The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-17
Excess paid Observation-Disclosures. go, 3
THE "PICNIC' A BLUFF.


THE PICNIC A BLUFF.
Beside the Miller and Cooper transac-
tons there were number of others equally
interesting, although the amounts involved
were not so large. They all go to show
that a land pool was formed early in the
summer. Long before the public was in
formed that the city had decided to pur-
chase the 'Windward Forests options had
been obtained on all the land. After much
running from one city official to another
a reporter finally located them last week.
Inquiry at the Board of Works indicated
that either Controller johnson or City At
torney Kern has them" Both discaimed
having any knowledge of them. At the
boards office it was then said City Engineer
Jeup might have them, as he drew up the
ordinance" Mr. Jeup said Deputy City AT
torney Bell had them. Mr.. Bell was uncer-
tain what he had done with them. He might
have thrown them away, as he attached
no Importance to them" An appeal was
made to the mayor.
The mayor could not see that there was
any necessity for preserving them. After
contract is carried out, said he, former
agreements useless
What if the parties try to kick out?"
Il do not know the original options would
He promised, however, to direct Mr.. Bell
Mr.. Bells office the reporter finally reached
him by telephone and was requested to
call on him atthe Democratic county COM
mittee rooms, where he had them safely
slowed away.
The options are chiefly interesting for the
dates they bear. Those from w. II. Watt.
christian Moller, Herman II. Unverzagt and
William Hohlt, proposed to sell to the city
at a stipulated price if the city bought in
certain time, some specifying forty-five
and others thirty days The four mentioned
to which Mr.. Bell attached no impor-
lance, were dated June IS. This shows that
at that date the purchase of the "Windward
nafA
next day. June II, the mayor made the
bluff of ascertaining what public opinion
was by taking out the city officials, mem
bers of the Commercial Club and Board of
Trade for a look at the park lands After
a number OF options had been secured and
the scheme was assured, Cooper and Miller
came III with propositions to sell two or
three days later. Most Of the property own
ers giving options proposed to sell to the
city for 5000 an acre. Miller asked $500 an
acre Tor part of his and $40O for part.
Charles NJ Cooper obtained MANY of the
options. according to +. M johnson.
options We're not obtained on all of the
duced for the reporter did not cover the
Evans property, although it is asserted
tnat there was an option obtained by one
or the heirs at 1875 an acre from his asso
ciates. he expecting to sell to the civ for
$2OO When the others heard of this thew
began baking and to this day the Evans
deal mas not been closed. Charles M Cooper
mace quite a sum of money. BY June 90
anree Gays after the park picnic and the
olun with reference to finding out what
the people thought about the proposition
70 spend the park fund that was burning
us pockets, the administration was ready
10 put the scheme through. BY the end of
me Hiontn everything was done. Including
the making of surveys, the drafting Of The
lengthy If defective ordinance and the
council had been whipped into line. All this
tlme not word of protest was heard from
r. M johnson. candidate for auditor. who
aS CITY controller, had to approve the pur-
cnases and could have prevented them if
6fnxrvr
anoWed the plans by which the ayor's
poreic al friends and business associates
Were, Mere TO o. be enriched to go through The
eSquaiIy as Fancy as those to Miller and
Sko99iPer. some OF the small holders Jared
tha frs as can De shown by the records of
Ile transactions They did not hapDen r.
get set IN on the ground floor with the real
estate combine 'e ie"i-
AT At the outset of this article the charges
concerning political real estate cIini1e''
Hlaue some time ago were recalled n will.
De remembered that in December 1901 ond
na,.t ~ t9sz, an effort was made to unload
9 part OF TINS very land the city has bought
tor parks on the State Board of Agric,iI.
lure Tor a state fair ground. The price at
lower tbe e ia aho was oIered then was much
II Il, was considered entirely too high Power
board l1nuene nee was was brought to bear on the
Ihey were investigated A committae &c
the board sustained them. but reported that
II N,;, Goula not find the guilty persons. The
mas been sold to the city. was the Land i1'j ~
question. The scandal was the talk OF ~. az
town. Papers were full of It. There vero
demands for designations on the hoard h,,t
the members were exonerated nv the coya
mittee; Everybody remembers the affair
me ola fair grounds were sold and tha
board wanted new site Several t,.onts
We're offered, among them the Miller trsc3
OF z5o acres. which was offered at S300 an
acre, straight or portions of IT for sS50
The records of the State Board show q
lower proposition was subsequently, made
put do not disclose the figures. The civ
has paid $500 an acre for 100 acres If tha
Miller land. and $4oe an acre for So OF acres
Inc CITIZENS Street-railroad Company. the
Big -Four Railroad. Thomas Taggart John
!. Cooner. Charles NJ Cooper. V. nj Racl,,s
and other politicians worked night and dav,
for friend Miller" The president of the
street-car company, John p. FrenzeI
even went so far as to declare lines
would be built to the Miller tract hut
not to others. The land was not selected
After another tract had been decided on
the present fair grounds member of the
State Board of Agriculture said as shown
by the Journal files. that three members
who had been in favor OF the Miller farm
had been Influenced to change their minds
fer several reasons. the principal one of
which was the ''dictatoriar' attitude of the
president of the street-car companv He
criticised him roundly.
1T is the best interests of the street-car
company that its directors want to foster
and not the private interests of a political
real estate clique" said he
POLITICAL CLIQUE AND BRIBERY.
The political real estate clique" had