The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-19
THAT PARK PURCHASE
The Special Committee TO Investigate tho
Matter Makes Its Report.
A QUORUM OF THE SELECT COUNCIL
Secured After the Third Attempt
TO Hold Meeting Many Matters
Disposed or An Ordinance TO-
Create n superintendcns of the
Fire Alarm system Defeated.


After three efforts 10 secure q quorum
the Select Council last night succeeded
and tookup the months business. Those
present, were President Winston Tin the
chat) and Messfs. Br6ughton. BunttnSi
Beasley, Briggs, Cooke dnd Womble.
The minutes of the aast meeting were
read and approved, afteriwhich the pro-
ceedings of the Common Council were
taken up for concurrence.
The Select Council adhered toiits form
er action in the matter OF opening Scott
street and the chair appointed as Il con-
ference committee Messrs. Cooke and
Beaseleyl
In the matter of THE lease of the Ar
mory to the local military and an APP
propriation of S700lfor current expenses
for same the action of the Common
Council was concurred In.
Tn lfie matter or Sfie fssuet or s2S.500
per cent bonds 10 pay for property
OF the Common Council was concurred
In. ~ !-
The Select Council concurred with THE
Common Council in refunding taxes err
roneously assessed against. Laura v.
Damn, John West and Archer Warren;
appropriated s499 for repairs TO the Cor
poration Court-,oom; appropriated $500
for the Iexpense account of the Finance
Committee; allowed the First Committee
5000 to pay outstanding bills, and spend
$500 for u pair of horses. and granted
petitions to erect frame houses
In the matter of creating the office of
Superintendent nf the Fire Alarm Sys-
tenn the Select Council refused to con-
cur with the Common Council, Messrs.
Womble and Winston voting no, Mr..
Beas!ey being excused.
All other matters were concurred in.
A petition from Bramblei;on Ward,
approved by the Local Board Of Bran
bleton Ward, concerning increased street
car facilities, adopted by the Common
Council, was adopted the ordinance al
lowing tracks on Chapel street being de-
feated.
to investigate the purchase iof land for
the City Park was then taken up and
read by Mr.. Broughton as follows:
Norfolk. Va. June s, 1896.
To the Common and Select Councils Of
the City of Norfolk;
The undersigned, committee APP
pointed by a resolution adopted by
the Common Council on the 18th day of
April, 1896 and by the Select Council on
the 18th day of April 1896, report as
follows:
We find that William H. White, at
torney, ETC." offered in writing through
the Select and Councils of the City of
Norfolk In August. 1892. to sell to the
city of Norfolk a tract of land for the
purpose of park, lying north of the
Catholic Cemetery containing about 80
acres for the sum of $4,000. This writ
ten communication, signed William H.
White, attorney, etc. was referred to
the Park Committee, and on the 9Th OF
September, 1892, this committee reported
to the Councils in favor of the purchase
of the "Spratley" tract of land offered
by william II. White, attorney, etc."
which the report states is especially de,
scribed in the plat filed with the said re-
port, but has never been able to find the
same.
This report was adopted by the Com
mon Council, on September 9Th, 1892, and
at the same time an ordinance which
accompanied said report was adopted
by that branch of the City Councils, au-
thorizing the issue Of coupon bonds of
the said city, to an amount not exceed
Ing $4,000, for the purpose of paying
the purchase price OF the property
known as the "Spiatley tract" of land
and accepted as a site for a, public park.
Said report and ordinance We're adopted
by the Select Council on the 18th day OF
September. 1892.
This ordinance provides that from the
proceeds of the sale OF these bonds to be
paid over by the Finiace Committee to
the City Treasurer, he shall pay 10 the
owner of the said property the sum OF
Sllf,UUV, Wnen ueeQ IOr Inc same is ap-
proved by the City Attorney and duly
delivered.
William S. Spratley, James H. Sprat-
ley, Jr., William D. Spratley, Eliza c.
Cooper, and Arthur Cooper, her hus-
band. and Richmond j. Spratley, the
owners of the "Spratley tract" convey
ed the same to the city of Norfolk on the
18th day OF September. 1892, the city
of Norfolk paying therefor the sum OF
$4,000. This tract of land In the said
conveyance is desc:dbed as containing
sixty-fve acres more or less, and as be-
ing the same property conveyed by
Jane w. Seymour, to Joseph r. Spratley,
by deed dated May 18th, 1866, and the
same property which the said Joseph r.
Spratley conveyed to the grantors to the
which the said William S. Spratley
then resided.
Walter Sharp and wife. by their deed
dated October %, 1892 conveyed to the
city Of Norfolk, In consideration of the
sum of s16,40625, paid by the said city,
parcel of land containing by survey
l2 $40 acres, being that portion of the
Ward farm that day conveyed to the
said Sharp by =. Y. Smith, special com.
missioner.
The North Norfolk Land Company
corporation owning what Is known as
the O'Keefe farm, situated on the In
dian Poll Bridge Road, I'm the county OF
Norfolk. by deed dated October rs. 1892.
conveyed to the city of Norfolk in con
sideration OF $1g.593.75. paid by the said
city a MARCEL of land ronta ipIny ~ o nc