Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-03
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
Features Of the plan Proposed By Major
Dooicy.

To he Edfcr Of nH D7spd'cN:
! notice that Major James II. Dooiey,
chairman OF the Lee District" Commit
tee, has prepared bill TO authorize the
city Of Richmond 20 issue 4 per cent.
bonds for the purpose OF making perma-
nent street improvements, and to levy q
special tax Upon tho abuttine owners %
meet the interest and redeem the principal
Of the bonds.
The scheme Of the bill is TO enable pro
perty-owners abutting upon streets which
have not been improved. TO have them
graded, macadamized. guttered. curbei,
and paved. at a cost 10 themselves OF 3 per
cent. per annum on the actual cost OF the
improvements. This cost Is to be appor-
toned amongst the property-owners on
each square bv the City Engineer.
The special tax of per cent. per annum
Is 10 be paid for thirty years only. During
the period OF thirty years 1t - calculated
that this tax, which is TO be placed 10 the
credit of special sinking fund" VIII
paw the interest and redeem the principal
Of the bonds.
If any owner of property desires TO nd
his lot Of this special tax be may DO SO by
paving the cost of the Improvement anu
oil nrrearages of taxes up 10 date, Iess d
rebate Oh A per ttHt. Iti
date of tho commencement OF WORK OH ,no
improvement. go,
II will be observed that this bill. which
is proposed by the Chairman OF the Leo
District Committee. which was appoint
ed for the purpose of comforting with the
Council upon the subject of aDnexing that
district, makes no reference Whatever 10
an extension of the corporate limits.
The object Of IL is to enable the city OF
II. -. rtu ranQh nf0nDG nerInl-
nent street improvements wherever and
whenever demanded within her corporate
limits. no matter where those corporate
limits may extend. Let such law as this
be passed and the city will then be III a
position to say what. if any, territory IT
desires TO annex, and when annexed Will
have the means necessary TO furnish am
pie street facilities.
1t may be that the city will not at this
session OF the Legislature be willing 10 ex-
tend the corporate limits.
There Is certainly growing sentiment
in favor of extension. but whether an ex-
tension shall he made at this time or not
the time has arrived when something
should be done for the streets within the
present corporate boundaries. IL has
been q quarter of century since Clay
Ward was added TO the city. The City
Engineer reports that at the rate OF pro
gress made during recent years 1T Will take
fifty years TO grade, gutter, and curo the
streets already within the corporation.
is this condition of things TO be toie-
rated for an indefinite time in city which
pretends TO be progressivel
OF what avail is ii to be always Boosting
of our great natural advantages, our
water-pOwer. our facilities for transporta-
ton. &C., if we are to be forever suppress
ed and repressed into space as much too
small for our population as the foot OF q
Chinese woman Is for her slipper.
For the year 1S90-'91 the Council did not
appropriate money enough 10 the street
department TO keep the old streets III re-
pair. For the year 1922 about enough
has been appropriated to keep the old
ones in repair, but practically nothing for
making new ones. There must be fund
provided for extending our streets and
street facilities. In most of the growing
cities OF the country the cost Of improving
is assessed upon the abutting owner and
he is required TO pay the whole sum IN
cash.
This Is very burdensome.. The plan pro-
posed by Major Dooley IS the least onerou:
of any that has come under my obserya-
ton. Under his scheme the abuttin.
owner pays nothing but the interest upon
the money advanced. He pays the inter
est for thirty years and never pays the
principal. unless be voluntarily comes for
ward and does so TO get rid of the payment
of interest. On the other hand the city loses
nothing. The city pays absolutely nothing.
1t simply lends its credit IN the shape OF
4 per cent. bond 1t runs no risk because
the bonds are lien on the improved pro.
perty and must be paid out OF the speclal
tax. This looks to rue like a solution OF the
street.improvement difficulties. as well aS
the annexation question.
1t will enable the city TO proceed with Its
improvements in Marshall and Clay Wards
and places it III position TO extend Its cor
porate limits when justified by circum-
stances. PROGRESS.