The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-08
MAYOR BooKwALTER PRESENT
HE TELLS THE BOARD WHAT HE
THINKS PROPERTY Is WORTH.
In the Afternoon the Board Viewed
Sites near l.. r. 81 w. for the
Proposed Army Post.

last night. and now has something tangible
on which 10 base a report to the secretary
OF war The meeting was held TO get list
of names of men familiar with real-estate
values in the city TO submit to the secre-
tary Of war from which he may select
board OF appraisers to estimate the value
Of the arsenal grounds. Besides this spe-
cihc purpose of the meeting the board adj
mitted an informal discussion of the mat
ter.
After the meeting Of the board the COM
mittee having in charge the raising of
funds for the National Technical Institute
met and decided 10 offer the government
the appraised valuation. whatever it may
be, for the arsenal property. This action
will be submitted to the board as a propo-
sition TO the government.
Colonel McCaskey president of the board.
acted as chairman Of the meeting. He first
explained the mission of the board and
said it was here to represent the govern
ment and work in its interest He said
twelve propositions had been made to the
board for a site for an army post, and the
members had visited four. He said the
board is only acting in an advisory ca
pacity and the arsenal must be sold to ad-
OF regimental post, he said. would be
valuable acquisition to Indianapolis; that
this city is one Of the best strategical
points in the country for army post and
in time it might be increased in size so
as to accommodate company of artillery.
The government is liberal about spending
money on army posts and he said it had
already expended $780, 900 on Fort Sheridan.
han fo1 hat xxvaG do
sirous of securing the names of number
of reliable business men with knowledge
OF real-estate values to submit TO the War
Department, from which the secretary of
war might select board Of appraisers.
DIR. S. c. DICKEY TALKS.
G. w. Brown, who has charge of the can
vas for funds for the technical institute,
said the promoters of the institute were de-
sirous of purchasing the grounds, but that
the committee as citizens of indianapolis
also recognized the Importance of securing
an army post. He introduced DR.. S. c.
Dickey. manager of winona Assembly. who
| is at the head Of the technical institute
/ movement DIR. Dickey said the organiza-
ton that wishes to secure the arsena!
grounds is new, but it is the outgrowth Of
many years of planning. He stated that II
the site, the institute would be endowed
and maintained by the organization. He
| said the committee had list OF names and
/ he assured the board they would be impair
/ tial in their appraisement.
! Colonel McCaskey said the board would
be glad to the institute located in In
| dianapolis; that he wished IL success, but
the board was here for business and was
acting in the interests Of the government.
While the technical institute committee
I wished
submit, the names of Charles 4. Coffin.
Albert E. Metzger, Henry Eitel. E B. Mar
| were suggested and placed on record. The
committee reported the following names:
Albert f. Metzger, George Wolfe, V. T. Ma
| lott, Henry Eitel, W. Z. Stevenson, "A. A.
| Barnes and Herman c. futile.
II observe that several of the names you
! submit have already been suggested, said
| Colonel McCaskey, as the list was handed
him. He asked if there were others and
| when no response was made, said well,
| l suppose from this array of names the
/ secretary of war will be able to select a
/ board to make appraisement." Colonel
| MCCaskey then asked if anyone was pre-
| pared TO make an estimate of the value of
| the arsenal property. saying il would facili-
tate the work of the board and assist in
| presenting the matter fairly to the War
Department. In reply TO a question as TO
whether the government would sell the
arsenal grounds for less than the appraise-
ment, he said it would not; that IL could
not according to an act of Congress.
AGAINST ESTIMATES.
Frank Z. Gavin. president of the Com
mercial Club, said ne did not think it ad-
visable to express opinions about the value
of the arsenal property. He said the tech
nical institute will be able to give the gov
eminent what the property is worth. 81
am sure said he that the institute
stands ready and willing to give the govern
ment the appraised value of the property
l can assure the government that after all
Investigations have been made that il car
be sold for its fair value" He added that
If in purchasing a new site for the loca-
ton of an army post there should be toe
large a discrepancy in figures between the
price received for the arsenal property
and the cost of an army post site the citi
zens OF indianapolis would gladly assist the
government in buying ground within It's
! reach.
Mayor Bookwalter said he was fully i'm
pressed with the Importance Of disposinl
or the arsenal grounds TO an advantage
for the government. the locating Of a tech
meal institute and the securing of an army
post. In material way. he said the city
would be more benefited by army pos
than a technical institute. and ne would
first be in favor Of the post. Then he told
the board several things about the value o
the Arsenal property. He said valuation
OF the property should be considered from
two points, one, as a property in a trac
and the other a tract to be divided int
lots and sold for residence purposes II,
said the appraised value depended upon tn
basing. He said he would treat the Arsena
grounds for home building purposes, which
would bring the highest appraisement A
a residence district il was one OF the mos
beautiful spots in the city. but at tn
same time values are placed according 4
location. means Of access character an,
condition Of the parts Of the city through
which the place is reached and the soil. II
said the arsenal grounds are crossed di
agonally by Pogue's run, a wild and un
ruly stream" that has puzzled the engi
neers or the city for many years II tn
grounds were plated into lots. many woul
be OF no value because Of this stream or a
: least until sewers were provided 10 TAX
care OF the surface water which emptie
into it.
The Mayor stated that when a board o
appraisers make report on the value O
the arsenal grounds there will be a sur
, prise for the War Department. He sal
/ he understood Major Shaler who was 4
/ charge OF the arsenal, had told the secre
tary OF war that the grounds were wort
$4,000 TO 10000. In his opinion. the mayo
said, the figures ought 10 be cut In two. TX
/ had no doubt that the same number o
? / square feet in Woodruff Place, with all II
1 improvements, could be purchased for les
, than $4,000. He called the boards al
tention 10 the fact that speculative prOpert
lies north or the city and not I'm the vicinit
Of the Arsenal. He said here are severa
lines or railway TO cross and the soil
clay. These and many other points h