The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-22

city, showing views of attractive scenes in
the different parks. In speaking of the pur-
Garfield Park for $1O9,5O0 Mr. Merritt de-
clared ii was mistake to purchase this
land at so great price. From 1853 to
1894" said he. Garfield Park was little
more than political football, used alter
nately by each political party TO pay its
campaign debts, one party hauling in dirt
to fill in the low ground along Pleasant run,
and the other digging il out again to make
a lake. thus doing and undoing because
there was no head or system. This contln-
ued until 1885, when the nonpartison Board
of Park Commissioners created by the Leg
1slature took charge OF Garfield Park ana
began system of Improvement that has
gone steadily forward ever since that time,
giving the city beautiful park"
Mr.. Merritt declared that the woman is
very important factor in park life.
Wherever children there should be a
good and competent woman to take care
of them and assist them In their play. One
pure moral tone in the parks than any
other available force. Mr. Merritt assert
ed that unless this moral tone is maintained tame.
the fewer parks we have the better. Poll
tics having been eliminated, he said, I'VE
are now making rapid strides to have
parks in keeping with our beautiful city"
w. h. Eldridge read paper on The
Central Heating Plants of Indianapolis"
He asserted that these plants are so rap
idly growing into popularity that they can
not be installed fast enough to keep pace
with the demand. Mr.. Eldridge gave a
technical description of some of the plants
of the city.
STREET RAILWAY SYSTEM.
The last paper of the evening was an in
teresting description of the street-railway
system of this city, including the inter-
urban terminal station. This paper was
read by Thomas b. McMath, chief engineer
for the Indianapolis Traction and Termi-
nal Company. Mr.. McMath declared that
the obligation to pave the tracks has for
the past four years required an annual
expenditure of 100000. Forty miles of
track has been rebuilt and twenty miles
of extensions added since the present COM
pany took control. 1.-The old rolling stock
of short cars, termed by the people of
carded." said he. THE rolling stock now
the streets of Indianapolis is all less
than four years old. We think that we
have in our large cross seat, double-truck
car the best city passenger car in the
country. The people of Indianapolis have
in five years changed from speaking of
their own car services with supreme con-
tempt To actually Dragging that it is the
nneSt, without exception, in this country
Mr.. McMath devoted part of his paper to
minal station at Illinois and Market
streets. He said the tracks would enter
the trainsheds from Market street and will
be nine in number through the station.
fore reaching the exit at Ohio street The
station, he said, will cost about 81, 500 600.
mo feature" said he, that could add to
the convenience or comfort of the travelling
pubic or otner occupants or the building
has been omitted. The building will be one
which may be pointed out TO visitors with
PRIDE not only for the architectural beauty,
but as the first union interurban station"