The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-28
ROAST THE BOARD
ON IMPROVEMENTS
West Side Property Owners
Call Board Hearings
Mere FarceS.

Property owners knocked" the
board OF public works this morning
when they were given hearing on
proposed public improvements contin-
guous to their properties. Assertions
were made by citizens that the hear
ings on proposed improvements given
by the board of works are farces; that
the board uses discrimination in max
ing improvements, and that every pro-
perty owner who has been called be-
fore the board on day of hearing has
had trouble with that body.
Owners of property on West Main
street from First to Fifth, which street
the board intends to pave with brick,
were the most vehement in their ar
guments that the street should not be
paved unless the city paid for the i'm
provement, although, they declared.
the street had received no attention
from the board of works for several
years.
Bill Roasts Board.
"The board Of works hearings for
property owners are pure and simple
farces," declared Charles Bell, who re-
monstrated against the proposed paw
ing of West Main street. "They are
like the hearings given men in the
west-they are first killed and then
the case investigated. This board of
public works has had trouble with ev-
cry property owner who appears be-
fore it. The board looks after the city
all right but it does not look after
the citizens. We just finished paying
for making the street from First to
Third street, and now you want us to
pay So per foot for bricking it. The
street is in miserable shape and needs
repairing. but the city ought to do it
North Tenth street
Mayor Zimmerman, who is the
spokesman for the board of works, re-
piled rather heartedly. giving his rea-
sons for wanting the street paved and
declaring that although property own
ers kicked" when they were assessed
for an improvement, yet, after a per-
manent improvement was made they
had told him he was a bully good
scout" for forcing the improvement.
Never See the Roller.
Mr.. Bell also declared that the
board Disseminated between the cast
and west sides of the river. saying
that the city spent more money on i'm
provements of streets east of the riv-
er than west of it,. He said that the
steam roller had not been on West
Main street for the past five years.
A remonstrance against the improve
ment was presented to the board. 1t
was signed by J. e. Bryant and forty
eight others, but a small number of
the 'signers were not resident prop
erty owners, and their names were
stricken from the paper. The board
also held that inasmuch as the remon-
strators read that the signers were in
favor of paving, but objected to pay
ing for it, another remonstrance would
necessarily have to be drafted. Con-
sequently the board confirmed the res
olution for the improvement and set
another date for hearing.
In all there were 18 persons pres
ent who objected to the paving of the
street in case the city did not pay for
the entire improvement, instead of
$4,000 which will only cover the cost
of bricking the street intersections.
Opinions Differed.
Five property owners on North c
street appeared before the board in
reference to the resolution for the con-
struction of sidewalks, curbing and
cutters from FIT. Wayne avenue to
Sixteenth street. Some of the prop
erty owners were in favor of con-
structing a narrow sidewalk in order
to protect the trees. Others were in
favor of bricking the roadway. The
board took the matter under advise
ment and an attempt probably will be
made to make a permanent improve
ment along the street.
George Perry, speak for his moth
er who is a property owner along the
street, declared that the city officials
did not follow the golden rule in order
ing public improvements.
The board confirmed the resolution
for the bricking of East Main street
from Twentieth to Twenty-second
streets. and also the resolution for the
construction of sanitary sewer. run
ming from North e to Railroad streets
at Sixteenth street. Steps will be TAX
en- immediately to acquire right-of-way
between Fifth and Sixth streets from
Main to North A street for the pur-
pose of constructing sanitary sewer.
Following the reading of letter
from Nettleton Neff, superintendent of
the Richmond division of the Penn
sylvania railroad. saying that the
company had completed the work of
paving a portion of Washington ave-
nue.. the board accepted the improve
ment.
w. X. Bradbury. representing the
Earlham cemetery association request
ed the board to pay an equal part in
the temporary repairing of the Ma.
tional road from Fifth street to the
Earlham cemetery. The matter was
taken under advisement.
A resolution providing for the con
struction of cement sidewalks, curb.
ing and cutters on South Seventeenth
street from A to B streets was con
firmed.
Councilman BarteIs resolution