The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-11
City Must Pay SLIP, 900
for Site and 90-Foot
Strip.
lABUTMENTS MAY
MAKE COST HIGHER
Courts Must Determine Owner.
ship, and if Bridge Company
Wins Total Value Will
Reach $12o,ooo-Ready
Now to Erect New
Structure.

Commissioners appointed by the
dustings Court to hear condemnation
proceedings for the acquisition by tho
city OF strip of land across James
River on which to erect new free
bridge on the Mayo Bridge site. reported
70 Judge Witt shortly before o'clock
yesterday that the city must pay sIl2,
600 for the old structure and right OF
way ninety feet wide across the Island
and river The commissioners do not
pass on the contested point as to who
owns the abutnentS at either end, but
assess them at $4,000. The question OF
ownership will later be determined b,
the court. and should they be held to
be the property of the Mayo Land and
Bridge Company. the total cost to the
city will be $4,000.
Value OF Abutments.
The abutment at the north. or Rich
rnond end, Is valued at $500, while tina.
at the south end is valued at $1,000.
Judge witt appointed as the commits.
sioners to value the property Judge
Beverly 7. crump. formerly a member
OF the state Corporation Commission;
James Caakie. n Il. Ancarrow, John H.
Frischkorn and i. B Dunford. The
commissioners held fourteen sessions,
and filed with their report a volume OF
typewritten testimony, together with 4
number Of exhibits and maps.
The assessment of the bridge value in
cludes not only the right of way across
river and Island. and the present struc-
ture with it's piers. but also the fraN-
chise or right TO take toll. The COM
missioners reported that there will oe
no damage to the residue OF the prop
crty OF the Mayo Land and Bridge Com
pany. and that no damage VIII accrue
10 other abutting property owners by
reason of the improvements tie city
contempts1es. provided the new bridge
Is on She ssmc grade as the old The
valuation Includes the trick building
on the Southern side OF Fourteenth
street. adjoining the dock
Wants Pay for Approaches.
Tho Mayo Land and Bridge Company
makes tho contention that 1t is entitled
to be paid for the approaches, includ-
Ing that part of Fourteenth street be-
tween the dock and the bridge proper.
and that portion of Hull Street between
the southern side of the river and tina
canal IL this contention is sustained
by the court. the commissioners report
that 100000 will be just compensation
for all of the property.
IL the court does not allow the con
tentton and the value of $4,000 stands.
the city Will acquire what 1T needs, for
Sl5,5oO less than 1t was offered 20 the
FINANCE Committee some months ago.
Ut that time II was brought out that
In former years the bridge had been
offered for much less money. once to
the city for $4,000 while the ques-
tion was asked by Mr.. Mills and not
answered as 10 whether it was not a
fact that the bridge had once been Of
fered the Richmond Passenger and
Power Company for $4,000. Judge
Witt however. instructed the commits
sioncrs to return the present value OF
the property without regard to former
prices at which 1t had been offered for
sale
Work May Proceed.
Under the law governing such con-
demnation proceedings the city has
thirty days in which 10 appear before
the Hastings Court and take appeal
proceedings. IT may, however, de-
post the money to the credit of the
court. take possession of the prop
ertY at once, and proceed with the
erection OF new bridge without
awaiting final decision from the Vir-
Stnia Supreme Court. 1t has not as
yet been determined whether the city
contest. In any event, 1t can at
once take possession OF the old struc-
Sture and make preparations for the
concrete piers and abutments, for
which plans and specifications and bids
Will be shortly invited the City En-
gincer being now at work on list Of
the preliminary requirements.
Question of Ownership.
z Members OF the Council have en-
pressed some curiosity as to who arc
the chief stockholders of the Mayo
Land and Bridge Company, and it may
arise when the question comes up of
bridge. there having been persistent
rumors for some time past, In fact
since Just before the annexation OF
Manchester. that large blocks of the
stock formerly held in New England
We're purchased BY Richmond people,
in the hope that the annexation ordi-
nance would pass. and that they might
then be In position to sell the old
bridge to the city