The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-06
OFFER T0DED|CATE
five mile STRIP
Owners Will Give Extension for
Monument Avenue if City Will
Annex Along Edges.
CROSS BELT LINE TRACKS
Council Committee Looks With
Favor on Plan, but Makes
No Agreement.
CROSS BELT LINE TRACKS

Property owners to the west of the
city last night appeared before the
Council Committee on Annexation with
proposal TO give to the city, in fee
simple. enough land to extend Monu-
mcnt Avenue flvo miles westward I'm n
straight line. on condition that the
city ann"X strip of land 100 feet
wide on each side of the dedicated
street. The plan presented to the
committee proposes to continue Monu.
ment Avenue to Three Chop Road.
through Roseneath, westvicw, Chan
Siily, Duntreath and other suburbs al
ready improved
The idea of extending this thorough
fare five miles westward, making OF
1t eventually magnificent residential
boulevard. appeared to win the favor
OF the com.nittce. After discussion Of
the features of the proposed gift, the
blue prints of the property concerned
we're referred to the City Attorney
with the request for legal inforrua-
ton as 20 the cty's rights to accept
sdch proposition. The committee
wishes to know. first. whether the city
could accept the dedicated street with
out regard to any anneXation; second,
whether 1t has the power under IN
charter to accept the dedication at all:
and third, whether 1t would not be
advisable to acquire the extension by
special act of tho General Assembly.
TO Draw Line In Sections
This was the only feature of an
neNatfon considered by the committee
'ast night. While all mention OF the
fnneNation referendum was achieved.
the committeeman seemed to agrco
tacitly that any definite drawing or
annexation lines had better be posi-
For while 1t looked as though the
committee was about to proceed with
me line drawing. but Alderman Fuller
intcrposed an objection by asking for
statistical information regarding tho
property in question.
On motion OF Mr.. Fuller the com
mittee finally voted to take up the
line drawing by sections. At the next
meeting. on June I6, the committee
Will decide what property In tho north
east is to be brought within the cor
poratc limits, drawing a tentative lin,
beginning at the river on the east,
circling around 10 the northwest until
1t touches the main limo of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway near High
land Park. The annexation of no
other sections OF outlying territory
will be considered at this meeting
Other meetings, at which the line to
the north and the line to the west AID
the line to the south will be drawn,
ore scheduled to follow rapidly. The
committee has determined to take up
the new boundary line question mo
thodically and systematically. At tho
next meeting, the City Engineer and
the Special Accountant will be present
to give statistics regarding the popu-
lation, drainage. availability for resi-
dencos. and physical conformation OF
property applying for annexation in
the northeast. The Chief OF the FIRE
Department and the Chief Health or
ncer will be on hand to answer ques-
tons regarding fire risks and santa
ton.
Committee Favorable.
The members Of the committee seem
cd to feel that the city oush, 20 ac
cept the gift OF the five miles Of ex-
tended Monument Avenue. even II
special act of the General Assembly
is necessary to make 1t valid.
Practically the only opposition en-
countered came from Councilman
Jones. who declared that the stir. to
ment Avenue ought 10 be Increased
from $50 feet TO one quarter OF
mile, II The city is TO receive revenue
from the annexed property to pay
returns on the expensive improve
ments necessary This was overruIed
ny the rest of the committee. who
pointed out that the opposition of
lienrico County would be stirred deep
ly If the city attempted to grab too
much revenue-paying land. AS the
plan was proposed last night, there
Will be no dissent on the part of the
county
The strip of land. $40 feet wide, will
be given TO the city without other
condition than the annexation of 15o
rect on either side. The property owners
making the gift'jmpose no requirements
or Improvement OF the land annexed.
The charter Of the city provides that
no land shall be taken In except In
compact sections. and in any case, only
land needed for the growth Of the city
in the reasonably near future. The
Interpretation Of the length OF time
implied by "the reasonably near flu
ture" disturbed the committee. It was
on that account OF the special act Of
assembly was recommended
Roseneath Not Included.
The property offered to the city be-
gins Immediately to the west OF Rose
meath. the property OF W. S. Forbes,
and runs west In a direct line with
Monument Avenue to the Three Chop
Road, distance Of between four and