The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-23
THE ANNEXED DISTRICT
r.opyRTr OWNERS APPEAR BE-
roRr THE FTNANCE COMMITTEE.
,,o, Ask That An Appropriation OF $780,
ooo Il. Made 60 Open and Grade tho
street.. In That Section ofthe City.


have been placed at too high figure
c,..rnan Tanner and Messrs. Allen. Car
lardwickc. W. l.. White and Muir
,hy we're present.
Az the tcGinning OF the session. how
ns-. delegation OF property-owners Of
re annexed Leo district was given
hcrrg-
C.ptaIn John A. Coke was the first
o-ak.r lie stated that while the prop
r-tv owners Of the annexed district were
r.. uumindful Of the straitenod finan-
.I condition OF the city. they did think
Chat the city government ought to take
..me steps towards improving that section
0l inc city. lie briefly told how the part
~ thc district I'm question had been an
rNrd by act OF the Legislature Sub
s.Iuently proper measures had been taken
ta have the streets in that section opened.
rhc city Council referred the matter TO
fte Finance Committee. but before any
learning could be given a decision was
rendered by the court OF appeals which
cast q cloud over the right OF cities TO
fX ahutiine prope-ty-owners, and the
natter had 10 come to a standsUl.
Tho rrcpcrty-owners Of that section
u"ro paying three or four times more
f''''iAA tilHi lIfN IlQ before the
annexation. In this manner in 1892 the
c.ty obtained addition al taxes amounting
fN nlnuf $4,000. and q like amount would
poo received this year. making n -otal Of
about $4,000. Iv the annexation Of that
section the city was enabled 20 issue
additional bonds amounting from $3.50 600
f' $4,000 If 1t had not been for that the
.'v would be at the end of the road.
captain Coke asked the committee 10
I-ocard the question whether the law
taxing aluttiug prOperty-owncrs was CON
HNu'ional or not. and consider the fact
fNlt The sum Of $4,000 would have 10 be
rnropriatod before streets could be run
..f into Lee District If his appropria-
fH was made the city would not have
f' pay out ono dollar which had not been
received previously n taxes from the dis
r'.' This was certainly sufficient in
droement leaving out the consideration Of
fno benefit which the city had derived
from Tho issuing Of additional bonds
Assuming that the law was consti.u-
rnufI the cost Of the improvements
would have 10 be paid by the abutting
Irnrcrtr-ownors If it was unconstitu-
fi"ral the city would have to pay for the
work. and. I'm this instance. the amount
necessary would have been already To-
c..rol in taxes The committee was NOT
asked 70 pay this money out OF any other
revenues or the city. The peoDle looked
towards the securing Of streets wafer
rfs etc., I'm due time. All were interested
fHe Growth Of the city and wished to
go" 70 hunt mp. so that the revenues might
I'', is'd- Even under the present I'M
able circumstances there was an at
i.n'f made 20 build eight houses on
'tii't'r street. and the only benefit for
r" bindings was that the grads of that
street. tHd been established and adontod
'f i'e Council There was never a better
l'r nnldings. and the people were
20 erect new houses I'm that sec
i "' me city. As soon as grade vas
f't numerous houses would 80 ur
"'i'' would be brought into them nv
means OF windmills, if il could NOT he
in any other way.
property owners assumed that the
was sun I'm force. and they only
'.l Tor what they were led 10 bo1io,e
W"uld receive when they came into
i|r city. Already some of them mad no
no dissatisfied over the condition Of
.Hairs. and he had heard il stated that
nose who are disappointed because
nothing mas been done SO far would Deti-
ton the Legislature at the next session
Orb be pat back into the county. where
they would have % pay only ono-third
Or one-fourth Of the city taxes. II thev
had remained i'm the county. they would
have enlarged the powers of Lee dis
uict and would have by this time their
proper roads
taxable value of the property in the an
n"Ned district was from 100000 10 $1,000
Na and az the rate Of 81 30 por thousand
~ secured the city an annual income Of
$4,000 The district came into the city
early I'm 1902. very much against the
wishes OF the county. which wanted the
property kept where IL was. The annex
alton law had never been declared uncon-
sIutional the city Attorney had so de-
oIed, and other lawyers had come to the |
same conclusion. If the appropriation |
was made and the work executed. the |
bills for the cost would be made out |
aeainst the property owners, who would |
refuse 10 pay the same. A test case
would then be made. What was the city |
going 20 do If the law should be declared |
unconstitutional? Would il be willing TO |
issue $4,000 worth Of bonds in order TO |
receive $4,000 worth Of taxes, and not |
do anything in return?
Mr.. Caskc next explained why the |
sum Of $4,000 was asked for the improve
mont. lie stated that Colonel Cutshaw
lad made an estimate whereby the work |
would cost about twenty-five cents per
cubic foot. and with ten per cent. added,
the whole cost would be about $4,000 |
The speaker. however, thought that il
the whole work was given out at one
fIme IL would be done for about one-half
There We're some very heavy cuts and
some deep fills which ought TO be made
simultaneously.
He understood that two or more con-
tractors were willing 20 bid for the work,
and 20 take one-fourth in cash at the
completion Of the work. and the balance
in one. two and three years. II this plan
WAS carried out. the whole expense could
he paid from the taxes coming from the
annexed district. the contractors being
willing 20 be paid out Of the taxes. and
i would not be necessary for the city
On SCI aside any specified amount
~ the streets were opened and graded
some forty or fifty new houses would so
nn during the present year, and addi-
u.ral employment would be given in that
manner 10 the mechanics Of this city;
besides the taxable value Of the property
would De- greatly enhanced. In 1875 when
fIc new assessments are 10 be made that
property would be worth about two mil
lan dollars. with tax receipts OF $N,Up |
u The city. however. decided not 10 DO
anything and keep the property In the
present condition. two years hence
should thc law. assessing AUDITING pro-
petty Doe declared uncOnstitutional-the
property would be OF less value than at
iro. lt. for no one would wish 10 build
tlr-
Tar property owners were OF the opin-
lo1 that that section was desirable Tor
building purposes and that many people |
WfuIt rrafar Ia settle there instead OF |