The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-16
WILLIAMSBURG AVENUE.
No Money Available TO Raise ltsGrade
az Present.

at Present.
The topic or discussion before the
Street Committee Yesterday afternoon
was tho raising of WILLIAMSBURG avenue,
Boz order 90 prevent Fulton being cut on
from Richmond Boo case of fresnet
This movement has been strongly op-
posed on account OF the statement OF the
Iald.ow-Acru Company which rcent-
" purchas The Kings NH property
and pr09o-a t0 establish n mandatory
there chat Do would Doe go detrimental 10
them as to drive them away from Rich
mond.
IL was finally determined by the COM
mittee that th- avenue should be raised
and also Lester street. but that nothing
could Dee done now there being no money
available 10 is not expected that any
thing can be done IN this line for some
years.
REFLECTION ON RICHMOND
Mr.. Robert Lecky. Jr.. of the Young
Mems gusfnass Association. created
something OF o. sensation boy stating that
he had been informed that the represen-
tatve Of the Laidi0w-Mckul company
had been warned not 10 come 20 Rich
mond because of the unbusnesshke adj
ministrati0n If public affairs.
This reelection of the New Yorker on
Richmond was resented by Mr. hoel IN
a vigorous speech.
In the absence or the chairman and
sub chairman. Mr. Ebel presided over the
deliberations or the committee. there he-
ing present Messrs. Bahen. Burton KING,
Pollock. WhIuet, Peters. Woody a
Lawder.
The city Attorney and city Engineer
were also present. and a delegation or
citizens. including representatives OF the
Young Mems business Association.
Under suspension of the rules the COM
mittee took mp the question or raising
the grade Of Williamsburg avenue from
the York-River railroad 20 NicholsoE
street
Mr. King. rs chairman Of the sub-com-
mittee appointed 10 look into the ques-
ton reported that his committee had
decided after Investigation that the work
would eventually have to be- done. but
an account of lack Of money recom1
mended that nothing be done az present
Mr. King further said that 10 was prob
able nothing would be done during tne
| life OF this council.
Mr. y. w Bowe was given the privi-
loga of the floor He said that the report
was unsatisfactory and not calculated
10 allay the fears Of those who contem-
plated making improvements there. He
/ feared that IL would drive them else
| where Hc suggested that IN lieu Of rails
ing Williamsburg avenue, Lester street
J be- raised.
Mr.. Julian Bryant OF the committee
from the Young Mems Business Associa-
ti0n said that Messrs. Laidlow, Mckil
d CO.. who had purchased the King
mill property. had come here unsolicited
and would employ many hands and gem
orally benefit the city. The raising ot
| Williamsburg avenue, he said. would
| drive this industry away lie endorsed
! tho suggestion of Mr.. BOwe. that Lester
street be raised instead. should the City
| Engineer decide that il was practicable
KBEP THEM HERE.
Mr. George d. Peasants said that 70
! had been rum0red that LaidiOw. Mckiu
! & Co. desired 90 remove from Richmond
and were simply using the proposition
TO raise the grade as pretext. This. he
| said. was entirely incorrect. Mr. Pleas
| ants then spoke OF the money being
spent here by the firm and impressed
| upon tho committee the necessity OF keep
| them here
Mr.. King again spoke. and said that
| only two members OF his committee had
! visited Williamsburg avenue. III 10 was
10 De- used as q thorough.are during high
water it would have 20 be raised. lie
| thought however, that Lester street
would be better than the avenue. Al any
| rate bee said Williamsburg avenue would
| probably not be touched for years. II
ever.
Mr. Greenwood. OF the Chamber Of
| Commences Committee on Business En-
| terprses. urged the committee 20 be- care
| ful and not 10 do anything calculated To
! drive am enterprise from the city
Mr. Robert Lecky. Jr.. said that he had
| been informed by a gentleman, who was
informed on the subject that the repre-
sentative of the new firm had been warn
| ed on the floor OF the Maritime Exchange
in New York not 10 locate Ia Richmond
on account Of the unbusiness-hhe admin
| istration OF public affairs.
Mr. Lecky then went on 10 speak ot
| the benefits TO be derived from the ores
ence of the Laidlow-McKill Company
| and urged that sacrifices be made 70 Keep
them here
MR. EBEL DENIES.
Mr.. Ebel. as soon as Mr.. Lecky took
his seat. promptly challenge dthe state
ment that unbusiness-like methods pre-
vailed In public affairs here. lie denied
IL in round terms. and said that IL was
but 'low-down Yankee trick" designed
70 check Southern progress and ingenuity.
with which the North feared it could not
| compete.
In this connection he called attention TO
the great industries OF the South. and
In so doing paid a high tribute to the W.
| H. Trigg Shiphnilding Company.
Mr.. Lawder reiterated what Mr.. King
had said. that there was no chance OF
any work being done on raising the ave-
| nue. for a long time 10 come.
The City Engineer. being called upon.
treated the matter from an engineering
standpoint showing It tobe necessary 70
| maintain communication with Fulton
during high water
Colonel Outlaw said that he had re-
ceived a letter from Captain McCarrick.
agent Of the Clyde Line at Norfolk. stat
ing that on account of the conditions
nrevsiing al their wharves here, they
senred they would DO driven 10 the exso
dent OF sending tugs for their freight md
40, allowing their steamers 10 come up
10 the city.
| 4, ss,,or ~ raising the street II should