The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-23
LEE DISTRICT PROPERTY.
MEETING OF PROPERTY OWNERS
INTHE SURBURB.

MEETING OF PROPERTY OWNERS
IN THE SURBURB.
Talk About Taking the Section Into tho
Cuy-Motisn Adopted to Feel The Pulse
Of the City Authorities on the Subject.
A meeting Of the property owners OF Lee
district was held yesterday afternoon at the
rooms OF the Chamber OF Commerce, to dis
cuss some plans by which the property there
about could be improved. Mr.. X. W. row.
ers was in the chair and Mr.. Charles X.
Willis. secretary.
At the last meeting Of the property own
ers committee had been appointed to sug- /
gest some plans by which the property IN .
the dictrict could be improved. Mr.. James !
Caskie, on behalf Of the committee, sub
mitted the following report through Mr.. j.
G.. Whtlock, chairman:
COMMITTEE appointed 10 propose plan /
for improving streets, DC. Report.
"lst. 1t is impracticable TO properly i'm J
prOve the Lee district by tue small tax
derived under the Lee district act, and
equally impracticable. II not impossible. 10
raise sufficient revenue for that purpose by
private subscription.
Therefore we recommends
"lst. That a committee be appointed 10
ascertain the taxable values Of the real
estate in the Lee district.
I'D. That a committee be appointed to
open negotiations with the authorities OF
Richmond for the taking OF Lee district INTO
the city on proper and equitable terms"
In explaining the matter Mr.. Caskie
stated that the committee had very care
fully considered the subject and had come
TO the conclusion that Il would be imprac-
ticable 10 raise the money necessary for I'M
proyements by private subscriptions. 1t
would also be impossible TO deiray the eX-
penses out of the money collected under the
| district act, and very little Of it would come
| in during the next two or three years.
| Under the law six freehOlders could COM
plain against any assessment imposed by
the supervisor, and this had been done ID
this instance by Mr. Casey and others.
Although the Court had decided against
them, they intended % carry IT TO the Court
OF Appeals, if necessary, and II would take
two or three years before final decision
could be obtained.
ADMITTING THE DISTRICT
Major j. II. Dooley stated that he had no
objection to have committee appointed
10 HtEblldlt WIN ANF NiAN hh'NN NV ''''i'''
sion Of the district m the corporation lin
its. but he thought it unfortunate to start
out in the report by saying that the proper
~ owners could not do anything them
selves. They all knew that city property
was improved by the issuing OF bonds ana
that the taxes were only used TO pay The in
terest on such bonds. The property own
ers could follow this example and ASK Inc
= next legislature to authorize this district
| l.g.s. la fItTl
e moved 10 amend the Introductory remarks
of the report so as to read as follows
, without additional legislation 1t is i'm
possible 10 improve the district as 1t Is de-
' sired 10 improve it,
Major Dooley added that when the act
creating the district had been drawn, MOTH
/ ing was said about the issue Of bonds, De-
cause II was considered more important q
= have the district first Incorporated. if
] would have to be taken into the city limits
at no distant day, and as soon as the TIM,
D.. had arrived he would be willing To second
d any move of entering into negotiations VIII
the CITY. but he thought this time had moi
: vet come. lie had no doubt that II the city
j should take the ground that the distr1c
could not yet be taken in, proper appl
cation to the Legislature would secure th'
power 10 issue a reasonable amount of i'm
Il pTOyement bonds.
n BE INDlPENDENls
Mr. Joseph BRYAN thought that the meet
Ut ing could take such action in regard 90 IN
matter as they deemed proper, ana DE nun
y agreed with Major Dooley as far as he hat
~ gone bat I'm his opinion an application
made 10 the city AT this time 90 be taken u
- would do the district harm. While il Woul'
, be disagreeable to postpone action for th
'' time being. the result would be Denencia
TO the district and the effect would be lnstan
~ taneOus and mOsLelectrlcal. II would ID
- advisable for the property owners TO uphold
line of indepei dence and make some few
y" improvements on their own account. lh
city could not, even If it so desired, take II
the district without proper legislation
which could not be had before next year
D. | the Legislature not being IN session TN
s. wear. and by waiting for the proper time
:. certainly more favorable terms could be oh
W tanned from the city. Mr. Bryan referred q
W a suburb Of the city Of Baltimore, Whicl
ID for a long time had enjoyed all the priv
T. leges of the city without carrying any OF 10
III burdens for twenty wears, ana the cli
2. had finally 10 beg them 10 come into the cor
l. pOration limits and pay taxes equal 1
other parts Of the city. II the district woul
o. put out about $1,000 for impr0N ements the
\ would make avery good showing and woul
v induce others 10 settle in the district. II
o. was opposed to applying TO the city for ad
v mission at this time, and he therefore move
in to have the second section Of the repOr
stricken out.
Mr. Charles E.Wingo was in favor Ofhay
Ing the property around the Lee MOnumen
n taken into the city limits immediate y. 70
~ people would not be willing 10 locate ther
If unless they could get water and gas.
" BETTER WAIT.
1t Mr. Otway ;. Allen opposed the las
a speaker, and said that when the city limit
had been extended in 1867 the propert
ID taken in on west Franklin street had bee
IL without improvements for tWeniy-thre
NJ wears He did not think the city author
ne ties were anxious at this time 10 take in tn
C. district. and he was in favor Of Mr. Bryan
ne motion. IL would be best TO secure th
ne proper legislation. and when the city au
thorities wanted the district to come in the
should make a proposition TO that effect.
Major Dooley insisted that he was oppose
ne to have the report OF the committee 20 be
te fore the public IN its original form as a
I'd EXPRESSION of the meeting, and he wante
ls to see his amendment adopted. This wa
ld done without further discussion, and tn
N first recommendation of the report was ais
r. adopted.
W Al the suggestion Of MIR. Bryan Majo
Dooley then offered the following instead q
ne the second recommendation of the report:
III mat a tUlllnllltt VI Mft bt q POM
p, ed TO ascertain what is the sentiment Of On
s Council of the city Of Richmond upon tn
subject of taking Lee district into the con
poratiOn upon equitable terms, and TO re
port to an adjourned meeting.
e. I'D. That committee Of three be al
re pointed 10 confer with Messrs. Casey an
he others and TO ascertain what Is the groun
ne of their objection to the Lee district organ
le iIation."
is MIR. 4. 4. Becker, one of the property
m owners who had brought on the litigation
Ill stated that Messrs. Casey and Snyder ha
be signed the protest because they did not thin
re il Just to have the property pay d
Y money to be spent on the improvement
r. other peoples property like the Ale
property.
Mr.. BRYAN took the ground that no NOR
money should be spent for the improvement
- of certain property than was raise
'. thereon. II the district came under tn
II jurisdiction OF the city, the latter woul
49, Inn. 900