thousand acres. The water
company's land has been retained for the
purpose of preventing the wells of the COM
pany from being polluted Therefore, it will
be no loss to the water company to allow
the city the use of the land for parks.
When the resolution is adopted by the
board for the purchase of the river land
other resolutions will be adopted to buy
the Miller property, of four acres east of
the baseball park, and the Kirland prop
erty. The Kirkland property will cost $1,000
and the Miller property $4,000. These two
tracts will be made into small parks
breathing spots" 1t is estimated the
White river land will cost 100000. After the
$31 900 for the purchase of the Kirland and
Miller property has been added, 900 will
be left for the purchase CT the Pogues run
park system Fifty thousand dollars re-
mains for labor on the park lands out of
the original $350,OO0 borrowed for general
park purposes.
1t was suggested to Mr.. Montgomery that
rural parks will cost, approximately, $1,000
an acre if improved during the next TWEEN
ty-fve years to the standard of the rural
park systems in other cities. To this he
replied that the White river system is al
ready beautiful natural park.
1t is gathered that the Board of Public
Works will ignore the plan handed down to
it by the old Board Of Park Commissioners.
The old board sent ]. Clyde Power, park en-
When he returned elaborate plans were
made for system along Fall creek, which
the poorer ,e classes live. The Board of Pub
lie Works, now that the business has fallen
to 1t, has decided the Fall creek system toe
costly and has sought land outside of the
city for the principal park system. 1t now
seems likely the general term, park sys-
tenn" will not apply to the city's purchase
term ''public ground" will be found to be
more appropriate. According to Mr.. Mont
gomery, 1T viii not pc necessary 10 spend
the money on the White river system which
would have been required had the plan for
the Fall creek system been carried out.
According to Mayor Taggart, Don't wor-
ry. Well fix 1t so you can lay under tree
in the new park system some day" And 1t
would seem Mr. Taggarts expression fully
described what the White river park sys-
tenn will be.
AS soon as the Council approves the reso-
luton Of the board for the purchase of the
land, and it will be asked to do this at its
next meeting, the land will be bought. Then
the board will feel able TO rest easily after
the long, arduous labors leading to the pur-
chase. The land Will be bought outright
from the owners without going through the
process of condemnation.