Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-07
OUR SIDEWALKS.

That the sidewalks OF the city of Nor
folk are in dilaoidated as we'll as
dangerous condition must be admitted
by every one. Not only are the people
who are forced to use these walks in
convenienced, but in many cases pedes-
TRANS run imminent risk of painful
bruises and broken limbs, and the won
der is that there are not many dam
age suits against the city.
There has been sharp contention of
late as to whose business it is to keep
the sidewalks in repair, and property
owners disregard all notices served
upon them by the Inspector of Streets
upon the ground that the city has no
right to enforce such an ordinance and
so the nuisance has continued up to the
present time.
We are glad to state, however, that
this question need no longer be held in
allegiance, and if there has been any
doubt in the minds of the officials as
to the right of the city to pass the
ordinance that Is supposed to govern in
this case. the Councils may now re-
enact the old or pass n new ordi-
nance in accordance with House Bill
No. 529, passed by the General Assem-
bly, February 21st, 1900, which is as
follows:
BE it enacted by the General AS
sembly of Virginia, That the Councils
of the city Of Norfolk shall have power
to require the owners of property
abutting on streets either to pave or
II IN. t. 49, l.
in repair the streets in front of their
property. or to require when the Coun-
ellis deem such pavement or repair
necessary or proper that the city
either pave or keep in repair its
sidewalks.
''2. The Councils of said city shall
have power to provide and ordain by
ordinance that whenever any sidewalk
in the said city requires to be built or
repaired the Board of Street. Sewer
and Drain Commissioners or other
board or committee designated by the
Councils shall notify the owner or oc-
cupant of any lot or parcel of land in
front Of or adjacent to which such side
walk is required to be built or re-
paired, that such owner shall build or
rcpair the same. and If such owner
shall neglect for q time to be specified
in such ordinance to do such building
or repairing the Councils may by such
ordinance make 1t the duty of such
board or committee to do or cause the
same to be done, and in each case the
expense thereof shall be assessed upon
such lot or parcel of land and shall be
n lien thereon until collected and paid
in manner prescribed in such ordi-
nances. and such owner shall for fail
urc to obey the ordinances passed in
pursuance of this act be subject to a
fine to be determined by ordinance not
to exceed. however. five hundred dol
lars--
'"rhe Councils shall also have power
by ordinance, bylaws or resolutions to
determine and designate the materials
of which sidewalks in the city shall be
constructed and to regulate their width
and manner of construction"
We call attention to this important
subject for the reason that we trust
that no time will be lost in passing
such an ordinance as will fully cover
the case in point. If it is deemed wise
and best that the city shall keep the
sidewalks in repair we'll and good;
but If the Councils shall decide to fol-
low the requirements of the present
ordinance, then we hope. in either case.
the matter may be settled at once, and
the sidewalks be put in decent con-
dition.