The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
Mr.. MILBURN'S OPINION
ON ART SITE READ BEFORE THE
MASS MEETING LAST NIGHT.
FavOrs Fairbank-kissel Site. and
Gives His ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Rapidly Increasing.

Acting Chairman Charles A. Bookwalter
infused considerable life in the mass meet
ing of citizens interested in the Art Mu-
scum being located on the Fairbank-Kis
sci site, which held at Mick's Hall
last evening When the meeting held last
week adjourned there had been subscribed
to the fund $3.50, but when the crowd left
last night there had been a total of S. 100
subscribed. To this will be added three
subscriptions of $1,000 each. which brings
the total to $500. and this will be offered
the directors of the Art Association to To-
cate the museum on the site in question.
Early in the evening the following self
explanatory letter from Rev. ]. A. Milburn
was read 81 regret exceedingly that 1
cannot be with you tonight, but l wish
you to know that L am ardently sympa-
thetic with your plan to locate the art
building on the Fairbank- Kissel property.
1t seems to me that all the reasons point to
this location the one most proper. The
property is amply large; 1T is naturally
beautiful; it is contiguous to two great
popular thoroughfares; it affords the most
perfect architectural setting to be found
anywhere in our city For this last reason
alone the Fairbank property is vastly pref
cradle to the Talbot site, and so far as
accessibility is concerned the Fairbank
site has easily the precedence over the
TalbOtt-hrSt, because the Illinois street.
cars run more regularly and more fire.
quently than the Pennsylvania-street line,
and for the further reason that the most
beautiful driveway in Indianapolis-Capito
avenue-runS past the Fairbank property.
THE arguments in favor of a downtown
location are to my mind more than mega
tived by the high price of downtown prop
erty. which will necessitate contracted
quarters for the art building and which
will most likely force il into surroundings
altogether undesirable from an artistic
point of view. But will the people go out
so far? Yes, and much farther, if the
place be made beautiful, and there be
works of art there worth seeing. Those of
us who have seen thousands of people
streaming out to Fairbank on summer
nights know well enough that distance
here forms no obstacle. If the art is at
Fairbank, then the people will go to Fair
bank to see the art. My suggestions are
these:
cation for the art building.
Second-That the city should buy the
property, take it into the park system and
give the necessary amount of land for the
art building.
''Third-The money now being subscribed
| to purchase the Fairbank property should
be applied to the building fund.
Fourth-The whole amount necessary
| by the citizens of Indianapolis in order
that the Heron legacy may be devoted ex-
| clusively to the purchasing of the great
works of the great artists
| NET WITH APPROVAL.
When this letter was read it met with
| the general approval of the meeting. The
| question of subscriptions was then taken
| up and several large amounts were sub
scribed by those present The largest
| amount reported last night was the SUBJ
| scription of $500 made by Mrs l.. S. Ayres
| A few of the men who had subscribed large
sums doubled their subscriptions, and the
| amount was rapidly raised 1t reached So
100 before the subscriptions for the evening
closed.
| Albert Metzger was called on for a short
| speech, and he said the meeting and the
| spirit with which the property owners had
| entered into this matter was very crafty
| ing. He said he had received reliable in
4 formation that the Talbot site supporters
| were about ready to throw up the sponge,
| as they had exhausted their subscription
| list and could raise no more money. That
will leave the fight. he said. between down
| town property and the Fairbank-Kissel site.
4 Mr.. Metzger said he noticed an article in
/ an art magazine referring to the Indianap-
| oils agitation over the location of the art
| building. and the article said the building
| should not be located in the central or busy
/ part of the city. On the suggestion of Mr..
| Metzger a committee composed of Messrs.
| Metzger. Glossbrenner and Davey was
| appointed to wait upon the Board of Park
| Commissioners and have them take official
/ action on the proposition TO maintain the
/ ground surrounding the art building in
| good condition. The chairman was also
| directed TO communicate with the directors
/ of the Art Association in order that the
| executive committee of the citizens work
| ing for the location of the art building on
| the Fairbank-Kissel site and the directors
| of the Art Association can meet. The latter
| will be asked not TO take any definite ac-
ton the question of selecting site un-
til such meeting can be held.