The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-18
THE PARK WORK BEGINS
SURVEY OF WHITE RIVER AND FALL
CREEK SYSTEM UNDER WAY.
behring's for Depths of Dams-The
Cfty's Present Reserve for
Debt Making.

Actual work on the new White-river and
Fail-creek park system began yesterday.
Acting under the authority of the Board of
Public Works Park Superintendent Power
re-employed W. L. Lacy assistant engineer
and a corps of four men, former Park
Board employees, for making the actual sur
veys The men began on the outlines of the
modified park boundaries, starting north
ward from Washington street. Before
nightfall their work had extended to New
York street
BY this evening"" said Mr.. Power, the
report of the work to Michigan street will
be written. This. of course. only covers the
boundaries. Actual surveys on the various
separate tracts included will be made later
and descriptions by metes and bounds, CIV
ing lot numbers, etc, with the names of
owners. will be set down in the complete re-
port of surveys. The time consumed in
making the surveys will be comparatively
short. from three to five weeks. AS soon
as the surveys of the park boundaries are
completed we will proceed to make borings
to discover the depths at which founda
tons for the dams, ETC., should go. to Sc
cure data on which to base estimates of
the actual cost of the work that is to be
done. So far, of course, estimates have
had to be little indefinite, as they have
not been based on actual measurements
You will remember that stated at the con-
ference the other evening at the mayors
Office that we had not made borings for
the DAMS
Concerning the approaching conference
between the Park Board and the Council,
M. A. Downing, president of the Board of
Works, said yesterday that it<would proba-
bly, be several weeks before it was held.
I'VE have instructed Mr.. Power to be-
gin the surveys. We want to be able to
submit to the Council report of just
what separate tracts of land we propose to
buy when the conference is held. There is
no use holding a conference now with
gard to the issue of bonds and another
later on with regard to the land we will
purchase. AS you know, the board will
have to get the consent and approval of the
Council on every piece of land we want in
cluded in the park system tnat is worth
more than $4,000 When we go to the Coun-
Gil 1t is our desire to nave the entire sub
ject ready for discussion. 1t will doubt
less take some weeks fer Mr.. Power and
his men TO get the surveys rade and
report drawn describing the diff erent tracts
that are to be taken in the system.
There was considerable interest in the
work of the park surveyors yesterday. Peo-
pie wondered what they were doing. They
did not know that work was ut last being
commenced on the parks that have been
discussed for several years. Since the park
law was declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court the mayor has manifested
disposition to push the work r9 pidly
as possible through the medilmshiD of the
Board of Public Works.
There is an interesting condition Of affairs
disclosed by CONTROLLER Johnson's report
submitted to the Council last night IL so
far as it bears on the park question and
the proposition to issue about $4,000 lords
FOR park improvements. The report shows
that the total taxable property of Indian-
apolis amounts to Sill, 746 go. The Con-
stitution of the State prohibits any city
of its taxable property. Two per cent of
the taxable property of indianapolis
amounts to 81, 1854, $685. There is already
bonded Indebtedness in this city amount
ing to 81, 800, including debt of $4,000
assumed when the suburbs were annexed.
This leaves the city with a reserve power
OF debt-making amounting to 1924 ,433. This
makes 1t possible for the Council to author
leaving the city with debt-creating pow
er after that is done of only SPA 433 This
is practically down to the limit. The COM
ing year the controller estimates that the
increase in the valuation of property sub
Ject to taxation will be 81, 500 900 or So 600 0O0
This would give the city an added debt
making power of $4,000 to $50 600 a year
hence. As an illustration. it might be said
that if the city We're to undertake any such
Improvement as that of building the new
station house. begun last January during
the coming year, its full limit of indebted
ness would be more than exhausted before
Jan. /, 1898, as there would be but 1924 433
to go on, while the station house and equip
ment was estimated to cost $3.50, OO0 While
$2OO,OOO has not been stated as the exact
amount of park bonds that will be issued
1t is approximately correct. At the public
park conference last week Mayor Taggart
said that SlS2,000 would be needed for inn
provementS 1t Is believed that 5000 900 will
be asked to cover any margin between es-
Inmates and actual cost of work.