Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-18
The Madlsou-and-Nain-streot MuddIe.

TO he Editor of he Dispatch:
A TAXPAYER complains through the Dis
PATCH of the damage done TO Madison and
Main streets by overflow and floods. IL IS
astonishing that the city's representatives
have not taken steps to rectify this four
times OF late repeated damage to her pri-
yate citizens. 1t is almost as astonishing
that heavy suits have not been entered
against the city, with such an apparently
clear case. The damage was witnessed by
thousands. and the property IN question
has hence undergone heavy deterioration IN
value. IL has been advertised as bad
bargain at any price, perhaps. Taxes con-
tinue. and are raised and must be paid.
No one denies the damage; no one denies
that it is the cIty's fault, and that the
property-owners could not regrade or
remedy the defective culyerts II they
wanted TO do so and had the means.
Another citizen asks the DISPATCH or any
of its wise readers where Is the remedy.
The City Council and Fathers know
all this, but on a previous oc-
casion have thwarted all efforts to
nav any damage. Some of the owners
can't bear the expense of paying
a lawyer and taxes and damages on de-
Perforated property. The writer knows OF
one piece in the ncighborhoOd of Oladi-
son and Main that despite four years
CONSTANT TtDhIs uhS Occu Ollcu ltnohA-
less, and to- iay Is not worth near assessed
value, while every year increases losses
by holding, and no buyer can be found. IL
now appears that a filing, as proposed
bv Colonel Cutshaw, will further NIL up
the easements with dirt, cutting of this
and the one-tourth of an upper story.
Have our citizens no rights and no r5medy
for such treatment? 1t il undeniable
that the culverts don't carry of the water;
that culvert-taxe5 are assessed and paid /;
that the filing in of the State lot made
matters worse. Since when it formed q
basin. and into this the pressure OF cul-
vert-water flowed, forming q lake. lasting
several days. The water forced itself IN
guysers or spouts. then through the top
culyert, as seen by many eye-witnessos.
The city forced several parties TO fill
in their lots and back-yards at
heavy expense. which in one case
necessltated the building OF another
stable and the twice removal of partition
fences. The property, often vacant. is ex-
posed TO risk of thieves, insurance goes
on. Will the City Fathers wait till some
shrewd lawyer and.prOperty-own agree
on terms and make heavy damages heavier
still. as IN the Chalkley property case and
others Why, indeed. should this imposl-
tion stand?
The DISPATCH published last year IN sp-
pealed case from Norfolk. This was the
railroads being sued for not keeping open
culverts along truck lands. The latter
were damaged and the railroad paid. 1t
was also 80 decided in Norfolk city over
flows. Danyille paid damage through its
Council without suit for obstruction of
culverts by heavy rains. which did pro-
perty-oWners damage Now. why can't
Richmond be made to be Just? II is not
bad suggestion of Taxpayer in the DIs-
PATCH 20 let the city buy the property at
make out of it, and that with the better
ments proposed by Colonel Cutshaw. IL
this is not hardship case what is, and
how can the city make harder or more
unjust case out! ANOTHER TAXPAYER.