The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-30
TO ENLARGE THE PARKS.
CITY ENGINEER OPPOSED TO A SALE
or CLARK SPRING PROPERTY.
Large Pnbiic Parks n Necessity-Need OF n
New Jail Admitted. But the Epps Prop
o.i,ion Not Regarded With Much Favor.

city Hall last evening, for the purpos-
81 considering an ordinance presented IN
the Common Council in July last, propos-
ing the sale OF the Clark Spring property
the proceeds OF which are 10 be used
with the proceeds Of the sale OF the pres
ent jau property. for the purpose Of erect
ing "A new jail.
The following members OF the two COM
mittecs we're present. From the Commit
toe on Grounds and buildings Mcssrs'
Epps chairman. Grimes. Gubst kinS'
Aiountcastlc. and Snead FROM the
Finance Committee Messrs. Hard"lcKe
chairman. Allen. Caskie. Cottfeh ana
Murphy.
Mir. Eups. who was in the chair stated
his object in offering the ordinance whl'h
was caused by the numerous delee'8 OF
the present Sail building
Mr.. CasAe moved that 'hc rejection oil
IN, ordinance be recommended TO the
C1..cU. He explained that, ga his opin-
Som This WAS no time now 10 sell the
property owned by tho city. besldes' the
eIfv ordinance or The city charter pro-
,.iJed that an funds derived from the
sale of any property OF the city Sh"ui"
be- turned into the sinking fund, TO he
used ln the payment OF tho dcpl OIL 'n'
city.
AR. Allen seconded Mr.. Caskic's mo-
zion and AIR. Guust pointed out the ne
,,ssify Of securing "a now jail. Since last
I,ly the sum OF 500 had been expended
for tho most necessary repairs 20 the
tres.ut iaIl building, and similar eNpcnnl-
rYr,. would Doc necessary during the near
future The money expended IN such
manner would represent tho interest OF
1.oT, than S-l0o1 He thought II might be
advisable 600 sell the Clark spring proper
~ inasmuch as he had been informed
that thc sum Of $500 had been offered ior
the same.
BAD TIME TO SILL REAL ISTATR.
Air. Allen stated that he was certainly
opposed GO selling tho property OF the ely
al this time. when no would not sell mug
own property on account Of the depression
%. me market. and when no demand ion
real estate could Doe found. except in Spt-
ciaI localities. At present all COMMON
tie, were very low; iron. wheat ana cot.
ton had broken the record; bonds ana
stocks were as low in price as they could
boz. and real estate suffered more t9an
any other commodity. II would certainly
bc very poor policy 10 sell property now
unless the city was forced % DO so
There could bee no buyers found ln the
market. unless those who wanted TO buy
az an unreasonable profit He was Der
fccuy willing % JON hands with the com
nIftcc on Grounds and Buildings a. inc
proper time in taking the necessary steps
fol tho erection of g. new jail.
Colonel CutshaW. who was asked by Mr.
HardWicke as 90 what new jail bulld.
ing would cost stated that, in his opinion
q propcrly-securcd jail. even If 10 was
erected upon the site Of the Seabrook
warehouse. which was considered the mos
available one. and was already owned by
ha ~. Of OF L.. z O.
were at present about twice as many
prisoners in the jail as at the time
when 10 was enlarged. some years ago, al
an expense OF $1,000 and the improve
mcnts since made in the iron construction
which was necessary for such "a building
would Of course. increase the cost
As % the Clark Spring property, Colonel
CutshaW said that DO contained about
thirty-oue OF thr1y-two acres. some
years ago the proposition had been made
10y Nss-rs. b1oley. Pollard and others O.
exchange Ga" same Cor f"rty-7eveu acres
owned by them near shields woods. az
the New reservoir. one of the conditions
involved in the trade was tSc removal
of the smallpox bodies from the city's
property. hIt This proposition created such
% stir iu Clay ward chat the whole scheme
fell through. although this would be- the
proper dspo7 ton of the clark Spring
property The latter had originally been
if''IN TOT TOT Nhifi N'l Nr pun I'iNf'@t 4I l.4N
Ing hccu The intention Of constructing q
new reservoir there but 10 was subsc
quently turned over 20 the Committee on
Grounds and buildings.
TO usE II TOR PARK rrRrosts.
This was done with a view of using 10
FOR park purposes and this involved
question of the ujmos; Importance 10 the
city of Richmond. The question of see
curing large parks could not boz ignored
iu city of this size. These parks Were
essential 90 The masses of the people Who
could not go away i'm summer time but
were compelled 90 stay here. Public parks
were not Injuries but necessities for the
peoples health and recreation.
MIR Grimes moved 90 lay the whole
matter on the table but Mr. King o-rrci
as a substitute that the SUBJECT bee Tee
fcrred TO "a joint subcommittee az five 10
look into the same ana ascertain what
price could bc obtained FOR the CIdrK
Spring property.
Mr.. Sncad was opposed 10 the idea of
selling the property in question. VIII, he
said. Was very necessary for the eStan-
fishing Of It large paii; or for am exchange
against the Doolcy-PollUrd property.
rxrLAIN.NG HIS POSITION
Mr.. Epps explained that nc presented
the ordinance i'm question u the Common
Council last summer after a conversation
which he had with Judge Witt of the
HASTINGS Court. who told him That ne
could condemn tho present jan at any
time and compel the city 90 construct a
new one He then thought THAT the prop
oeitiou embodied in Dis ordinance was "a
feasible one. However be- jil not insist
ON the sale oi the ,ity's property al TINS
time. hc only desired to have "a anal dis
position made of the ordinance He added
that hc considered the clark Spring prop
erty too valuable TO ever give his consent
20 an exchange Of the same against the
Doolcy property.
Mr. Murphy thought the city could not
afford 90 own TOO much property m ircu-
rico county at this time. and II II was
possible 20 obtain a fair price say Sl"1
per acre he would deem it advisable 10
sell tho property. tie certainly would be-
iu favor OF referring the whole matter
TO "a subcommittee. so as u ascertain the
value Of the property IN question.
Mr. Klug's substitute was then adopted
by a vote OF 9 10 >. oniy M,osrs. Sucai
aud Hardwickc voting against the same.
Mr Epps appointed as members Of the
ioiir subcommittee Messrs King. Sucau
and Gunst of the Committee on Grounds
and BUILDINGS. and Mcssrs. Murphy ana
CasIae. Of the Finance Committee.