Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-19
EVANS TRACT THAT
GOV. BROWN CHOSE
GOES TO DISCARD
Continued From Page One

urday morning, that the Evans tract OF
about 235 acres, is bisected almost
throughout its length by right Of way
belonging to the Cincinnati Southern
railroad Governor Brown. in his message
made some faint mention OF having heard
that there was a right of way on part
of the property, but he did not begin to
intimate its extent or Importance. The
Cincinnati Southern right Of way has
been owned by that road for 81 years, &C
cording to II. Clay Evans himself, and
belongs to IL completely and in undispu-
table titles Mr.. Evans says that 1t has
never been used. though, and that he be-
Iieves the Cincinnati Southern would give
IL outright TO the state.
This strip about 100 feet wide, cutting
of about one-fourth of the property, was
acquired by the Cincinnati Southern when
II bought the south corner of the whole
tract to put a trac on. Mr.. Evans
blue print of the property showed this
strip in a dotted line, but included II with
a heavy line that bordered the rest of the
tract Governor Brown wants the state
to buy. i
Another objection to the Evans tract
is that It is on the lower skirts of Mis-
sionary Ridge and except for a couple of
small spurs is all low on the ridge side,
the preponderance of it being even below
track level. which itself is three feet low
er than track level at the property Gov
ernor Brown rejected. On the creek
side the Cincinnati Southern falls rapid
ly TO the creek. There is strip OF still
more land on the far side Of the creek.
The creek parallels the state road
tracks. It is quite evident, therefore,
that IL the state bought this tract II
would be buying long strip of creek
subject to overfiows that are things OF
81. he rfx that the (rlnCin-
natl Southern could buy every right of
ownership cut the state off from access
10 the strips on either side of the creek,
that even IL the communication were free
~ granted, the state would still have 10
build one or more high bridges at consid-
erable expense to avail itself of the prop
erty on the far bank and that II there is
not sufficient dirt for filling on the Vim
son and other tracts. there would be still
less on the Evans property Moreover,
macadam pike cut through the property,
and a dirt road wanders over 1T. The
macadam pike crosses the creek on an
iron bridge within the limits Of the tract,
and II is very doubtful IL Hamilton coun-
ty would ever consent to abandon IT.
FIGURES CORROBORATES.
Mr.. Evans, who holds the property as
trustee, claims that IL is or feet above
track level at the union depot In Chatta-
nooga. but when asked 10 comment on
the figures quoted yesterday. which show
IL as three feet below the union depot, he
says that he has no authentic figures and
admits that quite possibly he is wrong.
In fact, the figures which have been
quoted to the committee through the
Chattanooga Chamber OF Commerce have
apparently been corroborated- and at least
are undisputed, by today's inspection.
No member OF the committee is unwill-
ing to concede that the Latimore-Vinson-
Baldwin tracts are not all that could be
desired, but then II must be remembered
that Chattanooga is a river city, and that
the same conditions prevail practically all
over the valley in which the city is sit
uated.
The majority Of the committee is better
pleased with the appearance OF the Boyce
property than any other, and were IL not
for the title objections regarding that
tract the committee could reach a decis-
ion out OF hand Immediately. But the
Vinson-LatimoreWa tracts are the
best that have been offered and while
there are objections to them they can be
utilized, and on them, finally, the COM
mittee and the state legislature will very
probably agree when the storm OF politics
has blown over.