The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-28
ShOckOe Creek.
To The Editor of the DiSpdtch:

TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
An article in Saturdays issue Of tho
State calls attention 10 the stliierings anC
Inconvenience OF persons residing along
the line of the broken culvert on Eighth
street between Clay and Leigh streets. Of
the city's liability for damages, and OF The
prompt steps and liberal appropriation OF
The Council. This is very proper, and 10
one more than the writer of this article de-
lights 10 see rights maintained and wrongs
redressed. but there is some Inconsistency,
some Partially, here which deserves to be
noticed. comparisons are odious," but
let us look at the city's treatment Of pro-
perty-holders along the line Of this culvert
and its treatment Of those along the line OF
Shockoe creek.
Formerly an immense raYine, from forty
TO fifty feet deep, and extending from Sixth
street to the Valley, presented AN impasSa-
BILE barrier to citizens living on either side
OF il. Counclmen and private citizens
alike must needs walk some squares out OF
their way to get into the city. The re-
suit was the city spent hundreds OF thou
sands OF dollaTs-trst in building walk
WAYS across the ravine and afterwards in
filling it up. The Council expended the
funds of the city to make property
valuable which was before valueless ;
spent thousands upon thousands OF
dollars to make il available for building
purposes, where before it had hardly been
available for taxation. The city felt the
burden that the owners Of this gully might
reap the benefit, and now that this culyert,
thirty or forty feet below the surface, is de-
frctiye. and these same people, their heirs
and assigns" suffer from damp cellars, We
are told the cit is ree~crQnsible fox damages,
The Council assemblies In post-haste, and
appr0priates $4,000 to repair the evil. II
was the proper thing for them to do. Pro-
perty-owners on Shockoe creek have sur
fered from damp cellars and otherfar greater
maladies for forty years. Through bad en-
gineering and short-sightedness they arc
subject 10 oyerflows at all seasons of the
wear. They built originally on land res
cued by their own individual efforts and at
their own expense. They have confined
the creek so far rs it is confined without
help from the city. They have done this
and then stood by silent and uncomplain
ing to see culverts from all parts OF The
city diverted to this creek. Yes, think o.
IT. Sewer after sewer emptying its re
fuse there under their very Window
and noses-refuse, II you please, from
that beautiful portion Of our city who's
representatives refuse us an appropriation
which would make this part at least inhab
table. The city has arched the creek ut it
intersection with Franklin, Main. and Car
streets. This work, done for the Who'll
city, was "the last straw which broke til,
cimeps back" The arches are so misera
bly, constructed that they catch every piec
o, floating timber, and thus render ever
freshet ten times worse by blocking its out
let to the river. Ii would seem that tn
city was liable in damages here also.
would seem that the principles OF lay
ana equity which apply so well in MadiSo
Ward might by "a fiction Of the law" q
least extend TO Jefferson Ward. In COZ
clusion, will undertake to say that
the city will at least locate the cree
by permanent and visible boundarie
as far up say rs Broad street
they will straighten its channel-thi
whatever may be the volume of water.
can find easy and ready access 10 the rivel
II they will do this and note the permaner
Improvements iostered by this plan-th
rise in the value OF taxable property alon
shockoe creek" the scales will drop frol
their eyes" and they will SEC the necessit
and the eXpediency OF the full appropriate
us recommended or reported necessary b
our very efficient City Engineer. Con
mon sense and Justice call for this apprt
priation. Jefferson Ward calls for il. I'll
president of the Board OF Health calls fC
il. Who else will you have! Ii Is sanitaT
measure and an economic measure. VIII
slse will Won hayes MANUFACTURE