The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-21
MAIN Street LINE
SETTLED At LAST
National Bank Of Virginia Build
ing Does Not Encroach on
Public Highway.
DECISION BY JUDGE GRINNAN
Other Property in Block Between
Ninth and Tenth Streets
Is Affected.

Main street, between Ninth ana
Tenth Streets, was declared to be 60 Ia
feet wide in n formal decree entered
By Judge Daniel Grinnan in the Chan
Gerry Court yesterday, In which II is
asserted that the old Bank Of Rich
inond building, NOW occupied by the
National Bank OF Virginia. is not Il
tresnasscr ON the street. It's portico
being within the true street line. The
decree is Il final disposition OF the
suit of Charles b. Is cppler Louis ken
pier, Ellcnorc l<eppler Hook. Josephine
keppicr and Philip Kcpplcr, complain
ants. as owners OF adjoining property
on the north line Of Main Street, be.
tween Ninth and Tenth Streets against
the Bank OF Richmond Onc.) owner
Of the property once known as the
"Ftanewinckcl building. at the north
cast corner of Ninth and Main Streets
Samuel A. Anderson and Munford,
tlunton. Williams * Anderson appear
cd for the Bank of Richmond. and
Mcssrs. George Bryan and a. w Pat
terson for the Kcpplcr interests.
LASTED Long Time.
Thc case has been In progress for
many months, dispositions having been
taken before Eugene C. Niassie. COM
missioner in chancery. in chambers.
Commissioner Massic filed his report
on November l. 1910. and after full
argument Judge Crinnan rendered his
final decree.
The north line of Main Street, be-
tween Seventh and Twelfth, has been
the subject Of much litigation in the
past. and is problem much vcxed
by the fact that old maps and sur
veys made ii century ago do not agree.
The City Engineer has several times
recommended new survey with an
act of Legislature. asserting the true
line OF the street. The case came nm
in connection with improvements at
the First National Bank building he
low Eleventh Street. and was settled
on compromise the bank rccessing the
projecting steps, but retaining its stone
poruco several feet in advance OF the
accepted line of other property OH the
block
Other Cases Noted.
More recently the Stumpf Hotel WAS
erected eighteen inches in the rear OF
what had been the property line. and
the plans having been drawn for the
full depth of the lot as shown by the
deeds the building was found to be
eighteen Inches in the alley In rear,
and the Council by resolution permit
ted 1t 10 remain. 4 similar proceed
ing as that affecting the Bank of
Richmond is pending against the Com
mcrcial ilotel. in Main Street. between
Ninth and Tenth. the steps and portico
OF which project several feet in the
sidewalk 1t is anticipated that the
decision in the bank case Will he taken.
in that also, and that the hotel will
recess its steps so as not to cncroach
further than the bank. but this will
not require the removal of the front
Of the building. M
In the final order. by consent OF at
torncys, the question raised as to an
orerhanging cornice over the. Kcpplct
property was eliminated, the bank nd
hitting that it had no right to pro-
ject over its neighbours iot, and agree
ing to remove the cornice on notice to
do SO from the adjoining property
owner
Judgment for Hank.
as to the main issue, the encroa CHI
mrnt on Main Street. Judge Grinnun
SAYS in his final order: The court
being Of the opinion that the true
width of Main street in the city OF
Richmond. between Ninth ana Tenth
Streets, is Ca Ii feet. and that the de-
PENDANT has not encroachcd with its
building upon the north line of said
Main street. hut, on the contrary Is
within said line. and has the riEhr
to occupy up to the said north line
SO as TO give 1t the full depth of the
lot called for in its deed. the court
doth further adjudgc, order and decree
that The exception to said report OF
Commissioner Massie be overrulcd. and
the said report he confirmed. The hill
OF the compla infants is dismissed and
the defendant Bank of Richmond Is To
recover OF the plaintiffs Its reasonable
costs in this behalf expended"