Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-10
THE COST OF ST. WERS.
METHOD OF ASSESSING PROPERTY
OWNERS DISCUSSED.
The COMMITTEE REACHES NO DECISION.
The City Attorney Requested to
submit Details of Plan of Proce-
Charge-Proposition to Rent.

The subcommittee on streets met las
night and considered the question as C
the method to be adopted in assessing
property-owners for the cost of con-
structing sewers.
No decision was reached by the com
mittee, and the City Attorney was re-
quested TO prepare instructions as 10
what procedure should be taken i'm the
matter, and to furnish each member OF
the Committee on Streets with a copy.
Chairman Otway S. Allen and Messrs.
Burton and Pollock were present as
were also Mr.. c. V. Meredith and Colonel
Cutshaw. The whole question undor dis
cussion was to arrive at some equitable
method of assessing the property-owners,
without working a hardship upon them.
1t seemed to be the sense of the body
that no fixed rate could be charged for
the construction of savers. and that no
property-owner could be assessed unless
he derived some benefit from the sewer
to be laid.
MIR. MEREDITH'S IDEA.
Mr. Meredith thought the best method
to be adopted by the Street Committee
was to lay the map Of proposed sewers
before them, and then take into cOnside-
ration, not only the cost of construction
Of the sewer, but the value Of the pro-
perty which is 10 be drained by them.
The owner Of property say on Franklin
street he said, should pay more for the
construction Of sewer than the owner
of lot, the value of which was only one
tenth of that on the thoroughfare named
The assessment in the case of some pro
perty might amount to a confiscation
Of II.
Mr.. Pollock suggested that a good plan
would be to charge rental for the use Of
sewers. In case of adopting this plan Mr.
Meredith thought the property-owner
should have the right to pay the cost OF
the sewer, If he desired TO do so. and
thus remove what would otherwise really
be lien upon his property.
Upon motion OF Mr.. Pollock. the City
Attorney was instructed TO furnish the
committee with a method or procedure
as to assessing property-owners for the
cost of the construction of sewers. He
was also instructed to report as to what
steps should be taken in regard to the
sewers already constructed.
The body then adjourned.
THEY HAD NO QUORUM.
The Committee on Ordinances was 10
have held meeting yesterday afternoon
to consider several important matters.
but a quorum not being present, the body
adjourned until o'clock Monday after
noon. One question TO come up before
the committee will be an ordinance made
necessary by a change i'm the State law
delegating to the Board Of Fire Commits
sioners the power to grant frame build
ing permits without reference 10 the
Council. Heretofore II has been the Gus
tom when a contractor desired 10 obtain
a permit 10 secure the signatures of
majority of the members OF the Commit
tee on Fire Department, and then pro
coed with the erection OF the structure
before the Council had passed upon the
natter. Under the change i'm the charter
the Fire Commissioners are given the
authority TO pass upon the ACCESSIBILITY
Of granting permits for the erection OF
frame buildings.
Another matter which will probably en-
gage the attention OF the committee will
be as to having the revision OF the city
ordinances. which has been i'm progress
for some years, completed without fur
Their delay.
The Committee on Health will meet to-
night at 7:30 o'clock.