The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-11
THE PARK SCHEME.
Mr.. Carriger Repeats His Charge of
Unjust Appraisements.
the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
1 notice an editorial in the News on the
9th inst. in regard to my letter which was
published in your paper. My reason for u.s.
ing the word confscation in my letter was
that know of so many men who are con-
sidered, IN my judgment, first-class business
men and good judges of real estate, who in
vested their money along the line of this
park, believing that it would increase rapid
ly in value as the city increased in popula-
ton. They never thought their lots and
lands would be taken from them for one
fourth of their purchase price by the So
called Park Board, which is illegally acting,
as believe. For the benefit of the board
and the editor of the News, in support of
what say, will mention the names of a
few with whom 1 have talked, and from
whom L have heard through others, who
say that they never believed their neighbors
and fellow-citizens would make the attempt
to take their property for almost nothing.
Among these men are Arthur Jordan G. Co.,
who purchased 1860 acres of land, paying
nearly $1,000 per acre for the same, for
which they are not allowed one-third Of the
amount Walter J. and W. w. Hubbard for
whom l sold eighteen acres in the line of
this park for $4,000, and they told me they
would not get one-third OF the purchase
appraisement. was told by the attorneys
of the l.. S. Ayres & Co. estate that the
park appraisers had allowed damages to the
estate OF $lO0 for ground fifty feet wide,
running from Meridian to Illinois street,
which l believe could be sold for S. 900. The
same estate, was assessed benefits where
any reasonable man would say a damage
was due. William Carton, Matthias Carver,
James ). Cruise, j. b. Haywood Charles
Frank Griffith, Frank A. Maus, H. c. Rat
cliff and many others owning land on the
line of the park feel that they have been
or will be deprived of their property and
rights If they submit to the appraisement.
The Gas Trust Company has invested about
$S,Oo0 and is asked to turn it's property over
for $780, The appraisers didn't forget the
Shooting Park, one of the most beautiful
pieces of ground in or about the city. Still
these men of the Park Board think this land
is almost worthless; | understand that the
right of way of the indianapolis, Logansport
& Chicago Railroad goes in at a nominal
sum.
The News refers to the people as all de.
handing parks, and says they have sane
toned borrowing the money to pay for them.
system were left to vote of the taxpayers
and voters of indianapolis it would be de-
feated: The News also refers to the borrow
ing of the money. | agree that that is in
accord with the appraisemenr of the prop
erty in business point. 1t seems to mo
that they acted as if they feared the credic
of the city would run down, SO they would
not get the money, and after having the
cash on hand for more than one year. they
time. The News also refers to the board
conscientious effort to determine the true
value of lands that were to be taken; It (the
board) employed a board of appraisers
men whose local experience and knowledge
or real estate values would give the COM
n1unity confidence that no Injustice would
be Intentionally done. The appraisers took
ample time for their task The Board of
Works, in succeeding to the duties of the
Park Board, re-employed the same apprais-
ers-Messrs. Flack. Burton and c. E. Coffin.
1t is not generally known where Mr.. Flack
gained his knowledge of real estate l I'M
derstand that Mr.. Burton is a cooper by.
trade. When did he gain his knowledge of
real estate values? Mr. C.. E. Coffin is quite
a large real estate dealer, and is considered
quite wealthy. but have never noticed him
dealing in suburban property. Mr. j. S.
Cruise woNld have made a good appraiser
but he owns quite a number of lots along the
line of the park and this made him ineIligi-
BILE | am glad the News admits the prob
ability of errors having been made. I be-
lieve the whole affair was an error. and
that the court, after having heard all the
evidence, will set the appraisement aside
and restore the property to the owners
There are many who would protest hut lack
funds TO do so. If the Park Board had
made a fair appraisement of the land and
lots taken. and left off the assessments FOR
benefits. there surely would have been no
complaint. JOHN j. CARRIGER.
Indianapolis May 10.