Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-18
A LEE-DISTRICT ROW
ALLEN AND BAHeN FIGHT FOR THE
OPENING OF ALLISON STREET.
Former Action of the Committee Con-
Hrmed-EicctrIc-Line Troubles
Public improvements.


Public improvements.
Tho Committee or Streets helda regular
semi-monthly session last evening. Writ
ten complaint on the part of q number of
citizens was made as TO the formation by
alleged bad grading of pools on Twenty
ninth and o streets. The compliments
petitioned for relief, assuring the commit
tee that the stagnant water had been con-
sidered malarial by well-known physi-
clan.
Mr.. Joseph W. Carter stated that sewer
had been ordered TO be constructed at this
point about q year ago, and that when
built it would. be believed, remedy the
whole trouble.
Messrs. J. Litchenstein & Co. petitioned
the committee for permission to build
three brick stores on Broad street between
Foushee and Adams, upon front line
! with the houses recently built BY MIR. 7:
II. Mayo between those streets Colonel
| Cutshaw stated that If Messrs. LitcheD-
stems deed called for the ground thev did
| not need the permission of the Council;
but If it did not no such privilege could be
granted On motion of Mr.. Thomas the
committee recommended TO the Council
the granting of the petition.
A drain-pip was ordered 10 be put in to
properly drain the allev between Hancock
and Harrison and Clay and Marshall
/ streets.
The grading Of the alley between Fourth
and Fifth and Marshall and Clay was "a ken
| MP and allegations ordered 10 be issued.
Tho question Of grading Sixteenth street
from Broad TO Marshall was tabled.
| 4 number of bills and the payroll of the
| department were ordered TO be paid. The
latter amounted 10 81 1882.
ARRATGNED THE srREET-cAR PEOPLE.
| Mr. Turpin called the attention of the
committee TO the manner IN which the
| Richmond Railway and Electric-Llght
! Company has cur up Franklin from Seven
| teenth TO Twenty-frst streets. He as
serted that this company had dug one
| hundred holes between the tracks. The
street, Mr. Turpin said, had been ruined
| aud would never be gotten into good con-
| dition. He said that the next time the
railway cat up street IN that manner he
| would ask this committee 70 make II pave
is tracks from end to end.
Other committeeman testified 10 the in
| jury that was being done TO the streets by
tho electric company. Mr.. Turpin wanted
| the law in regard TO this matter enforced.
| The opinion Of Mr.. Alien was that as this
| work was under the supervision OF the City
| Engineer be should exercise the authority
| given him.
MR. wILBUR's EXPLANATION.
Mr.. Wilbur, Of the street railway, made
a statement IN which he said that he wish
ed to finish up the work on Franklin street
duickly and had put large force upon 1t.
/ This caused more of the holes TO be open
ut the same time than ordinarily. He said
that the street would be put IN good con-
ditiOn Just as soon as possible. Colonel
49, Inu raf.rraI 90 tba tranorol ~
which the company has disobevod his
directions. and Mr. Wilbur made one or
! two explanations on behalf of the railway
! people.
Mr.. Turpin moved that the matter be
referred TO the CITY Engineer for a report
as to what should be done. Carried.
LIE DISTRICT AGAIN.
Mr. Allen called up the recent action Of
the committee IN recommending that Park
avenue, Franklin street. and Allison street
in tho Lee District, be not graded as IL
| had decided should be done. He wanted
/ the committee to reconsider It's action and
made a very pointed speech, III which he
/ criticised quite severely this action on tho
/ part OF his fellow committeeman.
! Colonel Cutshaw SAID he had always
| thought IL unwise TO take in Lee District.
! Many complications, he stated. had arisen.
| The latest was the new medical college,
which would be outside the corporate
| limits but which would have to be taken
| in if the city intended to give it water and
| light. Colonel Cutshaw then referred to
! the complications that had arisen as to
! tho opening of Franklin street. Park ave-
nue., and Allison street in the annexed part
| of Lee District. These troubles wero
published in the DIspATCH the morning
! following the last meeting OF the commit
S;.sa.ss-..- -
| A lengthy and somewhat animated dia-
| logue ensued between Mr.. Allen and the
| Engineer as to the grades in the district
and the results Of their being executed ac-
cordinc to the plan of the Engineer. lie
referred TO the necessity for the opening
of Allison street for the proDer drainage OF
| that section.
Mr.. Davis remarked that the CITY En-
| gineer had said that the water could be
properly carried off by the aid of pipes
under the streets. Colonel Cutshaw veri-
| fed the statement OF Mr. Davis and went
INTO detailed explanation OF his ideas.
| THouGHT THIN AT GREAT VARIANCE.
In the mean time Mr.. Gray had taken
occasion to vertllate his thoughts a. to
the wide differences existing among the
| Lee District people as 20 what should be
! done in the district. He said that no two
property y-owners out there appeared TO be
| Of the same opinion as 10 what each
wanted. He would be willing TO vote TO
! take the whole of the Tonev away from
! them, as they would not agree what should
| be done with It.
Mr. Allen expressed great surprise at
such statement from Mr. Gray. and said
| that he should be man enough to make
such motion and let II go upon record.
! Mr.. Gray said that he was man enough
| TO do anything he believed TO be right,
! and he did think that the Lee-Distrlct
people were acting very peculiarly In re-
| gard to the improvements that are TO be
made in their section.
Mr.. ALLEN SURPRISED.
Discussion and wrangling continued FOR
some time. Mr.. Allen SAID that he was sur
prised 10 see that that committee. com
posed OF intelligent, practical business
| men, should try TO whip into giving a
thing they were opposed to in such man
ner. 1t was. he said. a very unpleasant at
| tltude for any man who claims 10 be {. gen
! tleman TO put himself He added that the
| district people had given streets to an
enormus extent. and that the question
upon which the committee had acted was
/ entirely n technical one-not practlcai
| business proposition
Messrs. Gray. Davis. and Stratton de-
MED that they voted not TO open Allison
street and Park avenue and franklin
/ street for the reasons assigned by Mr..
| Allen. Mr. Turpin said that he voted uot
| to open those streets because the property
owuers-some of them-would not give
sufficient land TO have them properly
opened, ana he did not believe that ac-
cordlng to law the city could make the
property-owners pay for condemnation
proceedings. Colonel Cutshaw held that
under the annexation act the city could
do so.
Mr.. n. W. Bowe, one of the landowners,
stated that fair estimate of the costs OF
sufficient ground to open Allison street TO
a proper width was $4,000. Dir. Iurpin
did not believe the City Council would
give this sum in addition to the S2o,OOJ
| for strpat lmurOve-