The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-07
WILL CHANGE
RIVERS BED
Plan to Divert the Appomat
tox Progresses Slowly.
TROUBLE OVER DAMAGES
Several Gases Will Have to Be Settled
by Commiss!on-Plans for a New
Hotel in Petersburg Are in
Allegiance.
(spec,.l to The T,mes.pIspatcb. !,

PETERSBURG, VA. June 8.-The APP
pomattox diversion matter continues In a
state OF satisfactory progression. Occa-
sionally a man is found along the line who
considers his half arce Of marsh land
worth $500, when heretofore he would
willingly have disposed OF it for a hun
dredth of that amount. The committee
in charge is arranging with the owner OF
the land for IT'S purchase as far as this
course can be pursued. and with the 9TH
ers alluded to the condemnation commits
sion will have to deal
If Petersburg would go into the canal
business just at this time. there is no
doubt that she could make a neat sum out
OF the contract to add to her rapidly
growing sinking fund. There are many
who favor tho city's taking the matter In
hand and guaranteeing the completion OF
the work for the amount appro priated by
Congress- for the only thing that Is now
delaying the work is to have assurance
that the sum of 900 that was appro-
priated will be sufficient to complete the
work.
DOUBT AS TO COST.
The opinion OF the best engineers is that
the work can be done for that sum, hut,
of course, II great amount has t. be
dealt out to land owners for their prop
erty. 1t will materially AFFECT the working
sum.
The committee continues to work and
doubtless. in a short time, will have pur-
chased the land, as 1t has been author
lied by the council to dos
TWO OLD VETERANS.
Two men who have known each other
4 in Petersburg for more than three-quar-
ters OF a century We're seen a few even
ings go talking over the years that now
have passed. They were Mr. Samuel Fl.
Marks, aged ninety-tive years. and Mr.
Addison a. Trayor. aged eighty-four
years. These old gentlemen were living
over again their lives In fancy and en-
Joying memories of stories that form the
sweets OF old age. They turned back time
and almost forgot their eyes were dim
and for a. few moments became boys
again. But the hearty congratulations OF
friends would break the spell and the
two old men ldgrealize. that youth had
passed and that they had only been en-
joytng the sweets Of honorable old age
THE NEW HOTEL.
Nothing definite can be written at this
time concerning the plan for the new
hotel. The bids Of the contractors far
exceeded the estimate OF the architect,
and after the building plans had been
changed the bids were still beyond the
limit fixed by the builders. It will Ger.
tainly be several weeks yet before work
begins. and still more delay may be occa-
stoned by the necessity for further alter
ations, in thessplans: s,sV5 i
Whie-t the builders are not delaying mat
ters on account Of any idea OF local
option election In Petersburg. still one Of
the gentlemen connected with the project
did not hesitate to say that II they
thought the city would go dry they
would not undertake the building. The lot
has been cleared and come excavating
done. so that very lit le delay would be
occasioned by preliminary work.
The season at Ferndale Park Casino
has opened auspiciously and the
attraction that will be presented by the
Transformations Theatre Company will
doubtless give pleasure tosmany people In
Petersburg during the summer months.
and at the same time prove profitable.
BISHOP KELLEY TO PREACH.
Bishop Kelley. Of Savannah. will preach
at st. Joseph's Catholic Church, In this
city. Sunday morning. Bishop Kelley has
many friends In Petersburg, his former
home. and is greatly beloved in this
city.
Miss Lltty Gabra1th, OF spartanburg,
s. c.. who has been visiting New York
and Philadelphia. Is now the guest Of
Miss Emily Roper. in Petersburg.
Mrs. Harry Parker of Newport News
is the guest Of Mrs. Preston Roper.
Mr.. Andrew Allen left this week for
New York city to spend several days.
Miss Martha Collier has returned to-
Petersburg after a very delightful visit
to Baltimore.