Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-03


Probably the last to go was the one
that endured SO long at Massachusetts,
avenue and Delaware street-and much
grumbling accompanied its going.
1t was convenient for those passing,
and especially was its outpouring de-
lectable to those who had passed long
hours in dusty offices or stores.
And now about the nearest approach
to town pump is the public drinking
fountain on the sidewalk at Massachu-
sets avenue and Pennsylvania street,
and the drinking fountains that are
detail of the soldiers and sailors monu-
ment.
But those at the monument, though
practically in the heart of the city, are
not really in the heart of things, in the
heart of business or in the way Of those
going to and from their work.
The monument water is Of exception
ally pleasing taste and GOODNESS, but still
these fountains are not in the center of
things.
Inquiry has shown that the people Of
indianapolis, especially those who fire.
auent the downtown district, are DESTROYS
of such drinking fountains, and that this
desire is especially strong in the minds of
strangers who are not acquainted with
office buildings where one may quench
their thirst at some faucet in hall.
NO OTHERS
TO RELY ON.
He must rely on one of the fountains
mentioned or on water served as a sort
Of side line at a SODA fountain.
James II. Lowry, superintendent OF the
department OF public parks, says he Is
in favor Of downtown public drinking
fountains. and realizes the need Of them
hn l. in
doubt as to whether the department Of
public parks had Jurisdiction over such
fountains outside Of park lands.
The one on Massachusetts avenue. he
said. had been put in by the department
as an experiment at a cost Of about $500,
the original plan being for one each at
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, Virginia
and PENNSYLVANIA, Kentucky and Illinois,
Pennsylvania and Market and Ohio and
Illinois.
He said a further survey had not been
made. and so he could not tell what other
places would be best for the fountains.
The department. with less money than
1t had last year, he says, can not afford
to put in any more fountains at this
time, and he thought that there should
be further experiments conducted any
way, before other public drinking foun-
tains were installed
In Cincinnati, he said, there are a nun,
Der of public drinking fountains, but the
water from them, coming directly from
the water mains, is unpalatable.
DETROIT HAS
FOUNTAINS.
He added that in Detroit, where the
same type Of fountain as that on Mas
sachusetts avenue is used, the water IS
pleasingly cool, but he had not had an
opportunity to investigate just how this
was accomplished
He explained that in the fountain at
Massachusetts, avenue there was a large
pipe running from the main Into the
ground for distance OF about thirty
feet. to cool the water. and when the
foot pedal, which operates the fountain.
is pressed the water comes from the
bottom Of the thirty-foot pipe
He said that the best location for
such fountains IS adjacent to a street
corner where there is much traffic, AMI
II a fountain were placed at Ohio an
Illinois streets It should be placed on
Ohio street far enough from the Illinois
street crowd 10 prevent congestion.
One feature OF the situation thar is
40 mean one is that the indianapolis
Water Company has expressed a willing
mesa to supply water without charge for
any Of the public drinking fountains.