The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-27
FAvORS PURCHASE
Of RICRMONDOOCk
Finance Committee Recon-
mcnds Acquisition by City
Council.
WATER RIGHTS ARE SECURED
City Attorney to Draw Up Con
tracts Assuring Permanent
Supply.
WATER RIGHTS ARE SECURED

After an extended hearing last
night. the Council Committee on
Finance instructed the City Attorney
to prepare Il proper resolution and
report it TO the Common Council next
Monday night for acquisition of the
Richmond dock property east Of Seven
teenth Street, at the agreed price of
$4,000, payment 20 be made In Rloh-
mond city per cent. bonds. With
consent of the present owners. the
bondholders of the William r. Trigg
Company. the contracts Will be so
drawn as to fully protect the city's
rights an to water and water power.
and Mr.. Bemiss. for the bondholders.
agreed to accept those conditions in
the terms OF sale.
Al n former meeting of the Finance
Committee the question mad arisen as
10 the suarantoGs Of water supply for
operation of the dock, and 1t seemed
to be the view of the agents of the
owners that the price quoted was on a
mere real estate basls-thc ground
occupied by the dock from Seventeenth
street to the lock gates. with no con-
tinuing guarantee of water supply
that will make the property available
for the uses for which II is intended.
Mr.. Benss, OF the bondholders COM
mittec, appeared before the Finance
Committee last night reading from
b
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company, which Will be made over
with the property, guaranteeing the
dock owners II supply of water SUN.
cieut for its operation MIR. Bcmiss
also showed that the contract the
present owners have with Warner
Moore & Company for water power
furnished at its plant a, StXteenth
street and the dock is only for such
surplus water a Is not used in the
operation OF the docks. It being OK
planned that 1t was necessary TO have
some waste or spillway, since the
amount OF water used in operation
oil the lock gates would vary.
Suit Is Now Pending.
Assistant City Attorney George
Wayne Anderson, who represented the
Hunton. Ir., attorney Tor the bond
holders. as TO the intent and object Of
"a suit pending in the Law and Equity
Court of the Old Dominion Iron and
Nail Works against tho Chcsape AXE
and Ohio hallway ana the city, tnvoly-
ing the riparian rights of Belle Isle.
Mr. lIunton is counsel FOR the Old DO
rninion Company, and has twice argued
this case. The bill in chancery sets IN
the claim that tho city and railway
have no right TO Withdraw water from
The river at Bosher's Dam. witch !s
not returned TO the river above Belle
Isle. The water supply for the dock
comes from Boshers Dam. By way Of
the New Pump House. the Grants level
canal. the Chesapeake and OHIO basin.
and the GalleEo Mills TO seventeenth
and Dock Streets, where the dock be-
gins. Mr.. Hunton said the city would
he amply protected under i:s contract
with the Chesapeake and Ohio, but
Colonel Anderson seemed doubtful Of
the desirabnity OF paving $4,000 for
the privilege OF entering into law
suit
After prolonged debate in executive
session. the committee was advised
that proper safeguards could be thrown
around tho transaction. and with this
assurance tho purchase OF the prop
crty. was rccomms n1"d. the CITY At
,orncy's Office to prepare tho rnsolu-
ton ana papers In the case TO secure
the city's right beyond all question.
As soon as title passes to the city
steps viii! he taken TO rcht the prop
erty, rebuild the gates. and dredGc out
the dock to uniform depth OF hfteen
feet