The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-03
FEDERAL OFFICIALS INCENSED
HOWEVER, IN THE PRESENT sTTUA-
TION THEIR HANDS ARE TIED.
Proposition that Enough Money BE
Raised by subscription to Meet
Demand Made by Roberts.

According to federal officials, the balk in
the proceedings looking to the purchase of
the army post site, northeast of the city.
is a great deal more serious than most
people think AS matters now stand 1T
appears that the deal cannot be closed for
a year more, and there is a probability
of the whole plan falling through and the
government army site being lost to In
dianapols once and for all.
The trouble arises from the failure OF
John Roberts, an1owner of go acres of land
in the tract, to accept the price specified
in the option secured by Dyer & Rassmann.
The government has been ready for over
month to make the payment for the land
at the price set out in the option, but
fuses to close the deal until the whole tract
is included IN the purchase. On account
of Robertss refusal to accept the terms
agreed upon, the transfer of any part of
the property has been blocked. Should
condemnation proceedings be brought
against Roberts in effort to have him
abide by the option, 1t would probably take
a year or more to have the matter straight
ened out. Word from the War Department
at Washington states that Secretary Root
refuses to reconsider his decision to with
hold payments to the owners, and unless
the complications are cleared up the de-
partmental estimates for the construction
of the post will not be submitted to Con-
gress. In such case the construction of the
post would be delayed for more than a
year, or fall through altogether.
OFFICIALS INCENSED.
The attitude of Roberts has incensed the
federal officials, but all efforts to get him
to comply with the option have failed.
Representative Jesse Overstreet Is now in
Washington attempting to have the tangle
unraveled. According to the option, Rob-
erts agreed to sell his land at a specified
price, but when the time came to deliver
his deed to the government he fatty re-
fused, demanding more money for his prop
erty. The sum of $4,000 was set aside for
the purchase OF the tract and the option
was drawn I'D just inside that sum and
the government refuses to make further
appropriation. Consequently the federal
officials could not comply with Robertss
demands, even if they cared to do it.
1t is pointed out that If Dyer & Rass-
mann had guarded against such action as
that of Roberts, in securing of the option,
| the present difficulty would not be in evil
dence. The option should have been so
strict as to bind the property holders to
it's specifications, 1t is claimed. In such
an event Roberts could be brought into
line with little loss of time and the trans
fer of the land could have been con-
summated before now. That one man, in
holding out for few dollars, should lose
to Indiana an army post that would be
profitable TO the community and invaluable
to the State has aroused the ire of govern
ment officials and persons interested in the
| construction of the post.
WOULD MEAN BIG LOSS.
1t is not generally realized what loss
| the army post will be to Indianapolis Many
people believe that it is the best thing that
has come this way for long time. and
| that the opportunity should be taken ad-
4 n nv nf
| construction of the post thousands of dol
| lars would be spent. which would mean
| employment TO hundreds OF workingmen.
| 1t Is planned by the War Department to
| station a full regiment of 15OO soldiers at
| the post, and in its maintenance the farm
ers of the surrounding country would find
| ton. a large force of employees would be
| necessary. Having the army site just out
| side the city would mean the expenditure
| OF from $4,000 to s1oO, 900 in the city every
| year. 1t is TO the interest Of Indianapolis
| that the army post be secured now that
| the opportunity is at hand
The failure to build the post will also
| mean the knocking out of an elaborate
boulevard system that has been planned
/ by the city and for which an appropriation
of 5000 has already been made. The post
| would also bring many prominent army
| officers and their families to the city 1t
| has been suggested that 1T would be to the
advantage of the city to make an appro-
| priation that would cover the advance over
| the option asked for by Roberts in which
event the deal could be closed and work
begun on the site within a short time.
/ Every effort is being made to bring Roberts
| to time without resorting to the red tape Of
! condemnation proceedings. Mr.. Overstreet
| is attempting to have the government pay
/ the other owners, at the same time MAX
| ing a tender to Roberts of the sum named
/ in the option, and upon his refusal, take
/ steps towards condemnation proceedings.
| If this could be accomplished work could
| be begun on the other parts of the site
| during the time the proceedings were be-
| ing fought