Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-20
FAVOR ANNEXATION.
ACTION or COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON
PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGES.
A Full Discussiou Of tho Matter-Views
Of the Engineer. City Attorney
and Others.

The Council committee on proposed
changes 10 the city charter met in the
Council chamber last night. The follow
ing were present. Messrs. Glover tchair-
mani, Capers, Bahen, Dickerson. Chris
tian, Turpin, and Guigon, of the commit
tee. the City Attorney and Engineer, Mr.
Jackson Guy, Mr.. G. f. Wingo, MAJOR ).
p. Branch. Captain John A. Coke. and sew
eral others interested.
The Chairman explained that the meet
ing was for the purpose OF consioerlng ino
paper known as the White bill. providing
for the extension of the city limits, which
was referred 10 the City Attorney and En-
gineer for suggestions and changes at the
last meeting of the committee 80,
MIR. @. V. Meredith submitted bill
which had been drawn by himself and the
CITY Engineer IN lieu Of the White paper.
The changes are yerf slight ana were only
such as these officials thought necessary.
The changes are: In section z, said an.
nexed territory shall be known as pais
of the present Clay Ward (added) until
otherwise ordered by the city,; IN place
of sections and OF the White bill the
new paper provides that the CITY Councii
may make such improvements IN sara
territory az il now has power TO make, but
no bill for improvements shall be maze
against any property-owner until after al
legations have been heard.
THE ATTORNEY AND EsoINEER DISAGREE.
The CITY Attorney and City Engineer
differed as to the property-owners on
Broad street, Grove avenue, and Bouie-
ward, the proposed boundary lines. The
former offered a report which provided
that as to these streets the abutting pro-
perty-owners shall be charged with one
half of said permanent improvement II
the road beds and both sides OF them shall
be improved. but if only the road-bed or
one side in addition 10 the r0ad-bed shall
be improved then the abutting property
owners shall bear the whole expense.
Colonel Cutshaw thought both sides OF
these streets should be paved at the eh-
pense of the property-owners. An inior-
mai discussion was then indulged III.
MAJOR BRANCH IN OPPOSITION.
Upon motion of Mr.. Guigon the cour-
tesy OF the floor was extended 10 MAJOR
JOHN Z. Branch. This gentleman stated
that he was utterly opposed to taking IN
the district. aud as one OF the largest pro.
perty-owners therein as well as cltizen OF
Richmond, he was present 10 oppose the
bill. He asserted that the city could not
afford to extend its corporate limits at this
time. and made some reference TO the de-
crease IN the valuation Of the city bonds.
He said the gentlemen OF the Council
should look after their revenue and their
expenses.
The bill, as modified. was presented to
the body and taken up first On the amend,
ment offered by Mr.. Meredith with regard
TO the abutting property-owners on Broad
street, Grove avenue. and Boulevard.
On motion Captain John A. Coke was
permitted TO take the floor. He refuted
what Major Branch had said concerning
the results of annexation. lie said he
knew of dozen persons who were ready
TO build handsome houses as soon as the
district WAS taken in. he denied that the
annexation scheme was one OF booming.
MI. GUIGoS's RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Guigon offered resolution en-
bracinp an amendment to the bill which
provided that on Broad street, Boulevard,
and Grove road the abutting property
owners shall be required to pay all the
cost of paving, gutterlng, and curbing
their side of said streets and only half OF
the cost of improving the rodd,cdy OF SAID
street.
1yes'-Messrs. Turpin, Christian, G. i
gon, Dickerson, Capers, Glover, and
Bahen.
No.-Mr. Curtis.
The bill was then submitted as amend
ed, and the City Engineer was asked by
the chairman whether or not the territory
under consideration could be severed and
what ii would cost.
Colonel Cutshaw stated that IL would en-
tail q cost of over S2O0,000, which would
not include the main sewer. lie elso said
that two very important questions were to
be considered. One was whether or not
the city would have the right to empty the
contents of Its sewers into Shockoe creek,
and whether it would have the right to
run the main sewer INTO the county. The
total cost of improvements, Colonel Cut
shaw said. would be about S300,O00, not
including branch water and gas-Inalns.
MIR. Turpin said he was in favor OF taking
in that district now. because he did not
think the people would ever accede such
terms as they now propose.
Dir. Uckerson said he thought the bill
WAS about as fair and equitable as 1t could
possibly be, and the question was called
upon the recommendation of the bill, and
the vote stood Us follows:
Ayes.-Messrs. IuTpin, Christian, Gui--
gon, Dickerson, Capers, Glover. and
Bahen.
Ao.-Mr. Curtis.