The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-06
BY AL LYNCH
Times staff Writer


Removing the burden Of the non
paying Coffin golf course from the
city park department and CONSOLE
dation of park department equip
ment repair costs are two methods
suggested to The Times as avenues
to municipal economy.
The park board, it is reported, has
considered the aforementioned move
favorably with a short-term lease to
individuals or club as substitute
for its continued operation at a
deficit.
Cost of maintaining the course
this year has been $8,26923 and re-
ceipts have been $4,122.70, leaving a
$4,631.0 9 deficit.
Course TOO Sporty"
The charge has been brought
against Coffin that it is too sporty
for the average golfer who can find
the time to play only occasionally
and that its maintenance has been
. for the benefit OF comparative few
golfers who can play the course
without being made ridiculous" by
its hazards.
Park board officials admit that
the course is unlikely to become a
paying proposition for some time.
Coffin adherents point out that
high water the early part of this
season is, in some measure, re-
sponsible for the decrease in re-
ceipts.
In proposing leasing of the
course, proponents of that SUCCESS
ton point to the Woodstock club
situation. Woodstock has paid a
$4,000 year rental and also takes
care of its own upkeep.
Seek Fees From Pros
This rental, obtained under
lease that expires in 1910, pays all
the interest and part of the prin-
cipal of 100000 Indebtedness in
CURED when the city purchased the
property.
Two other suggestions are adj
vanced by persons seeking means
of reducing the city's park costs on
golf. One is that golf professionals
who dispense instructions pay the
city a fee for the right to do so at
the courses and sell clubs, balls,
tees and other equipment.
Still another proposal which has
met some favor is that profession
al rights" on all the municipal
courses be Jumped and the privilege
leased to person or corporation
which would be responsible for
maintenance.
In suggesting consolidating equip
ment repair costs, budget experts
point out that such work formerly
was done at municipal garage, across
from city hall.
Thousands to Be Saved
Now, however, several separate
crews are maintained for buildings
and machinery maintenance. The
park board has two repair shops,
one at Brookside and the other at
Riverside.
Several thousands of dollars
year could be saved, it is claimed,
through avoiding duplication in
superintendent, storekeepers and
labor.
All Of the city's golf courses are
showing profit with the exception
Of Coffin and Douglas. The latter
is maintained for Negroes and
shows the small deficit of only $457
up to Sept. g. South Grove has
come from $4,000 lin the red" in
1882 to $505.16 "in the black" this
year.
Job Consolidation Held
Further park department savings
can be effected, it is pointed out,
by having the parks superintendent
assume the duties of the recrea-
ton director.
Salaries are higher in the park
department, too, than in other de-
partments. One auditor draws
$2,052 a year. The position of park
board attorney could be abolished,
it is claimed, with the regular city
legal staff taking over his duties.
Other suggested additions in the
park department personnel are the
posts Of engineer, junior assistant
and senior field aid. No large
amount of construction work is con-
templated in the boards program
this year and the engineering de-
partment is costing the city So
552.13 a year to maintain.
Consolidating proponents cite this
situation as another argument that
the city engineers department
should do more work, in this, low
construction, period.