The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-07

III HOulu dDnNdi W. INV
strange thing that the State should he
willing TO ccde to the city Of Richmond,
or any other applicant, any part of her
property, without pull pre- qp0. The
more strange il appcar5 when We find the
Committee on Finance reporting in favor
Of such a proposition. CT curse we re-
fer To the proposed widening Of Bank
and franklin streets, at the expense OF a
considerable slice TO be taken from the
southern boundary Of the Capitol Square.
II the State is so poor that she cannot
even begin to build safe repository for
the preservation of her records, library,
etc, or pay anybody anything, excepting
of course her officials, how can she afford
TO make gratuitOus disposition of any
thing she POSSESSES If it be really
true that Richmond needs The space in
dictated. why should she not be required
TO 2av for it No one can deny that six
teen feet front for three squares, and
thiriy-ihree feet OF another Is a space
worth something. Because il has no
practical market value to the State, and
is only useful to her as part Of a park, 1t
does not therefore follow that il is not val
nahle 10 those who need it, But is il the
fact that the city really needs this prop
erty? If so, why has not this necessity
been recognized and proposed long ago !;
Whence comes this sudden appreciation
of Bank street a. an important highway;
Its present dimensions seem fully equal
10 the amount Of trafli done on it, and all
the buildings on its front are as well oc-
cupied As il it were q hundred feet wide.
True. it has lately been occupied in pant
by the Electric Railway system. This
does not prevent the free movement OF
wheel vehicles, no. does it at AL incom-
mode pedestrians. That company Sc
lec,ed and URGED this street as part OF
their route at their own risk, and if now
they find their curves at either end is con
yenienlly short, it is their own matter.
They should 40 once ask 10 change this
route OF offer to purchase such other
property a. will better their convenience
We very much doubt whether, under
like circumstances, the city would grant
any such favor to the state or any corpo-
ration, unless thereby she could secure TO
herself some considerable advantage in
the way of tax resource or otherwise.
The people of Richmond should not he
willing to see this encroachmont made
upon the most accessible and central Of
her parks
The proposed mutilation of the square
will not only narrow the surface of gr-ss,
50 attractive to the eye, and so necessary
during the heated term; but to carry out
the plan il will be necessary to destroy
the fine row of willow-oaks on the north
side Of the street, which have required
so many years to attain their present size
and beauty. Wcproiesi, therefore in the
name of thousands OF our people, es-
pecially in view of the poverty Of
the State, against this unnecessary and
graluitous disposition of part of her do
main.
If the city were seriously in want Of
this property and was required 10 pay its
full value the very people who are now
so anxious TO acquire il would hesitate
and count the cost before yielding their
consent. If, however. the state shall
agree to give up this land but require
payment, as we thiuk she should, We
beg leave TO suggest that The money
thereby acquired be spentin improving
and identifying the remaining part Of
the Square and especially do We pray
that those monstrosities called gates, be
cmoved-nOwhcrc in the civilized world
would such public entrances be- allowed
to pass through which, should rain be
falling, one is forced to lower his umbrella
or have it ruined