The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-12
THE CITY AND DISTRICT.
THEIR RELATIONS DISCUSSED BY
WEST-END RESIDENTS.

| Some Favor the Annexation of Lee Town
ship to RIchmond-O Others Object Because
Taxes Would be Higher-Action Taken at
the Meeting.
Another attempt was made last evening 70
hold a meeting Of propcrty-owners and residents
Of Lee district at the room Of the Bar Associa-
ton. and this time the attempt proved to be
more successful than on the three former
occasions.
The object Of the meeting was 20 discuss inc
| plan presented by the subcommittee in regard
| to the initiatory steps towards the merging OF
| the district into the city.
Captain J. A Coke opened the meeting short
ly before O'Clock, and Mr.. Whitlock acted as
| secretary.
Major Dooley. a. chairman of the sub,;commit;;
| tee appointed several weeks ago. made pflei
! statement explaining the situation ana arBueu
| that IL was necessary for the people ana prop
erty-cwners of Lee district 10 take some mas
ures tO improve their condition ana pio,lectsol
| the future. -.
There was to-day not a single road in the dis
| trict TIT TO travel upon and the roads were r.
| duced 10 perfect mud holes, especially south 9i
| Grove road, and Gary street was.the oniy one NJ
| 20 be approached.
The supervise Of the county had abandoned
the district and decided TO spend the money us-
rived from the district elsewhere, anu ,the sl-
pervisor residing in the district had declared
| and IL had been made one OF the issues IN tne
coming campaign. that all the money 20 bee cX-
| pended on roads should be spent IA the upper
| part OF the district. ,
| They regard Lee district as inevitably lost 10
| the county. for the reason that it Will at some
| future time fall % the city. and they lurthti
take the ground that for several years past me
! funds have been expended for the improvements
| Of the roads near the city and II was therefore
| time to spend the money elsewhere.
DURING THE YEAR.
| II was a fact that during the past twelve
| months not five dollars had been ,pent ln me
| district for the improvement 81 the streets anu
| roads The question was now how q remedy
could be secured and there were two ways 70
get ont Of the dilemma. hey COMO flth'r lan9
get authority from the Legislature 90 help thth-
selves or they could Bee taken into the city under
| the best terms they could secure.
| Major DOoley stated that he was I'D favor on
| having the district taken into the city ON terms
| which would give IL the desired ncnehts.'but
! that he was utterly opposed 10 MS being TAKEN
| into the city like Clay ward tWehty-IouI years
About week ago be had been ont on Grove
| avenue, which was considered one OF the best
streets in that locality, and even that thorough
| fare was ln "a fearful condition
! The mud IN that roadway was so deep mat 9ll
| the vehicles took the sidewalks to avoid the
! deep holes until they got very near TO the
| park.
the part OF a great many pr0pcrfy-0wncrs OF the
district to be- taken IN by the city, but ~ was
only reasonable and proper for them TO state 90
| the City Council under what terms they Would
! bee willing 10 be annexed, and 10 was thtnfor the
| representatives Of the city 10 declare what con-
| cession, they were willing 10 make.
| II the city should say that the district would
only be- taken IN IN the same manner as Clay ward
! tWenty-fOur years ago. then the property Own
| ers would know that they would have % help
! themselves, and with those views the sub-com-
| mittee had been appointed ana their report
Major Dooley then read the report Of the COM
| mittee. which has been published III ful IN the
| columns OF The lines.
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION.
The Chair then called for an expression Of
| views on the part of those present, especially
! the residents OF the district who had not here
tofore attended the meetings OF the organlza-
Mr.. Crump. property owner and resident Of
| the district, thought that the time had not Yet
| come for annexation, and the residents or the
| district were opposed 10 II. especially Tor the
| reason that II would neces'ltate an increase Oh
| lie Wa personally I'M favor of improvements.
bat did not want 20 obtain them by high taxes.
! The people living ln that locality were poor
| and unable 20 pay high taxes; they wcro mostly
| working men, and made hardly enough 10 pay
| for their living expenses
| Tie did not feel like retarding the movement
| and yet not as sangnlue as many on the
| gentlemen present. lie did not think that many
| new buildings were needed ont there Tor the
| present unless some large manufacturing es-
| Adjustments were erected.
| Mr.. NlngO thought that 10 would be adVlsa-
! pie for the property owners to pay go tasr' ON
| 500 and get some improvements instead or pay
ing sl25 a. at present and derive no bencht az
! all from their property.
Mr Crump contended that the streets and
road. IN the district were not ~ any worse con-
! dlton than elsewhere around the city. lie was
in favor OF anything that would be am improve
! ment, but did not think that he could vote for
| the report. for he did not see that the building
mp Of the district would improve 1t 20 any great
HEAND HIS NEIGHBoRs.
Mr.. Decker another resident OF the district,
| thought that the most objections were raised
by those living IN the extreme part Of the dis
| trIct. near Ashland street, and 10 might there
| fore be- better 10 make the district smaller.
He said hc voiced the sentiment OF MeSsrs.
Casey aud Snyder. two of his nelghhors, IN stat
ing that they were ready 10 come INTO the city
| under the conditions suggested m the report
! II 10 could not be done 10 might be better 70
| form district under commissioners
At any rate the improvements made would az
! first only benefit those whose property was
located nearest to the present boundary OF the
| city. 800
Mr.. Crump suggested that some one should be
employed 90 see all the residents OF the district
and get their views IN regard % anne XatlOn. lie
| was assured that tins would be shown later on,
in case the city should manifest Willingness on
| her part To take in the district.
Mr.. Phillips, another resident OF the district,
stated that he would be very well satisfied % see
| the district come INTO the city under the terms
mentioned in the report
On motion OF Mr.. Allen the report was adopt
ed without dissenting voice, anu H. was decided,
! at the suggestion OF the same gentleman, that
! committee Of five be appointed by the Chair 20
| confer with joint committee OF the CITY COun-
| cll on the subject.
The meeting then adjourned subject 70 the
| call Of the Chair