The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-02
SALE OF ST. CLAIR PARK.
enator M%atson's Logical Reasons for
Opposing Such Action.

Senator Frederick +. Matson, of this city,
has some pronounced views on the subject
of the sale of St. Clair Park which he
stated, last night, with clearness and logic.
NJ view of the NATTER he said, lis that
it would be an extremely short-sighted pol
icy, from the standpoint Of every citizen of
the State, to sell st. Clair Park. While
termed a park. it is only so because the city
of indianapolis, seeing ii lying vacant,
spent its money on the ground and beau
titled it in order that the public might get
the benefit of it.
IF the Blind Asylum is to remain where
II Is there is every reason why St. Clair
Park which is really a part of the Blind
Asylum grounds, should also remain un-
sold. because, sooner or later. the asylum
Will have to be enlarged and moderniZed,
probably being rebuilt on the cottage plan,
and in that event every foot of st. Clair
Park will be needed.
Another thing to be considered is that.
when the present boiler and engine depart
ment in connection with the asylum, was
built, the Common Counc of indianapolis
vacated Walnut street. between Pennsyl-
vania and Meridian and donated it to those
! grounds, thus filling the gap between
what is known as ST. Clair Park and the
grounds Immediately occupied by the asy-
lum Then the boiler and engine depart
ment were built on the location of Walnut
street for the express purpose of having
them situated near the center of the en-
tire grounds, with the view of having them
in the proper location when the institution
should he enlarged and modernized. From
every moral and equitable point of view. If
st. Clair Park should be sold. indianapolis
would have the right TO reopen Walnut
street.
Il can see no possible reason for the sale
OF this park. The only plea that is made
for it is that the money represented by its
valued should be turned into the stat.
treasury for other purposes. If the State
were in a bad way financially this argu-
ment might have some weight, but. as
everybody knows, the State is in a better
condition financially than ever before. and
within four years will be almost entirely
out of debt. Furthermore, even if il Is
intended at some time in the future to sell
these grounds just for the sake of the
economical to retain them for the present.
because the increase in value will be greater
than any increase upon the proceeds would
be, even if the money should be placed at
compound interest.
I'm line with what / have already sug-
gested, that st. Clair Park will be needed
in the future for the increased needs of
the Blind Asylum. is the consideration that
the State could not find land anywhere else
for the institution as cheap as ST. CLAIR
Park. When the State acquired this land
it got it at a very low price-something
like four or five thousand dollars. There
are many uses to which the park could be
put in the future if ii is retained.
II believe If st. Clair Park is sold the
people OF the State will soon find il to be
q g%rievous mistake, and one which cannot
If no good use appears in future for the
land. it can then be sold, and the constan.
increase in value will more than pay for the
delay"