Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-21

witness closely as 10 tns RELATIVE iVhe
ais OF houses on Parrish avenue and
similar buildings inside the city WIT
ness said that the difference would be
about one-third in favor OF the city.
| o. o. Land company's Position.
w. b. Lvezey, local auditor OF the
Old Dominion Land Company, a wit
ness for the parties defendant, was
called next by agreement OF counsel.
Mr.. Lvezey said that the Old Domin-
ion Land Company had large. holdings
both in the city of Newport News
and In the territory proposed TO be
annexed. The assessed valuation OF
| the company's improved and unim-
proved property is 1899 $4,000. he said.
| In the territory proposed TO be an
nexed. the company owns $50 acres,
SAL acres In Warwick county and 30
acres in Elizabeth City county. All
OF the company's property outside OF
the city is unimproved Mr.. Lyezey
said that the Old Dominion Land
Company opposed the proposed an
nexation because II did not believe
an extension of the city limits neces-
| sary and because such an extension
would be a burden both upon the
property owners 10 be taken in and
! to the freeholders within the present
| limits of the city. Reading from
prepared paper. Mr.. Livezey gave va
rious reasons for his compGny's oppo-
sition TO the proposed extension. He
said that his company was holding
the territory south of the city, with
the hope of locating there some great
manufacturing plant or railroad termi-
nal. He pointed out on the map the
site offered BY the land company 10
the Deepwater Railway when that
company was considering locating its
terminal there. This. he declared. is
the finest undeveloped site for rail-
| way terminal in the United States.
And upon the development of the
property in this section. he went on
to say, depends largely upon the fu-
ture OF Newport News. The Old Do
minion Land Company. continued the
witness, Is as much interested in the
future OF Newport News as any in
dividual or any company, and II
would not oppose this proceeding IL
IL did not believe that il was contrary
to the interests OF the community.
Great Area of the Territory.
Through this witness 1t was brought
out that there are in the city of New.
port News about J.200 acres OF land
and about LOO acres in the territory
proposed to be annexed Witness
said that manufacturing enterprises
prefer to be located within the juris
diction of conservative county gov.
eminent rather than inside of the
corporate limits of a city. Answering
question by Mr.. Wilcox, Mr.. Live
zey said that he considered that War
wick county has a conservative gov
eminent. Witness said that many Of
. the unimproved streets in the city
are in a terrible condition. almost i'm
| passible, and that as the city was un
able to take care of the highway.
within its limits. there was no saying
what what would be done for the new
property should il be taken it. Wit
Bess said that the county tax rate !!
$l15. while that of the city is $3.50.
Judge Shackelford asked whether OF
/ not the witness deemed that ther'
was any necessity for extending tbs
!. limits so as to take in any part o
the territory proposed TO be annexed
Mr.. Lvezey said that in his judgmen
there was no necessity for talIin;
in any of this property.
Mr. Massie asked whether or no
Mr. Livezey had been authorized b,
his company to appear here and op
pose this annexation proceeding. Wit
, ness replied that he had been IN
structed to appear by the president o
his company.
compsnys Policy Questioned.
Mr.. Massie asked, Has you com
pany ever donated, given or reduce,
the price of any property for an IN
dustrial enterprise" Mr.. Uvezey sait
that one of these things had beer
done for shoe factory. and a knitting
mill, and that the company had OF
; fered free of cost TO the Deepwate
Railway the site which he pointed GU
on the map. Mr. Massie wanted 4
know whether this offer was mad
before Norfolk had offered the rail
road a site and 100000. Witnes
thought the offer was made before.
Mr.. Massie handed the witness |
map. showing all the property eve
owned by the Old Dominion Lam
Company, including the territory pro
, posed to be annexed. showing tn
property laid of in town lots. am
that this map had been drawn 70
his company Witness replied that b
did not know. Counsel for the coun
ties objected to these questions. MI
Massie said that he proposed to shoy
that the land comm many had nlaffed al