The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-07
this week, DR.. Laird preaching at and
p. M. daily.
BELLE ISLE As
PLANT AND PARK
Continued from First Pagc.)

IUUI OVU ] ulIN
Continued from First Page)
the inalienable rights of human
ity, to have all the water they
need for their health and their
happiness and their comfort; and
every other intercst---it makes no
difference how muca money 1T
Representatives, be secondary to
the interests or this community.
II don't know whether to smile
or to be indignant when they put
the Belle Isle works up against
this community on tho water
questionable Belle Isle works
questioning the water rights OF
the city! Take that as an exam
pie. Well, there is one thing that
would demonstrate very soon who
Is superior--the City Council
could. order the whole blamed
island to be condemned and send
commissioners there and fix the
price and buy It,"
Mr.. Gould Offers Bonus.
The publication of extracts from the
Mayors speech brought forth tho follow
ing telegram from Mr.. Gould:
New York. March 8. 1907.
Alfred 3. Williams. Editor The News
Leader, Richmond, Va:
/ did not know until ] read your
Mayors speech that the city of Rich
mond desired to acquire Belle Isle.
Now that have read this. and II the
public OF Richmond really desires to
own the property. hereby offer to
accept proposition to have 1t con-
dcmned in the usual manner and the
value appraised by commissioners
L,rnY,, thfc va 1tiut{on I will deduct
$4,000. to be paid by me personally
and to be regarded as n gift from
me to the city. without any purpose
TO put Richmond under obligation to
me. but as an expression of my good
will and warm regard for the city,
OF which ] am sincerely fond.
1t will not be necessary for tho
Mayor OF Richmond to come with Il
pistol or any other weapon, unless
he wishes to make of himself a grot-
csuue spectacle, which / assume he
does not desire.
II you, or any one else. can sng-
gest fairer or more liberal proposi-
ton for me to make l viii be glad
! to be advised, as | most earnestly
esteem the friendship and confidence
OF the Richmond people.
FRANK JAY GOULD.
Mr.. Gould controls the Belle Isle prop
erty through his ownership Of the "
!, Dominion Iron Nails Works, winch cor
noratIon owns the island and any waite
| rights belonging to It. There are tw
| other metal Industries renting land an
, mower on the island from the Old DO
mllion Company.
1 Mayors Comment on Offer.
Mayor Mccarthy, when seen yesterda,
said 1T would be impossible for him !,
express an opinion on the matter on hans
and regretted that Mr.. G. z. Bolllnt
superintendent of the city water works
who is thoroughly familiar with the rive
and the various water-bower rights, wa
out CT the city.
The Mayor pointed out that the offe
and the comments In the afternoon pa
pers were perfect vindication OF u
/ own views. He further said that !
would fully approve Of the city's owni'
the island If 1t could be secured at
reasonable rate mo one hears anythii
more about the much-exploted ste
plant on tho island on which the Gnul,
claim to have expended half milllt
dollars. The city does not need u
steel plant, nor does 1t need any one
consent to undertaking condemnatlt
proceedings, II the island is needed r
CITY purposes. The liberality OF M
Gould's offer to deduct $4,000 from Il
commissioners appraisement OF the islal
will depend very largely on what u
J commissioners may think OF the value
non-p paying steel industries"
The Mayor called attention to the pre-
, reports that the Manchester City coun
was now in favor OF establishing q .mur
clpal electric light plant. The city
Manchester some years ago sold It's can
, which is now controlled by the Gould
! terests, and 1t Is said that 1t would nc
be glad to repurcllase it at several tim
the selling price.