The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-15
.RAGLAND MAY SEEK
REDRESS in COURT
Board of Public Safety Sustains
Inspector Beck III Getting
Application rsPcrn1it,
GIVES NO REASON FOR ACTION

( AS indicated at the meeting Friday
night tic Board OF Public Safety yes
terdayS sustained Building Inspector
Beck in his refusal to grant I permit
to =. L. Raglnnd to erect six stores on
North Fifth Street at the corner of
Grace. Later In the day, Mr.. Ragland.
in a converse ton with Inspector Beck,
said he had been advised by lawyers
that he had certain rights and priv
ileges which had been denied to him,
and intimated that he would test the
matter in the courts. He added. how
ever, that no final decision would be
reached until this week.
Decision of Board.
The following letter was sent to Mr..
RaEland by the secretary Of the, board:
AT an adjourned meeting of the
Board Of Public Safety beld3ln the
Office Of the Mayor this morning at
10 O'Clock, pursuant to an adjourn
lnent had yesterday afternoon, the
board resumed the consideration Of
the appeal of John F. Rasland, and
the following resolution was
adopted:
'.Yhe board sustalns the action
of the Building Inspector in re-
jecting the application for the erec-
ton of the proposed buildings on
the proposed SITE.
No explanation was given as to
whether this action was due entirely
or in part to the protest OF citizens
residing nearby. or because Of the.
failure of Mr.. Ragland to prepare his
plans and specifications in accordance
with an ordinance. which requires that
I all division walls, starting at the foun-
Edation, shall extend to and twelve,
Inches beyond the roof. The situation
would be complicated and interesting
LIE Mr.. Ragland should submit revised
plans, in accordance with the ordi-
nance. ISL
Goes to Courts.
There is a general desire. however,
Ito have the question finally settled by
1.-the court. 1t was intimated yesterday,
| that the Legislature might be requested
ito pass a law giving to the city of
Riehmond the right to prevent the
direction Of business houses inathe resi-
{dential sections. This could be arr
ranged, IT was argued, before the su7
preme Court of Appeals Is heard from.
lin the event that Mr.. Ragland should
go to law and have his contention sus-
l5tained. the building code would he
3practically worthless, in some OF Its
most essential features, at least.
Mayor Mccarthy said yesterday that
1.-THE board did not consider the effec-
Itiyeness OF the law advanced by the
professionals that 1t had a right to re-
Iject the permit, or the plea of Mr..
Ragland's agent that at was without
IauthorIty to Interfere. These ques-
stions, he said. are for tho courts. AS
Iihe remarked on Friday afternoon, the
situation wa unusual, for II involved u
1.-The right&of n citizen to do as he
4 pleased with his property. The Mayor
.llntilnated that ut would be far more
satisfactory, Tor present and future
emergencies to have a final ruling
from The court. ~ s. N M ss 81 /. ~.
SSsstg II. Roth Gratihed. N
Inspector Beck was ma tural Ky graft
Tied Il that he had been u plel Id by he
lBoard OF Safety. Counoil Imam "a llbert
A H.; POLLOCK, OF Me disons sya ard rose
stposition had Il EN- assailed sal ID Il that
Il the dec ion ~ the board was a. idt-
II cation of u is ~ Ice to 81 tor Beclt
Ito refl. the IN rnlit, and N hal he had