The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-01
COMMITTEE REJECTS
MAYO BRIDGE OPTION

proaches to the bridge included rights
running up Fourteenth Street that
could not be acquired by condemna-
ton. He thought 1t would be viola
tie up the bridge matter IN the courts.
possibly for two years. He admitted
that the price was excessive, but
thought the city should make the
best of bad bargain and pay up. Mr..
Zimmerman said the proposed price
was exorgitant and that the city should
not allow itself to be held up, but
should let the option expire and con-
denim the bridge. Mr.. Cottrell wanted
| to know if there had not been former
| offers to sell at lower price, and
| Chairman Adams remembered that 1t
| had once been offered to the city for
! $4,000, and that II was offered to the
street railway company during the
| Fisher management for s15OOo0 in
! stock at a time when street railway
| stock was valued at about 60, making
| the price between 100000 and $780,.
600
After some opposition on the part
of Chairman Adams, who disliked
having the Chamber butt in on every
matter" President IL w. Wood, of the
Chamber of Commerce, was heard. He
| said his only interest was to see the
| promptest possible completion of an
| adequate bridge, but that he didn't
want the city to pay an eNorbitant
l price. He thought the franchises and
rights We're valuable, saying that the
present structure was paying a per
cent. on the valuation, and that many
Of the bonds were owned by nom
residents. making it possible that con-
demnation proceedings would be
thrown into the United States Courts
and delayed indefinitely. Mr.. Pollock
asked that Mr.. Gay or his attorney, Sol
Cutchins, both OF whom were present,
be heard, especially as to whether
they had any lower offer to make
Says Bridge tx lettering.
Now Is their time" said Mr.. Pollock.
Their offer Is excessive, and their
bridge is tottering and may fall at
any time. It is useless to talk of it
as a per cent. revenue producer. IT
may go at any time"
Mr.. Gay responded that the city
was acquiring property that it could
get in no other way, and that the
threat of condemnation was the use
of a club over the heads Of the in
vestors In the enterprise which had
long served Richmond well.
II don't see why our bridge should
be blackguarded." he said, Simply be.
cause the city was not far-sghted
enough to put one there In 1885, wher
Mayo did.
Our bridge was condemned by Elk
parte testimony, and we have engi
, neers prepared to say that it is SAT
for ordinary street traffic for years t
: come. The Southern Railway is to
! day using bridge with piers n
: larger or stronger than ours. The cit
G has been dickering for years, and ha
: kept JUS from building moder
q bridge as we have more than once ha
= the money subscribed to do Yo
= would have a great saving in time l
buying now, and do not feel justife
in naming any less price"
The roll was called and the conden
nation proceedings were recommend
to the Council by a vote of II TO
Alessrs Gilman and Richards beir
the negatives.
Repair Cary Street Road.
Temporary repairs were ordered f.
Cary Street Road. west of the Boul
ward The City Engineer reportt
that the contract had been aWarde
for construction of a trunk sewer
this road TO the city limits, and
would not, therefore, recommend pc
manent improvements to the surfac
but the hands and carts were ordert
to put the road in passable conditic
for present use. There was a long d
u cusson over shifting an alley SOU
!. of Franklin Street between Shat
and Harrison Streets, at the reque
of Fred w. Scott who wished the a
ley to pass south of his stable, inste;
of in front of 1t, n w. Bowe appear
in opposition. alleging that effor
were being made to rush it throug
without proper notice, and the who
matter went over to June 16, when ;
parties may be heard. The Americ
National Bank was given pcrmissi
TO construct side basement entranc
alongside Of its building into Ten
Street. The Virginia Railway a
Power Company was given permissi
to shift its tracks on the Idlewo
loop from Strawberry to Elm Sire
a part OF the street car barn scher
the main features of which have
ready been approved The commits
lost nearly an hour waiting for
quorum, and did not complete
docket OF business Chairman Ada
announced that. a special meeti
would be called for one night NJ
week.
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