The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-26
NORFOLK LOCAL NEWS.
Tho rroposit on oi tho >ousI
lkntiroItt,

belng memOer OIL the Chamber oil
Commerce and noticing in the daily
papers resolution passed by COM
mittee Of three,, one from the Bust
ness Mems Association, one from the
Real Estate Exchange, and Que from
the Chamber OF Commerce., authorized
! to express the views of the respective
bodies they represent. earnestly favor.
ing the granting of the application OF
| the Southern hallway Company for
the leasing of the tobacco warehouse
and adjacent property and recon-
mendlnR the granting of the same by
the Councils of the City of Norfolk,
| consider sit my duty to stute that
| am not aware that q general meeting
has been called by the Chamber OF
Commerce In which the subject has
been discussed or any committee of
| ono been appointed to express the
| unanimous or even the majority views
OF seid body.
1t certainly does not express my
! views Tor the city of Norfolk to give
away Tor ever for soug, free from
taxes, property which could be sold II
! owned by individuals for at least SI25,-
uUO to $50. UOU aud then with it's pro
posed improvements yield to the city
ut least So, 600 Ill taxes every year.
Whenever 1t is to the interest of the
Southern halfway Company or any
other railroad or steam boat corpora.
ton to adopt Norfolk rs one of their
deep water terminus they will d. 50
ana not before, and the only thing
which will stop them theu wouid be II
they cannot acquire for love nor money
the required spnce necessary for the
Conduct OF their business.
1t Is not the money consideration
which 1t takes to acquire property Of
they can't get 1t given 10 them) which
stops their progress coming into d
growing city. Rnllroad companies seek
population TO do business with and it
Is AS much to them to cater for the
Norfolk business and to offer TO the
south and North aud Southwest the
Norfolk deep water terminus US il is to
us; and If they did not realize the al
vantages which this city affords TO their
proposed large systems they would
give us the cold shoulder mud pass us
as If we were not III existence.
am IN favor of Offering them the
hand of welcome and grant them the
privilege over my one else of acquir-
Ing any and all the property which
they want and require for their bust
ness at lair and reasonable price by
purchase.
Terms OF purchase to be q small
amount cash aud deferred payments Mt
such time as they may designate, bear.
ing per cent interest payable semi
annually, extending :hem privilege to
anticipate my and all deferred pay
ments without notice.
The City Councils should he guided
III their action towards this proposition
from the railroad company III Us liberal
II spirit as thoir duty TO the people
whose Interest they have sworn to
represent honestly will Justify, but
they are not empowered to mako con.
veyance OF desirable properties with
out valuable considerations, which il
located III tue very heart of the busi-
ness portion of Norfolk and have an
open, unquestiopable marketable value,
and would sell ut public auction readl.
ly ut large sum.
The proposition submitted by the
Southern Railway Company as pub
lIshed IL the newspapers Is too ridicu-
ions, II my opinion, of one moments
consideration. The city had better make
them deed OF gift outright of ali the
said properties, which would he in
unity better than TO accept their
proposition, as that would enable the
N''' W ,soSS VIZ t''l'Sitlco IOT lNAh-
ton. which would yield fully So, 900
year into the city s treasury.
The proper course for this present
honest reform Council to pursue, il to
sell any aud all properties owned by
the city, which are not required for its
own purposes, ut its earliest oppor.
tuuIty, Mt best prices which can be
obtained or easy terms. hearing not
more than j to / per cent interest IN
the deferred payments aud thereby
stop all schemes III the future of ac
qulring city holdings for nothing.
The Southern hallway COMPANY
also include iii their proposition ns
article I'd the privilege to be granted
them to close three streets and 10 Law
railroad tracks over all the streets OF
Norfolk.
They apparently want the earth in
Norfolk and We will have to get per
mission from them to get into our
houses
AS II consideration for what thew ask
they simply state that they will make
this their terminus. Are they willing
To name special freight and passenger
rates over the system TO extend the
term Of the lease they ask for to all
NoriolkiaDs? What Individual wonld
consider II one sided bargain like that
as to his own holdings?
Abont eight years ago the city leased
to the Norfolk and Carolina railroad
tthe then proposed outlet for Rich
,nppI un1 Ilony,llnA ,p.l H..