The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-07
West Richmond Improvement
Association Committee Has
Conference With City Of
ficiaIs Today.
OPTION SECURED ON
RIVER BLUFF LOTS
1t Is Quite Probable That the
Matter Will Be Referred to
Council Tonight-S500 is
Price Asked.

In an effort to induce the city to |
acquire the west bluff of the White |
water river valley between the Doran |
and Main street bridges, a committee.
the West Richmond I'M
provement association. appeared be-
fore the board of public works this
morning. The committee has acquir-
ed an option on eleven lots for $500,
and it seeks to induce the city to
make the purchase. These lots are
located from short distance north
of the Main street bridge to the first
alley south of Randolph street. This
section is through the midst of the
beautiful trees that now cover the
stony bluff The board took the mat
ter urde" consideration and probably
will refer it to council at this even
ing's session.
Work Hard For Park.
For many years it bcs been the de-
sire of residents of the city to pre-
serve the beautiful trees along the
river from despo:lat;on. Ever since
its organization the West Richmond
IMPROVEMENT association has labored
to Eave river side park created. The
lets along he blntf are owned by diff
tSrent pcrccrs, bit al option price
finally was sc-uired from tie owner
Ct The eleven it is sought to buy at
this tine. Sevc-cl Of these lots exist
n,cs.lv IN a perpendicular direction
owing to the steep dcclivity. But
:here are others in the number that
have sufficient. claim on level ground
on top Of the bluff to permit the erec-
ton of houses
To Save Scenery.
TIE lots front West First street and
if sold for building purposes a row OF
houses or other structures would be
erected along the narrow strip on the
top and the outhcuses lined up along
the edge of The blrff 1t is to prevent
the appearance that would result from
IL" 'oconing q mar to the natural
h CT the hillside. that has led
tie men agitating the matter to trv to
get tic ci':' TO make the purchase.
1t was only recently that an at
tempt was n,cde to secure one or
more Of the lct- by man who want
Cd to place a dyeworks on the hill
side. West Richmond hrs been grow
ing so rapidly Of la-e years that the
most OF the available lots have been
acquired for building purposes. Resi-
dents of t1,e section Of the city feel
that row of cheap houses lining the
river bluff would be q det-iment to
property Interests. IS well as an eye
sore.
To Protect Trees.
An additional reason for desiring
that tie city buy the lets is the fact
it would provide = protectorate for
the forest trees tha. have managed
to find sustenance on the neagre COW
ering of the limestone formation. The
owner of the lots would have the right
ton. 1t was only about year ago
that havoc was played when about 100
young locust trees were cut down by
some man who wanted to make use
of them for fence posts.
The view from the bridges is one
of the most beautiful in the vicinity
of the city. The narrow stream of
water threading its way close to the
tree sheltered shore far below the
towering bluffs of stone is not ex-
celled in this section Of the country.
The entire city enjoys it and 1t is al
ways pointed out in crossing the
bridges. Drought never affects the
trees and it has been proposed that
when the 'city's finances justify
driveway be constructed through the
proposed park.