The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-09
Meeting of Joint Committee at Com
merciaI Club to Further Plans to
Buy Arsenal Grounds.
NO SLEEPING ON THE TRAIL
REPRESENTATIVE OVERSTREET
ADVISES EARLY ACTION.
Rev. s. c. Dickey Tells What Direc-
tors Will Guarantee-Chairman
Names Committees.

A joint meeting OF the committee from
the University of Indianapolis. the Board
of Trade, the Commercial Club and Winona
Agricultural and Technical School was held
at the assembly rooms of the Commercial
Club last night 20 discuss ways and means
to advance the canvass for subscriptions
to the fund to purchase the arsenal grounds
for technical institute. A. c. Harris pre-
sided and stated briefly the purpose of the
conference. 1t was a practical business
movement he said, and meant that Indian
apolis, by reason of the discontinuance of
the arsenal, now had the opportunity to get
the grounds for a school, and in addition
city. He said a representative of a rail-
way company had called on him and said
his company would give a great deal of as
sistance if the post should be located on
its lines The people of Woodruff place
were anxious to assist in any movement
that would preserve the arsenal grounds,
and they were in sympathy with the pres
ent movement.
The Rev. s. c. Dickey then spoke Of the
history of the technical school proposition.
1t grew out of the plans for a school of
similar character. though not scope. at Wi
mona. The technical school here was not
to duplicate school or college work, so that
there would be no charge Of competition or
fear of rivalry to it. If the arsenal
grounds were secured. he said, the directors
of the school, he felt authorized to say
would guarantee the esta blishment of the
school by September, 19O3 and would open
it then, and that they would maintain it
for period of at least ten years, which
meant not less than $4,000 year in sal
aries and that at least 100000 would be
spent the first year in building dormitory
and equipment of the buildings. He said
also the directors wanted the details man
aged by a local advisory board. The effort
of the directors would be not only TO seek
annual subscriptions to the school, but to
procure permanent endowment. He
Joined Mr.. Harris in praising Representa-
tive Overstreet for his mana cement of the
effort 70 bring the opportunity TO the city.
He said he desired the school here because
this was his home, and he thought there
could be no better place, but this did not
mean that this was the only place at which
il could be established.
eff the citizens want technical school,"
said he, now is the time for them to help
us.
LETTER FROM GEN. CoRBIN.
Representative Overstreet then explained
that he regarded the secretary of wars
action in giving reasonable time for the
city TO make a proposal to purchase the
grounds as meaning weeks rather than
months. He then read letter from Adju-
tant General Corbin saying the secretary
of war authorizes me to inform you that
the conditions of the provision cited have
received the approval of the War De-
partment and that the project will be put
In motion at an early day. for the DISPOSE
ton of the arsenal and the selection OF
new site within the vicinity of indianapolis
Under the appropriation bill the sale Of the
arsenal can be consummated whenever we
have what the department considers an Of
fer of a suitable price.
The purchase of a site outside of the
city limits is one that probably would re-
quire more time The usual way such
transfers and purchases are made is by
the government obtaining option at
fixed price with bonds the government
by an act OF It's Legislature and approval
OF its executive. cedes IL 10 the United
States.
While Mr.. Overstreet thought the War
Department would approve the transfer OF
the arsenal grounds even before army post
grounds had been selected he thought this
together. He said army posts had been
of land had been made In this city the
circumstances are different and more fav-
orable and prompt action was needed He