The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-21
Reminds Him that Change i'm the
North Front of the Federal Building
Is Desired by the People.
ANOTHER MILITARY B0ARI
TO VISIT THIS CITY AND SELECT AN
ARMY POST SITE.
It's Members May Be COlonels Miller
and McCaskey and Major Edfe-
Statement by MIR. Overstreet.
tan correspondence Of the journal.

STAFF Correspondence OF the Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. - Secretary
Shaw, of the Treasury Department, to-day
received a letter from Senator Fairbanks
regarding the Indianapolis federal build
ing. 1t will receive prompt consideration
and an early reply, it is stated. The letter
follows
'.Sir-Referring to your favor, 1 desire
TO again call your attention to Senate Bill
67ee for an increase of the limit Of cost for
the purchase of a site and the erection OF
a courthouse and postoffice building at In
dianapols. Since the bill was introduced
have mad communication with the people
at Indianapolis who are interested in the
proper construction and completion OF
the building, and / fear that the
amount of the proposed increase is
not sufficient to build a building in
a symmetrical and satisfactory manner.
The principal difficulty is that, according
to the original plans. the north elevation
is not symmetrical with the other sides
OF the building This is regarded by our
press and our people without exception
as a very serious blemish. The north IA
cade fronts on a very attractive park and
one of the best sections of the city, and TO
give this portion of the building the APP
1earance of being the back will result in
very serious disappointment. The building
when completed will be so located that
every side should be finished In an artistic
manner, and one side is quite as important
as the other. May / trouble you TO con-
slider the subject anew in the light OF these
suggestions and the suggestions personally
made to the architects?''
The secretary Of war has decided that he
will not be able to select a site for the
army post at indianapolis from the docu-
ments he has before him and has ordered
another board to proceed at once to the In
diana capital within the next day or two.
1t is understood the board will include MAJ.
Guy Edie, Lieut. Col. Crosby Miller and
Col McCaskey. The members of the board
may be expected in Indianapolis at any
time.
Representative overstreet. in reviewing
the military post situation to-day after
comforting with Secretary Root and Gen
eral Corbin said: Yesterday the secre-
tary of war directed a return to Indianapo-
lis of the original board which first visited
Indianapolis with respect to the location of
the army post The secretary of war does
not feel that the former report of this
board, with the report or General Mac
Arthur contains sufficient definite lnforma-
ton to warrant him in making a final de-
has therefore, directed the board to pro-
ceed at once to Indianapolis and examine
into the entire question, not intimating to
the board any particular preference. The
board accordingly, will investigate. and.
acting on the direction of the secretary,
make definite report as to some particu-
lar tract of land which il can recommend
To him for a site.
"While there are naturally individual
preference of citizens, either interested by
financial investments or purely from per-
sonal opinions, still the entire community
is more interested in the final determina-
ton of the question. The War Department
has had great experience in such matters,
and takes into account the general charac-
ter of the ground for all of the purposes
for which such posts are located. Petitions
and protests are more likely TO embarrass
the government than TO assist it, The
same benefits will accrue TO the city OF
Ind;anapolis whether the post shall be
located north east. south west. The
people IL Is believed. are more Interested
i'm obtaining the general BENEFITS which will
follow from such location. rather than in
the particular tract OF land which may be
chosen.
1.-The arsenal property will not be offered
for sale until the question of a site for
the army post shall be determined. Should
the War Department conclude that suit
able tract of ground cannot be had. or
that differences exist at indianapolis
among the people as To the location OF the
army post. the sale OF the arsenal would
be abandoned and the community would