The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-01
c.. AND O. IMPROVEMENTS
THE STREET COMMITTEE AGAIN
CONSIDERING THE PLANS.
Ob,ectIopA to the Right Of Way Across the
Dock on eth street-Mr. Decatur A1's"
Explains for tho Raiiroad. -

Thu Committee on Streets held an ad- |
journed special meeting in room NO
., tho CIV Hall yesterday afternoon lot
the purpose of continuing the considera'
ton of the application made By the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway Company Tor per
mission TO construct a new passenger nc
not on the north side OF Main between
t.c,eootb and seventeenth streets. and
connecting the same with Its diherehl
lines by steel vidducts There was con-
siderable delay, the committee awaiting
the arrival OF the city Attorney. VINO
had been requested 10 be present, Out
that gentleman failing 10 put In an APP
pearance the meeting was called 10 oruer
shortly before 6 o'clock. The following
members were present: hessrs. Alleh
(chairman. Bahen, Bloomberg. Burton
Diacont. Ferriter King. Mann, ana fase'
THE OPPOSITION.
On motion OF Mr.. Bloombcrg, the con-
sideration Of the application was theu
talon M and Captain John A. Coke spoke
against the granting of the right OF way
to the Chesapeake and ONO haii"ny
Comnany across the dock on seventeenth
street. He pointed out that the Rlchni"'io
| Dock Company was a dinerent conce'"
! frorn tho James River CaEal Company
the former was established Tor the pui-
nose OF erecting docks on the river l'on'
! from a wharf in Rockets UP, whiie ''s
| latter was chartered for the purpose Va
constructing a canal ABOVE 'hat po'.S,
| rho property in question came from the
old Navo estate. and that strip in front OF
tho store of Messrs. Davenport and MOT.
| rts on Seventeenth street. was acqulren
from Mr.. John Leslie. The property on
| Seventeenth street belonged to Mr.. Johh
O. Gamble. who conveyed II TO the Klch-
rond Dock Company. but reserved certain
! rights 70 the owner, unoer when INC
street was to be continually kept open
In tho progress Of time the James Klvef
Company and the James JRiver DOCK
Company became the property OF thc
James River and Kanawha Canal COM
| many and subsequently i'm 1879 the Legs
Iature enacted a law by which the Rich'
mond and Allegheny Railroad Company
could purchase the property oil the James
River and Kanawha Canal Company I'M
der certain conditions. Captain Coke AZ
luded TO the law passed during the re-
cent session of the Legislature. author
ling the railroad company TO make such
changes in the highways and waterways
upon between the city and the railroad
company. He claimed that the Legisla-
ture had no right 10 make any such
changes in the existing laws. II the
LEGISLATURE had such right, 1t could GER
| tainlv not dispose of the easement tha'
Messrs. Davenport & Morris had on tn'
property. This easement might be los'
b. condemnation by the right OF eminent
! domain, but then the owners would have
to be compensated for the damages cause'
thereby 10 their property. he did no
think the city could afford TO sacrhci
the dock property, which had cost about
million dollars. just 10 secure a new
passenger depot that would cost perhaps
$4,000. The proposed superstructur
would make the dock property useless
and would be very unsightly.
MR.. AXTELL's REPLY.
Second Vice President Decatur Axtell, q
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Con-
pany, who replied TO Captain COX
thought the City-Attorney would give II
committee all the advice needed. IL Wa
the duty of the committee 10 know no.
this Improvement would affect the doci
He knew that the company could no
take from Messrs. Davenport e. Morr1
one single interest without paying for
and they expected TO do 1t, and II n
ordinance did not yet contain sufficier
safeguards, they should be inserted
hold the city harmless from any dan
age orcost. The ordinance did not co
tain any concession which the Gil
hli no right to give. This company Q
pccted to cross Seventeenth street, b'
would pay every dollar damage assessed
Messrs. Davenport & Morris. The cor
| pany did not intend to cross the doc
but expected TO take away the railroi
tracks. and structures which now cross
the dock. From the corner or Dave
mort 4, Morris store 10 the new positi'
of che vessels the distance would be abo
l25 feet. or sixty feet further than
present. All the new distances will be wit
in easy range. The Improvement Won
create more room for vessels of modera
size on the north side Of the dock than
rresent The vidduct would not be In
wav. the clearance would oe thirty fe
and any vessel could swing there freel
II was n mistaken idea as 10 the
tention Of the company TO cross the doc
for II had no such intention.
THE FRED BRIDGE.
The committee, at the suggestion
Mr. Mann, took up the next point, a
tho City Engineer explained the alter
lions neces sary to the Free bridge a
the cutting down of certain streets
Fulton. Besides the question as 10 {
attention of 5he Free bridge and
Seventeenth street matter the most
riouspcint was the changes proposed
the ordinance 10 Third street Denny
Orleans streets. in Fulton. II the
streets were lowered rs suggested by
railroad company. II would also be nee
sary TO lower gas and water-mains a
sewers. Colonel Cutshaw stated that
stead he had suggested 20 the compa
not to disturb these streets, but build
viaduct along Water street into TN
yard. through the property OF the Ced
Works. Colonel Cutshaw also stated q
he had recommended that no street sho
be permanently closed, like. for instan
Clay street, near Seventeenth street, a:
was proposed in the ordinance.
The committee then adjourned until II
| 2 .H.1ra