The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-24
OPPOSED TO A VIADUCT,
4 M4ss-MEETING OF PEOPLE or
POSED no THE Project.
A Lengthy Set of Resolutions Giving NJ
merous Objections to the Niaduct
Adopted-The speakers.

4 mass-meeting OF those opposed 10
tie scheme of constructing viadlct on
Broad street. from 18th to 18th strets,
was called for last night 10 take place in
Old Market Hall. Yesterday, before the
appointed time. d large crowd gathered
on Main street in front of the Market
building. where the Howtzer Band played
some lively tunes. As the time for the
opening of the meeting approached the
hall became well filled with numerous
voters and tax payers of Jefferson Ward.
II ne friends OF the proposed scheme
were also well represented by residents
Of the upper wards and citizens or Mar
shall Ward. The band continued It's
good services i'm the hall and during the
intermlssiOns entertained the audience
with some select music
The meeting was called 10 order by Mr..
S. Stern. who presented Mr.. John NJ. Hig-
gins as temporary chairniar. On motion
OF Mr. Stern, MIR. &. G.. ThOn was sub
sequenty elected permanent chairman.
Mr.. j. >. Moore was on motion OF Mr..
c. r.. Davis elected permanent secretary,
and Mr.. Marshall T.. Ramos, assistant
secretary.
The Chair briefly stated the object OF
the gathering and explained that the
citizens OF jefferson Ward did rot want
TO he crowded out by ,iaduct. tie
then introduced Mr.. VIM. NJ. Turpin.
president Of the Board OF Aldermen, as
the first speaker.
Mr. IURrINs SPEECH.
Mr.. Turpin. who was greeted with ap-
plause explained that he had come 10
talk practical sense to the taxpayers of
jefferson Ward and what he thought
were best for the interests Of the city.
While he was prepared 10 denounce the
proposed measure he did not intend to
denounce the men who proposed II and
who were just as earnest in their con-
NictlOns as those on the other side
This was the first meeting which ne had
an opportunity 10 address on economical
municipal measures, as 10 the manner
as TO how the taxes paid by the citizens
OF Richmond. should be spert He brief
" criticised the resolutions adopted
few nights ago by the promoters of the
Nauuct at Corcoran Hall. He took the
GROUND thdt the property at large in the
city would be enhanced by the cOnstruc-
tlol or the viaduct, then under the bill
OF rights the city was I'm duty bond to pay
for the damage caused By the structure
10 the property I'm jefferson Ward
Nolchel Cutshaw. the city Engineer.
mad estimated that viaduct would cost
ABOUT SZp,vD II would have to be
built IN a very substantial manner so as
70 allow tie roadway TO be paved with
bricks. The amount TO be paid to the
property injured by the construction of
me Nladuct would be about $4,000. 30
that the expenditure OF s4,D.peD for the
yiaduct was rather moderate estimate.
Ihtt any railroad company or other cor
pOration would build viaduct at such
an outlay or money was nonsense 10
think or, and the city was utterly UNI
able to undertake the work.
The speaker said that the city would
nave either o. cut down salaries or idise
the tax rate. He cltel seNrai Instances
where he thought salaries should be cut
and closed his ren arks by sayir that ne
thought the Office of Chief Of Police
should be abolished am his duties p IN.
blned with those of the Mayor, and In
like manner the office IF city Collector
should be done away with and his func-
ticns should be performed by the Ciy
Treasurer.
MR.. J. " HIGGINS.
Whom Mr.. Turplr lad ended. Mr.. Davis
moved that cOmmi -'se OF nv. he ap-
pointed 10 draft suitable resolutions 10
be presented TO the meeting. This was
agreed 10, and the Chair appointed
.,.essrs. j. :. Moore, j. W. shields. J.
T. Neale J. NJ Higgins. and ) Stern
members OF that committee.
They all retired 10 an adjoining room
10 prepare the resolutions while MIR. Hig-
gins briefly addressed the meeting. To
decide upon the construction Of this via
duct. he said would be public confisca-
ton of property and an act Of vandalism
TO the three churches on Broad str .et.
IL was "a question with him whether
the Coui ell had the legal right 10 build
the yiaduct. lie thought an Injunction
eOuld be secured prove ting its construc-
ton. The City Attorney and City Ens!-
neer. in his estimation, made a grave
mistake IN advocating the construction
of "A yiaduct without suggesting how the
taxpayers whose property was injured
by the structure should be compensated.
lie hoped, however, that the people Or
Richmond would be found I'm this matter
on the side Of honesty and fair dealing.
and never vote for any such unjust
measure.
The RESOLUTIONS.
At this juncture the committee returned
and submitted a lengthy preamble and
resolutions. which give I'm part, the fol-
lowing objections 10 the proposed Viaduct:
Because Church Hi s not, as Is al
legged, separate and distinct, as IL We're
from the remainder OF the city, etc,
but is connected now by two separate and
distinct car lines, which render the East
and West ends easily accessible. and any
additional connection is useless, ineXpe-
dent. and unnecessary.
a city of the size Of Richmond. being
already connected from east 10 west by
two electrician lines, render ng access
easy, pleasant, and agreeable. any fur
Their connection. except from Seventh or
Ninth street westward, is useless and
unnecessary.
1t is confidently believed" that the
decreased values OF real estate in Jeffer-
son Ward would cause a serious loss In
taxes TO the city, without a dollars en-
hancemcnt OF values in Marshall ward.
Your committee are Of the opinion that
the alleged benefits derived by the city
at large are purely chimercal If the
entire population Of the East-End, who
20 uptown on Broad street daily. either
on business or pleasure bent. were TO 90
over the proposed route. II would amount
20 comparatively nothing. so far as
revenue goes. |. is generally known that
the centre Of the city is the business
pOrton-nOt the extreme ends-and the
business men go 10 their daily work from
and direct routes. the Main and Franklin
street lines |
There are grave and potent reasons
why this ill-starred scheme should not
be carried out; the city OF Richmond
owes a bonded and floating debt. IN round
numbers. Of eight million dollars, and
her expenses for some time nave been
greater than her income: a large num-
Der Of her people IN elevated portions Of
the city. are now, and have been for
years. insufiiciently supplied with water.
and in the near future the city will have
10 eXpend a half million in me-erlng
the city, or = charging the Water
Works \ larSe sum OF money Will, in
the near future. have TO be expended in
the laying and eniarging Of sewers and
IN additions and betterments OF her gas
plant. Her Board OF Health has recon-
mended a new city Jail. A city electric
plant recommended by some OF the
honorable members Of the CITY Council
as necessary in the near futIra These
ecessary and essential expenditures Will
probably necessitate a large Increase %
tax"s;f viaduct IS built there is not a
shadow OF doubt that an increase will
be necessary.
In view OF these facts. with these lights
before us, with all due reference 10 our