Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-09
SIDEWALK PAVING,
First Meeting Of Special Commit
tee ofthe City Councils.
Effect of Present Law Discussed In All
ITS Hearings ana Remedial Lcgis-
lation suggoatod- s,nnl, Attends
"noo of Citizcns-Ano,hcr aoe,-
ing.

The special committee on sidewalk
Improvement held its first meeting last
night.
Mr.. Camp, chairman. and Mcssrs.
Martin. Hodges, Oberndorfcr and Marx,
the members of the committee. were all
present. Though an advertisement had
been published in every paper in Nor
folk extending an invitation TO all in
terestcd citizens TO appear before the
committee, only five accepted this in
vitation. These were Colonel c. x.
Nash, Mcssrs. John IL. Core, l.. Ball,
William Marablc and James y. Ridge
well. The committee was disappointed
In not having n larger number pres
cnt to give their views on this import
ant matter. After u free discussion OF
the question of improving the side
walks the committee decided To hold ;ln
adjourned meeting next Monday night.
TO which all Interested citizens are
again invited.
City Attorney Taylor, who was pres
cnt last night in an advisory capacity,
said that no change in the State law
was absolutely necessary, though leg
ISidllOll, SlJcCi0l anu SltNlIN, Ncuii
make the city'S case stronger. He be-
lievcd IL fine in lieu OF distraint pro-
ccedngs against those failing to obey
the law as to the laying and repair
ing of sidewalks would be IL better rem
edy. lie suggested that the city could
either require the property owner TO
build the sidewalk originally and pro-
vide that the city should thereafter
keep it in repair, or provide that the
city build the original sidewalk and
charge onc-half the cost thereof 10 the
property owner the city to keep it in
repair or that the city could require
1t to be both built and kept in repair
by the property owner, as ut present.
He explained that the constitutionality
OF the present law WAS now being test
ed by case brought by Mr.. G. Whittlc
Sans III the City Circuit Court, and
that the case would be carried from
this court to the Court OF Appeals to
get u final decision in the matter. 1t
will probably be IL year before this de-
cision is secured
City Engineer Brooke, who was also
present in an advisory capacity, eX
planned that about 900 feet Of side
walk would have to be laid or rclaid.
a brick pavement. he said, would last
for 10 years on an average.
The report of the Special Committee
on Sidewalks, appointed by the Coun-
ellis in 1896, was read by Chairman
Camp. This report was on petition
signed by many Norfolk citizens asking
that the city take in hand the laying
and repairing of all sidewalks. reNuil-
ing the property owner TO pay the orig
inal cost of the sidewalk abutting his
property. The report stated that a spe-
cial fund would be necessary 10 carry
out such n change in the law. and
that it would require the levy of Il spe-
cia tax of cents on the $780,
Colonel Nash, addressing the COM
mittee. said that something must be
done along the line Of securing better
sidewalks. What the citizens wanted,
he said, was to get an ordinance in con-
formity 10 the Constitution OF Virginia
that will adjust the matter on an equit-
able basis. He believed the present
law worked great hardships, and
thought the only tUuitabfc way out The
difficulty was To require the property
owners to lay the sidewalks originally
and the city to keep them in repair at
it's own expense. suggesting that a spc-
cial levy be made for the purpose.
Colonel Nash thought the people
would he willing To stand the special
tax of . cents on the 500 in order 10
have better sidewalks.
City Engineer Brooke said nj this
rate of taxation il would take il num-
her of years To get all the sidewalks
in proper shape.
Colonel Nash said a gradual i'm
provemcnt of the sidewalks. as the
streets had been rcnavcd. would be
necessary.
MIR. Core agreed with Colonel Nash
partly. AS to the levyinG of a special
tax. he thought the work of repairing
should be paid for out of the general
tax fund There was no need of any
special tax. 1t was his idea, he said,
TOT the CITY to take charge of the work
now and have uniform streets as far
as possible. He devoted much OF his
argument against the present system.
telling of how the Street. Sewer and
Drain Department and others injured
the sidewalks. which had TO be reDair-
cd at the expense of the property own
ers. He said the Court of Appeals had
twice decided that no poles could be
erected on the sidewalks, except by
condemnation proceedings, YET the
Councils. disregarding this. gave per-
mission for the erection of poles.
Mr.. Marable said that AIR. Core had
expressed his opinion and he hyd moth
ing to say.
The Council. while reaching no for
NAL decision is practically agreed upon
the proposition to ask the Legislature
for power to either compel the prom
erty owners to lay and keep in repair
the sidewalks. as at present, or provide
that the city shall have power 10 com
pei the owners Of property to lay the
sidewalks originally. the city to there
after keep them in repair. In other
words the committee is at present in