The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-06
Latter VIII Personally Inspect the
Land and Report to Secretary OF
War Department.
VALUE OF ARSENAL PROPERTY
OPINION OF CITIZENS WILL BE Sc
CURED AT OPEN SESSION.
Committee Interested In Technical
School VIII Make Proposition for
the Reservation.

etc, and three verbal propositions were
made yesterday by real-estate men and
owners of land near Indianapolis TO the
board of army officers in the city to inspect
sites for the proposed army post and the
board will spend to-day and tomorrow
on a personal tour of inspection. All of
the members of the board were present
at the two meetings yesterday and r. w.
Duffy, secretary, made a record of the
proceedings. Colonel McCaskey. president
Of the board, said last evening that all
propositions will be treated as confidential
for the present and the prices asked by
owners and real-estate men for land to be
offered Will not be made known until after
the reports are sent to the War Depart
ment.
The first proposition was submitted by
s. NJ. Dyer. of the firm OF Dyer & Rass-
man. He furnished a plat of the ground
he offered, and this was later sketched on
a map of Marion county which the board
has before il. Mr.. Dyer made a proposal
on 100 acres lying just west and north OF
Riverside Park on the Lafayette road. Mr..
Dyer pointed out many advantages of this
tract OF land for army post and the
board will inspect II this afternoon.
Howard Waddell made a proposition in
writing for tract of about 1900 acres, or
part of it. located southwest of the city
near Valley Mills. The board will inspect
this site this morning. accompanied by NJ.
W. Mansfield, of the Pennsylvania road
The land is located near the 1. & ". division
of that road.
Worth Wright and W. V. Rocker, Of this
city, were before the board with a verbal
proposition which they will submit later
in writing. They offer 1.5oO to 1900 acres in
the northern part Of Marion county west
of Castleton and north of Broad Ripple.
The land lies between the Lake Erie &
Western Railroad and the Monon They
said it would be easy matter to pur-
chase 1900 acres of this land, which Is
level and healthy The board will inspect
the land tomorrow Another site to be
inspected tomorrow by The board Is a tract
offered verbally by Charles (. Sims. con-
tanning over 900 acres lying between Cler-
mont and Ben Davis.
AVERAGE OF $50 AN ACRE.
c. NJ. Ballard was before the board and
stated he would make a written proposal
later in the week of tract of land OF
1000 acres six miles west of Indianapolis,
on the Rockville road. He said the value
of the land is from s65 to 500 an acre and
WOulQ average ABOUT ECU an acre. he OWLS
16O acres of the land, the rest being owned
by citizens Of the county. He said the land
is about ninety feet above the level of In
dianapolis and there are many natural
springs in the section. The Big Four Rail-
road is within 400 yards of the north bound
airy of the land.
1--WE hope TO complete our investigation
of the sites offered to us for an army post
by Thursday evening"" said Colonel Nc
Caskey last evening. I'VE desire to for
ward our reports with the written prop
ostions, specifications. plats, etc. to Wash
ington as soon possible so that the sec
rotary of the War Department can take
action upon them at his earliest convent
ence. The government is in need of quarters
and shelter for the troops in the army and
the post is needed badly. We believe the
department will take immediate action on
our reports.
at matters but little II the land is ten,
fifteen or even within a .wenty-hve-mile
radius of Indianapolis so that II is located
near a railroad and Is desirable land. We
will know more about the character Of the
land that has been offered after we make
our inspections, but as we act merely as
an advisory board, our action will not be
final. That is left TO the War Department.
1T doesn't make much difference If the
land is divided by railroad or country
road. There are condemnation proceedings
we can take to close country roads If it
is desired to do so. and If railroad pierces
the land, subways can be built under the
road"
FOR THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
Yesterday morning the board met Frank
Gavin and Dr. George E. Hunt, president
and secretary OF the Commercial Club
John ]. Appel, president Of the Board of
Trade; Hilton u. Brown, representing the
newspapers of the city, and G. W. Brown.
who has charge OF raising the funds for
the proposed Technical Institute. and dis
cussed the conditions of the sale Of the
Arsenal property. Colonel McCaskey read
10 the committee the orders detailing the
board and the law recently enacted touch
ing on the sale of the Indianapolis Arsenal
reservation and the instructions of the
War Department through him to the COM
mittee. He explained that IL was the
boards duty TO merely ascertain the value
of the Arsenal property and their estimate
of its value will be forwarded to Wash
ington. He said that the proposition of
the sale of the Arsenal property does not
enter into their instructions, but that the
boards opinion of the value of it is wanted
and may lead 10 the ultimate sale of the
property. Colonel McCaskey stated that
the terms of all government sales by the
supposed the secretary Of war would de-
mand cash in the transaction in the event
of the sale.
AN OPEN SESSION.
Colonel McCaskey said an open meeting
OF the board will be held tomorrow evening
in the Century Club rooms in the Denison
Hotel at which the board will hear citizens
who are acquainted with the value of real
estate in Indianapolis and especially that of
the Arsenal property. The board will also
receive the names of Indianapolis men who
could be chosen TO act as appraisers in
appraising the Arsenal property and these
names will be forwarded to Washington
with the boards report. The board ar
ranged with G.. W. Brown TO submit a
proposition Of the Technical Institute to
buy the grounds on Friday morning at IL
o'clock. Colonel McCaskey said that such
a proposition would enable the board TO
determine the value OF the property The
committee present yesterday will also sug-
gest names Of those who would be COM
petent TO sit on the board of appraisers
for the Arsenal property.
Colonel McCaskey said the board hopes
TO conclude its business in Indianapolis by
Friday evening and reports will then be
forwarded TO Washington.
Allowance IN Comfy Omcers