The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-11-16

November z, 1898.
10 the Resident Citizens and Tax Pay
erS of the Fifth Ward:
Gentlcmen,-Yourc committee appoint
ed to prepare q proper resolution and
petition to be submitted to the Council,
also to ascertain the amount of bonded
Indebtedness the ward can stand, hav-
Ing due consideration for the fixed
charges, and such incidental expenses
as may arise. said committee to report
to this meeting, beg leave to offer the
following:
Having diligently examined into said
matter. your committee finds the fol-
lowing reasons for urging public inn
provements:
First. In the present condition of o,,r
streets tho fire engines would stall be-
lore they could reach almost any part
OF the ward This leaves US practically
without fire protection.
Second. The water from the various
premises, In the present ungratled con
dition OF the streets, staGpate i'll tn"
cutters. ana IS a constant menace to
the health OF the community.
ihlrd. The wooden pavcments are OF
short duration and necessitate repairs
thereby ent1iing q fixed expense on the
ward. and without issuing bonds tho
entire ward cannot be provided with
even board walks.
IL is submitted that for these reaso ms
IT is urgent that the streets should ali
preserved by curbing.' shells etc. there
by securing fire protection TO all parts
OF the ward and improving its sanitary
condition, which will he the means or
inducing many persons to build homes
IN our ward. thereby increasing our tax
income and enabling us to have many
other necessary and desirable improve
ments.
AS To the amount of bonded indebted
ness the ward can stand, your com
mittec submits the following:
oilaer the new assessment. which will
~ ihto erect in 1896, The assessed value
OF real estate in the Fifth Ward owned
by whites Is $al3,a95: that owned by nc
sroes is S35,IT5. We estimate the in
crease by reason OF new buildings NOT
lhclndea IN above assessment AT $40. OUo
showing the total value of real property
November /. 1885, to be S5G9,l7O.
inc personal property Of the ward
was assessed In 1895 at ssh .4;5, making
the total taxable values November j.
1876 S09a'6e The revenue OIL this
amount Mt so cents is $5.SS245.
II we deduct for dclinouents 10 nor
cent, Sl.IG4.74: for water. $500: for
school, % per cent. of amount collector
Sl,oo4.4S; for officers salaries contin
gent, SaO0 we have for the expenses
or the ward in 1885, s4,l69.17, showing 6
balance. which may be expended ne in
terest, of sl7132S.
we have made very low estimate
Tor increase by reason of new BUILDINGS
vet unasSeSsed and n very liberal ALLOW.
ance Tor delinquent taxes. We have not
taken into consideration the In iancn ,r
$500 now on hand. SO that II scnrns s,ro
10 report $1,000. which can he cxpendr d
rs interest on bonds In 1896 Tbi,
means an Issue of $4,000 worth of 4
per cent bonds, which can be sold nj
a premium The premium will PAY for
the expense of printing bonds etc. loov
ing Sto,Oo0 net TO be expended In iSa6
In order 10 obviate additional leeisJo.
ton when the financial condition oC tho
ward will Justify n larger Issue of tho
ponds and completion of the improve.
naSn.s concentrated. your committee
would recommend that the Council III,
urged to petition the Legislature to Le
privileged to issue 100000 worth M
bonds: that they be made in threa
classes. as follows: $4,000 for school
PURPOSES, $500 for paving. and SCI. S0p
Ior general improvement: that In 1896
sl5.Cs0 in school bonds and s25, Ooo In
general improvement bonds be market
eo. This would provide school racil.
lties and do much toward grading tho
streets. curbing and stoning the cutters
and Smelling the streets. That tim hal
arce Of the 100000 be issued MS rapidlv
as the financial ability OF the ward viii
allow and the work pushed forward "a,
completion OF the $4,000 issued for
scnool purposes $4,000 would buy lots
'u'iu anu IuTliSn a SCnOOl hOuEo for
white, and $4,000 would do the same for
the negroes NJ
With the $4,000 IT is suggested that
tne streets be graded. curbed. cutters
STONED and center of streets slclled.
AS to the petition which we were
directed TO draft, we respectfully offer
the following:
Fifth Ward, City of Portsmouth,, We.
- November G. 1885,
TO the Council of the City of Ports
mouth:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES as the end of
ten years from January l. 1894, a prop
erty valued ut about $1,000, 900 will be-
come a part of the city proper; and that
1t Is the desire of the citizens and
taxpayers of this ward that their
streets be Improved and such other de-
velopmcnts made as IS consistent with
their financial ability; and that these
improvements should be made in JUS
ttce to those on whom VIII fall part Of
the burden of the indebtedness OF the
city, proportionate to the value OF the
property of the said ward; and that