The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-24
NOTICE TO FAIRBANKS
BOARD OF HEALTH INFORMS sENA-
TOR WEEDS MUST BE CUT.
Health Commissioners VIII Begin the
Annual Weed-Cuttfng Crusade
Tuesday.

Senator Charles w. Fairbanks must cut
the weeds ON his property. The Board of
Health has served notice on the senator
that the weeds on six lots which he owns
At the corner OF Wright and Downey streets
must be moved by next Tuesday or the
boards weed-cutting inspector will have
the work done and charge the expense to
his property as lien.
The notice was served July IS and the
ten days time after the service, during
which the property owner can cut the
weeds himself, will expire Tuesday. But
IL was stated at the office OF the board
yesterday afternoon that the agent in
charge CT Senator Fairbanks's property told
one OF the inspectors that the weeds on
the lots at Wright and Downey streets will
be cut when the inspectors make their
rounds Tuesday.
Like time and death and love and some
other things the Board of Health's notices
to cut weeds are no respecters of persons
c. A Carter. chief clerk in the Office of the
board, says that every summer the board
finds 1t necessary TO serve notice on the
state OF Indiana that it is unlawfulIy al
lowing weeds TO grow on its property in
Indianapolis. Unlike private property own
ers. the State, Mr.. Carter says very seldom
cuts the weeds, but allows the boards in
spector to have IL done, and avoids the
bother BY paying the expense with its city
assessments.
wEED-CUTTING BEGINS TUESDAY.
Next Tuesday the Board OF Health will
begin its weed-cutting crusade. The board
has on it's books about $50 what are termed
advertised let's" where weeds have been
allowed to grow unhindered all summer.
And il these lots are not free of weeds
Tuesday the boards inspectors will set
their cutters to moving them.
BY advertised lots Is meant lots the board
has advertised In a daily newspaper on
which are growing weeds that are detri-
mental to the public health, and which the
property owner Is notified TO cut. After
these lots advertised for a certain time
the weed-cutting inspectors make a round
OF the city and where the weeds still grow
on the advertised lots they are cut and the
expense OF moving them Is attached to
the property as lien
Last year the board cut the weeds on
about 500 advertised lots. 1t cannot be told
yet whether the number this summer will
be larger or smaller than last year Be-
ginning next week the board will have its
inspectors out cutting weeds in various
parts of the city until some time in Septem-
ber- BY that time the frost will have be-
gun 10 kill the weeds and the health COM
missioners will not have TO concern them
selves with weeds till July, 1904
The largest weed patch in the city the
Board of Health has 10 look after is a field
OF two and one-fourth acres near the cor
ner OF Barth avenue and Ringold street
The property II owned by woman who Is
rated on the tax duplicate, IL Is said as
owning about $4,000 worth OF personal
property. But she seems to have ar aver
sion to keeping weeds of her property
For last year the lots were advertised and
when the inspectors went around in that
part OF the city after the required time
they found the weeds higher than ever
They were cut and the expense-about SIS
was charged up TO the property, by the
city controller, an a lien. The inspectors
expect to have to cut this same patch OF
weeds again this summer.
RED TAPE ABOUT wEED-CUTTING
C. A Carter. chief clerk in the office OF
the Board OF Health. says 1t is much easier
20 deal with smallpox epidemic than Il
look after the "weed-cutting business.
when a case of smallpox is discovered Il
Is a very simple matter to deal with Ii,
said Mr.. Carter. But IL the board find.
IL necessary 10 cut down the weeds on
few lots II has TO go TO a lot OF red tap.
business-advertising for certain time
etc. before anything can be done"
Public health, comfort and convenenc,
require the cutting and burning OF al
weeds" according TO the weed-cuttinl
ordinance. II the property owners OF
agents fail 10 cut the weeds after motto,
has been served upon them by the BoarC
of Health. then IL Is the duty of the board,
inspectors TO order the weeds cut within
ten days after the notice was given. This
cost shall be a lien on the property ans
coilectable the same as are assessment
Tor sprinkling and sweeping the streets.