South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-19
HAPPENINGS IN AND ABOUT TOWN
To PASS
ON RUM VILLAGE
Council to Hear What They
Have to Say Before De-
Gliding Proposition.


Taxpayers OF South Bend Will be
given an opportunity of expressing
themselves befove the council will
consent to the EXP enditure OF $4,000
for the purchase of the Rum village
property. according to the sentiment
Of the committee OF the whole which
last nigh, decided TO lay the Ordi-
nance over for five weeks. during
which time the project will he laid
before the various civic clubs and
other organizations i'm the city.
After a short discussion a favor
able report upon the ordinance pre-
scented by Mayor Keller providing for
the purchase of the property just
north of the city hall was adopted
and the bill will come up for pass
age at the next council meeting. II
appeared TO be the sentiment Of the
council members that the purchase
of the property adjacent TO the city
hall was advisable.
-sAtttCg NoSbCh.
Opposition 10 the purchase of the
Rum village tract at this time was
expressed by two or three members
Of the council upon the grounds that
there are better ways in which the
money can be expended, one cOun-
Gilman pointing cut that money in
vested in z. municipal electric light
ing plant being a more feasible pro-
ject.
Pres't Richard Elbel Of the park
board was present at the commit
tee meeting and made an urgent re-
quest that the council buy the Rum
village property.
The park board has been work
ing tirelessly and necessarily for
years upon this matter" declared
Pres't Elbel Although we have
not been working on the surface en-
tirely and much of the work has
been done quietly. we have never
theless been considering the plan for
several years. Two years ago we
submitted the price of S65, 600 and
asked that the property be pur-
chased. We really expected that the
land could be bought for much less
about $4,000 was the anticipated
cost. Mayor Keller has secured an
even lower price.
Now is the Time, Says EIbeI.
Gentlemen, the park board is just
praying that this property be pur-
chased. 1t would be a crime 10 let
this opportunity slip by and | can't
conceive that the council will reject
the offer as il now stands. Now is
the time to buy if we ever want to
set the property"
Councilman Hagerty asked Pres't
Elbel if he could give an estimate
of the value of the timber on the
Rum village land should that tim
Der be u ID for lumber and firewOod
purposes. Elbel could not give any
definite figures, and when Hagerty
commented upon this he replied that
the park superintendent had at one
time given the valuation 10 the board
but il had been forgotten.
The purchase of the land was the
uppermost thought in our minds. E"
intendent. Mr. Perley, gave us fig
ures at one time, but the board never
expects To have TO cut down these
trees if the property is purchased. l
think that Mr.. Perlev is mighty
good lumberman, as he has sold
lumber all over the country. and his
figures can be relied upon lie is
probably the best lumberman in
town"
After eulogizing Arthur Park
Perley Pres't Elbel ceased talking
and the discussion of the Rum viii
lage project was taken up again.
To Give Civic Clubs Chance.
1t was decided TO lay the ordi-
nance aside until Feb % and dur
ing this time Mayor Keller will pro-
vide speakers who will address the
various civic clubs upon the prop
osition and get the sentiment of the
entire city upon the proposed move.
Upon this sentiment depends the ac-
ton Of the council.
II was indicated by the favorable
report upon the ordinance provid-
ing for the purchase of the prop
erty adjacent 10 the city that this
bill will be passed next Monday
night Mayor Keller has secured a
S0-day option upon the property. In
a communication which accompanied
the ordinance 10 the council last
week the mayor explained that there
will be great future need for the
property as an addition to the pres
ent city hall will be necessary at a
not far distant date He stated that
there is already a lack OF space in
the present city hall and explained
that new quarters for the city court.
police department. building depart
ment and the housing of vehicles
are also needed.
The committee OF the whole also
voted favOrably upon the ordinance
appropriating $2O3 10 the board Of
safety for the purpose OF paying the
final expenses in connection with the
drafting OF the building code.