Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-02

citizens of Norfolk in regard to the pro-
posed opening of Tripoli street. the vir-
ginianPilot to-day prints interviews
with several wellknown gentlemen,
who have large interests here and
whose ideas on any subject relating TO
the best interests of the city have
weight
MIR. r. A. DOBIE.
Mr.. Richard \. Dobie when asked for
his views on the subject, said: Il be-
lievc that streets should be opened
whenever there is n general demand for
them by the public. as a gneral pro-
position.
AS to the opening of Tripoli street,
believe that public necessity demands
the opening as far out as Freemacon
street. Beyond that l am not familiar
enough with the matter To express all
opinion. If the public needs 1t opened
out to James street, believe it should
be opened. If not now needed by tl.,
public, but it Is TO be opened for the
benefit of the street railway company.
L think that the company should bear
It's reasonable portion OF the expense"
JUDGE THEODORE S. GARNETT.
In pursuance of the policy of the Vir-
glnian-Pilot to freely give all sides of
every matter of public interest, a rep
TesehtaIive OF this paper called on
Judge L. S. Garnett and requested a
Statement of his views on this matter
as Il citizen, but he respectfully, but
frmly, declined TO speak q word for
publication.
MIR. THOMAS TOWNSEND.
When approached on the subject of
Tripoli street opening, Mr.. Thomas
Townsend, OF the real, estate firm of
Townsend * Joynes, and president of
the Norfolk Real Estate and Stock Ex
change, said:
Il think the opening OF Tripoli street
mas now become 4 public necessity 1t
should have been done years ago. A
large amount of property will be made
available for building purposes by the
opening of this street, which is now
practically of no value either to its
owners or to the city for revenue. With
IL good street railroad running through
IL ana out into the county it must en-
nance values of this property very ma
terially. l think it will enhance the
value of property on James street near
ly one-half, Il street that has been at a
Standstili, or nearly so, for the past
twenty years.
Improvement is the order of the day.
ana when any combination, company or
individual, can influence and bring from
our larger anu Weather cities the sum
OF seven or eight hundred thousand dol
lars TO be expended in labor and i'm
provements directly In our midst, I
think 1T is the duty of each and every
one or us to assist so far as possible in
such an enterprise, and nor to place
ourselves in the line as obstruction
lists.
II have not one dollars interest in
the Hampton Roads Company. On the
contrary am interested i'm Lamberts
Point, but I wish to see, not only the
road laid through Tripoli street to
Sewers Point. but our present road
extended to Lambert's Point. or any
other point or place around our city
that capitalists wish to buHd roads to.
Let every one of us in n matter of this
Kind try to lay aside self to some extent
and work to one end, and that to be
the building up of the old borough OF
Norfolk and making OF her n CITY that
shall be credit, not only to the citi-
zens. but to the old Commonwealth OF
Virginia"
MIR. BARTON MYERS.
Mr.. Barton Myers said: II think the
street should be opened now. This is a
very 5ruspiCiUus ttITIu 10 open it. think
the property along the line of the street
VIII enhance in value and build uD
rapidly after Tripoli street is opened.
1t is unusual in opening streets that
the time TO bring about an immediate
enhancement of values and to help in
crease the taxes from the start. am
not interested in the proposed street
railway. except as citizen and as
property owner. but / think that every
citizen will be benefited by the building
OF the new railroad end by its reaching
city Hall avenue. don't think the city
Should hold back from opening the
street Mt its own expense because the
railroad is likely to receive some bene-
tit from it. The question for the city
to consider IS the benefit she will re-
ceive from it. which would induce her
to open that street at this time Instead
of deferring it.
eff those of us who are engaged in
making developments around Norfolk
in the line of progress were to stop to
consider that someone else is getting
some benefit from what we accomplish.
the city would not grow as 1t is grow
ing. We look rather at the benefit
which we expect to reap ourselves and
do not object II others are being BEN
Gifted also. and this is the way In which
the city should look at the opening OF
this street.
"That it must be opened ultimately.
is generally conceded. The Board of
Health and the commissioners in these
condemnation proceedings have recon-
mcrded that as sanitary measure the
street should be opened from Wolf
street 70 Frecmason street
This would involve considerable ex-
Dcnsc and would afford the nnblic but
little additional facility in the way Of
an outlet from the city and it would be
long time before the increase Of
values resulting would make 1t pay
pecuniarily. whereas. by continuing the
street to Butte street. the city and her
citizens obtain additional means of in
gress and esress for travel. and at the
same time. by bringing the new rail-
road down. they have an additional
facility afforded them for travel. and
Introduce this noMcrfNl aGenny Tor DO