The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-10-12

L 0EI00ef report
Ykesenfed fiom the COMMITTEES on LiShS:
The tnaerigned, members Of the Council, end Of
the Eoniriftee on Light In view Of " sbsolfe ne
Gas Works. and the utter impossibity to get lands
ON fair and equal terms, when 1t 10 known that It -
Ss s ss + Z e s
Ss e 81 M "a " Without 6 M
ysshs.s ss
furnish fair data of the value of no much OF the
land as circumstances might render IL necessary for
no one Moved by such Considerations the under
signed examined the property at Rqcketfs and re-
ed on G ws b. Mae street, ron on said
fronting On said street S7sI feet on The south, By
on the by property owned by sundry individuals,
about $50 feet as could be purchased on fair terms
These lands have peculiar adaptation for. exteu-
sive Gas Works and in the opinion OF the under
signed, possess more advantages present ana pres.
pective, positive and Incidental than any Other si.e
for the Works withdn adjoining the city. me un-
dersigned desire to present some OF the consae,E
tons that Influenced them in the selectio1 o. ,t
above described property be rendered by them 90
the city, SO far as they have been able to effect the
purchase, at the actual cost as suitable ste ior lne
| present extension of the Gas Works, ana IN ave
| time. for the entire manufacture of gas.
| The land bounded as above. covers surface oI
2o7 $50 feet with ample space above me Thst
| of the water to erect extensive Gas WORKS. Ihat
part the property subject To be cam py
the erection of stone wall along Gile's Ireek ana s
up mart of the western and the eastern lines 81 the
be raised above the highest rise OF the wa
ter at small outlay each year. until the wall Is
pleted, aud in ample time TO meet tne aea Ca a.
t Wor ,siss LOT the 'n3'n's 'A4 {
The enclosing the property by stone wall to be
GRADUALLY raised-as the immense wash from the ra-
Vines that will be emptied within the walls and leave
the earth &C. instead of its being carried into the
rvsr as rs o o tbe incidental advantages Of the
lion. worth to the city much more than the entire
| cos. ofthe property.
,enf of the river fs that it will be place for the
onsfant deposit of the earth that will be removed by
| dredging which operation will be commenced be-
snra mr. early in the ensuing year Within the boun-
daries of the property there will be ample space tor
"a ors se III large stocks of all the material required
for extensive Gas Works, well rs for the deposit
of ashes and other ofa. the removal of which, If the
works ire continued at the present location, else
| where will, in time, become large Item OF ex-
| The saving in the transportation of coal will be
large as lighters loaded with it at the yards on the
onnoste side of the river deliver coal within the
Enclosure Included in the purchase, and the land
NECESSARY to be condemned several comfortable
houses that can be rented TO the workmen employed
at the Gas Works with the double advantage of pro-
| ducng revenue, and having the men convenient to
their duties.
| recently thought of for the Gas Works many:
First. The lands are more extensive, being 207.552
square feet against l53 SIT square feet-arger, ST. 5
| square feet
| Second The entire cost of the property, by par
tai purchase and ample estimate for lands that must
be condemned is under $4,000; whilst that
Els 'HRasmnsq was sa'o0a a 90 oins'sn's'
| Third. Though much more extensive, the lands
bring in much less revenue-say 60 cents SIC. goo
| is $50; whilst the other property. condemned at
| S28, I40 would pay S16S revenue-dherence, Sl0s.
| Fourth-From the nature of the location and be-
many owners, 1t is not likely that any sys
tenn to improve the entire property and reclaim that
subject to overflow, would be adopted; therefore the
| value of the property cannot be much enhanced,
| whilst thus owned. -...
The other property, THAT recently condemned)
from its position must increase very much in value
and in much greater ratio, produce revenue to the
citv The above few of the reasons that in the
opinion of the undersigned, makes the property
desirable for the extension of the Gas Works and
preferable to that recently condemned, which con-
dempaton will be resisted by the owners of the
The only other resource the City has for the extern
sion of the Gas Works, is the present acquisition of
the lot adjoining the Works on the west, and at no
distant day that the east the creek the entire
| space bounded by Cary street on the north. Dock
street the south, 18th street on the west and the
Greek the east, will not accommodate works large
| enough to manufacture Gas to meet the demand in
our rapidly growing city for the next twenty years
| Draw comparison present and prospective. be-
tween the site of the Works now and the additional
| land that must be acquired TO manufacture Gas to
| supply the demand now and hereafter, and the I'M
igned think the facts and arguments so
rous and so irresistible in favor the site Rockets
that there viii not be doubt to the policy of
curing the property alluded to. for the present
tention of the Works and ultimately for the entire
manufacture of Gas. The unders gned will state a
few of the that impeled them to the conclu-
| sous they have arrived at. 8. 1898 - go ~
| First The lands are much extensive say
2075 52 square feet The land between 18th street
and the Creek including the Gas Work lot, covers
surface of 1871 1894 square feediference in favor of
| the site at Rockets 60, 5S3 square feet. s p
Second The entire of the property at Rockets
oe19[e ta Is 81 rb Cas- Woskss @ o tb Of
the east of the W. rks to the Creek is S7 90G to-
gether Sl23 S00-diference in favor of the site at
Rockets SliSSo0. exclusive OF the value of so much
of the Gas Works lot as can be sold if the Works
removed to Rockets.
Third The lot on the west of the Gas Works is
of the most desirable in the city for business stores
having water front on the Dock and convenient to
all the business marts in the city and the undersigned
or less the lot and Improvement will be worth over
500 0o0, the revenue which the city would lose
reparabie injury of spreading the business houses
over large surface, and distant from the point of re-
cepts and shipments of goods
Fourth. For the economical management OF Gas
Works, the manufacture of Gas should be concentra
ted point and that large enough to extend the
works to meet the of the city for all time to
come The undersigned feel warranted in saying,
that the site Rockets has that capacity; and they
furthermore believe that the Works for the manuac
ed thereon and the entire ofthe site and Works
will he iqudated in the sale of the present site of
the Works, and the value of the material IN the
buildings, all of which can be used at Rockets for
the further extension af the Works.
Exclusive of the land covered by the gas-hoders,
(which the uudersi gned advise to be retained and
closed by substantial wall, there will be 1o2 feet
on Cary street. running back to said wall 27 feet and
so feet Cary street, running through to Dock ST.
327 feet
The plat accompanying this statement shows the
land which the city will have for sale, and the pre-
sent estimate of its vaue-say SIG, 2o0-wbch will
be considerably enhanced by the time the Works for
the manufacture of Gas be erected at Rockets,
and the material in the present buildings removed to
that place. -
The material in the present buildings which can be
used at Rockets to erect similar buildings, is estlma
ted to be worth 1924 800 which with the value the
land above, SIC. 200, win make INST less than
SfI 000 TO meet the cost of the site and Works
to manufacture Gas, of capacity equal to the pre-
sent Works.
The undersigned, with numerous other reasons to
sustain their views think it unnecessary to recite
them believing that the Council will see that at
comparatively small cost the city will acquire land
extensive enough for the Gas Works for centures to
come-lands that, left in the hands of individuals,
WILL in all probability remain of little value and by
such acquisition. have land in the heart of the city,
of great value to become much more so, by the
erection of store houses from which she mnst derive
great revenue, well certain advantages TO her
trade and commerce.
The undersigned, Influenced by sincere desire to
promote the best interests of the city, have adopted
course which, though novel, suggested and
ried out without any possible advantage to them
fore hope it will be the pleasure ofthe Council to
the land alluded to in the statement for the pre-
sent enlargement of the Works, and, ultimately, for
the manufacture of Gas, ..r .s.sa uaF
Resolred, That the Committee on Light adopt the
I