The Virginia enterprise., 1909-07-02
WILL euARAsIEfsro oo0stt CAPACITY

Will euARAsIEfsIo oo0isltt c4fAo1,
OF Mil Plant II Risht-ot:wsy Is Give.
for Change ofRa''irrooed Sppr, Pro-
v;d;"s Needed P'I'ee Room.
The proposed ordinep nee granting
a right.of-way for :sthe,. desired
change in the D. n. an. spur TRACK
to the brewery and Light 4 Waite,
power plant was, No anticipated, q
bone of contention at the Tueaday
evening session Of the council, the
property owners Claiming damages
would accrue TO their holdings be.
ing represented by Attorney Pick.
|ering, while the mill interests were
looked after by C.. H. Rogers, local
manager of the plant. -:
In his remarks Mr.. Rogers ex.
planned the desire of the cop pany,
which now has on ito pay roll some
$50 men and pays out approximate.
ly $4,000 per month, to add another
band and re-saw to their plant and
adding eeveral hundred nd.
ditional men to their pay roll, but
contended this could not or would
not be done unless the room occu-
pied by the present spur track was
made available for piling purposes.
Mr.. Rogers stated his company had
already purchased all land needed
for the right. of way of the spur as
proposed and now desired a permit
to cross the streets and alleys spec:
flied in the petition.
Mr.. Pickering in response briefly
outlined the status of the case, the
manner of it's presentation to the
council by the Commercial Club
with representations that the pres
.ent spur track room was wanted for
big new planning mill; that these
representations were either incor-
rect or the plans had been changed;
that spur in the proposed location
would affect to a degree not only
the property Immediately adjacent
to the line but all property to the
west thereof; that the proposed line
would go within twenty-five feet
of three houses and across the rear
end of nine lots with five houses on
same. Mr.. Pickering stated that in
his opinion the proposed line would
tend to raise insurance rates in the
district affected as we'll as cause in
convenience alike to the schools
and to the residents of the district;
that a number OF the property own
ers in the affected district were EN-
ployes of the company and were
not represented in the complaint.
Replying, Mr.. Rogers stated the
proposed improvements would be
impracticable without the acquiei-
tion of the land traversed by the
present spur, and put it squarely
that unless the right ofw way sought
was granted the company would
not consider the idea of making the
proposed improvements to it's plant.
The council, realizing ~ does the
public in general the importance of
the mill and allied interests to Vir-
ginia, desired to take the. matter un-
der further Amusement before Civ.
ing the ordinance it's second read.
ing, and upon motion OF Alderman
Mcneil the question was laid over
for one week and the council ap-
pointed as committee of the whole
to meet and consult with the mill
company and interested citizens
the following afternoon and thor.
oughiy look over the grounds and
test the merits of the opposing in
terests.
At this meeting Mr.. Rogers again
assured the council of the good
faith of the company in its propo
sition to enlarge it's plant, and sig
nitied the Willingness of the com
pany to put up bonded guarantee
to fulfill it's agreement if the change
in spur track location should be
made. He also admitted that Ger
tain property would be harmed tc
an extent, and it 10 to be hoped the
company and property owners may
be able to amicably adjust matters
If this ia found impossible a 90
lution of the problem might be had
by the city taking a direct interes,
in the question and by condemna
ton proceedings or otherwise &C
quire all property for a specified
distance on either side of the pro
posed spur for "park purposes" re
tanning same to lease as factory
sites for new industries.
What is the greatest good for thu
greatest number is principle cup
posed to exert an influence in tn,
public affairs of the world. ane
while Virginia ae a whole can il
afford to lose a proposition which
would mean steady employment t.
from 800 to 500 additional men it i,
not the desire of the. many to prof
at the expense of the few. A Acours,
as suggested would, however, pro
tect all interests and in additio,
place the city in position to offe