The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-04-18

it upon the city. The very argument
that are being made now to Undue
the city to take stock In the depot
But instead of this hotel property cost
ing forty thousand dollars and payin
the stock subscribers a dividend,
cost over one hundred thousand dollars
and the small stock holders wer
swamped.
AS legal proposition Mr.. Figuer
did not doubt that the closing of Higl
and Garden and South Main streets
would entail large damages upon thu
city. Not only the property adjoining
the depot but property more remote
When men buy and build on property
because of its location and relevancy
to streets, they acquire certain proper
ty rights that cannot be taken away
from them by any corporation, without
paying them therefor. If man buys
and builds on an open street, running
from one end of the city to another,
he has right to expect and demand
that that street be kept open for its
full length; and if it is closed, he has
an action for damages against whoever
closes it.
Another objection Mr.. Figuers ur-
ged was the proposed "underpass'
on South Main street. The idea of
destroying as pretty street as that,
from about the old Walker Scott place
to like distance south of the railroad
track, was almost absurd it was 80
preposterous. Get lot of horses and
mules and cattle and people down in
that ditch, and train comes scream
ing along and frightens some of the
horses and mules, and think of the
danger to the people from the stampede
that follows. 1t would be regular
death trap. And for the damages
accruing from this death trap the rail
road company has been very particular
and careful in this contract to relieve
themselves of all liability and place
it upon the taxpayers of Columbia.
James A Smiser, Esq,
was next called fo., and what he did
not as fact but for the
the city only ten thousand dollars.
money to be spent. accepting the rail
roads estimates as being approx
mately true) and from these he de-
uuCbeu tu6 dulOuub tHdl WOulu 10
expended for the streets, sidewalks,
etc., and showed from
these figures that the depot building,
the taxable part of these Improvements
would amount. not to $40, as the
people talk it, but only to
about $50, 600. Surprising, again for
the sake argument only, that this tax
able improvement would be assessed
vt its full value; Ia very violent sup
position, bythe-way;) then the city
would realize from it about 1915 an
1ually in taxes or at most 800; barely
enough to pay the interest on the
minimum amount of money to be bor-
owed AT that rate how long would
t take to pay the principally And
low would 1t ever 90 done, except by
he people going down in their pockets
or itp
The main purpose Of this proposition,
he kernel Of the question, said Mr..
,miser, is the closing of High Street. i
The railroad company want that cross
ng for their use and convenience, and
o save the expense Of Waterman
here. They appreciate to the fullest
he DANGER at that crossing, and their
experience has taught them that Ii Is
ather expensive to main and kill
eople. II costs them good deal of
ime and trouble and inconvenience to
ncouple their long freight trains 30
8 not to blockade that crossing longer