The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-20
URGE PURCHASE
OF LAND FOR PARK
Despite Report of Appraisers,
Committee Still Favors Smiths
Hill Location.
NEGROES SHARPLY DIVIDED
Some Leaders of Race Favor
Idea, While Others Oppose
Segregation.
NEGROES SHARPLY DIVIDED

Despite the Recommendation OF,
Hastings Court commission that tho
plan to found a colored park In the
Smiths Hill locality be abandoned. the
subcommittee from tho Committee on
Public buildings. Properties and Utili-
ties which handled the matter. will
appear before tho Finance Committee
on Wednesday night to oppose the re-
lection of the scheme. The subcom-
mittcc is composed Of Alderman
Mitchell. chairman. and Councilrnen
Atkinson and Pollard.
II cannot help feeling that the com
mission. appointed solely for apprais-
ing the property, exceeded it's powers
In recommending that the project be
abandoned" said Alderman Mitchell.
yesterday. Our subcommittee spent
weeks investigating the proposition
and submitted report unanimously
recommending tho csta bli shment OF
park for the use OF colorcd people and
In tho section designated. The same
opinion was held by the full committee
and apparently by both branches of the
Council. which passed the ordinance
directing the acquisition of the needed
property.
COMMITTEE: HAS NOT
CHANGED IT'S VIEWS
Nothing has occurred to cause the
subcommittee to change It's views. and
we intend to appear before the Finance
Committee and urge that the plan be
carried out VIC have received assur-
ences from leading colored citizens that
tho negroes would welcome such a
park. Among the prominent members
OF tho race who indorse tho plan is
John Mitchell. Jr.. editor Of the Planet
He will probably ho present at tho
meeting OF the Finance Committee to
urge tho establishments OF the park.
Il have received letters from tho
keepers or Monroe and CANDLES Hill
Parks commencing the colored park
Idea. Both of them believe that the
establishment OF such n park would
tend to lessen tho low Of colored peo-
pie TO the parks In the white resi-
dental sections whore their presence
in large numbers Is tho cause Of much
omplaint."
sioners appointed by the Hastings
Court and tho subcommittee which
brought tho park sch emo TO tho point
OF the Institution Of condemnation pro-
cecdings promises n lively evening for
tho Finance Committees upon whose
approval or disapprovaI the success or
failure of the scheme depends Tho
ordinance authorizing the purchase OF
the land needed for tho park CON
tained a proviso that tho purchase shall
not be final until approved b. the FL
nance Committee.
The condemnation OF property was
authorized by a Council Joint rcso-
luton passed on January :. The park
site is about two blocks square in area
and Is bounded on the cast by Seventh
Street: on the west by the alley be-
tween Fifth and Sixth Streets; on the
north by Hospital street. and on the
south by Federal Street and Its extern
sion in a straight line 10 seventh
Street
UNDESIRABLE LOCATION.
SAY APPRAISERS
The Hastings Court appointed com
mission. consisting OF T.. \. Catlin, b.
c. Lewis, James +. Sheppard and W. H.
Zimmerman, To appratse the property
that would have To be acquired. After
sove:al conferences and inspections the
commission reported a schedule OF
values awarding s5S.6il TO the prop
erty owners To the report. which was
fled on June s. tho commissioners APP
pended an independent recommended
tlon that the scheme he abandoned. as
| signing these reasons:
IL. The location is undesirable for
such purpose, in that il overlooks un-
slightly dumps and unattractive manu-
featuring plants. which emit a black
and dirty smoke, which often envelops
the surrounding territory.
=. 1t is too remote from the centre
Of the population, which il is Intended
10 benefit.
90. Its topography is such that the
cost Of its upkecp Will be out OF all
proportion to the good that will be
accomplished. The descent is so pre-
cipitous from its southern and western
lines that twill he practically impos-
, ::ibla TO Keep it In fair order. The many
deep gulches now there are mute evil
dcnce OF what may be expected after
very rain.
,, e. The respectable element Of that
, section il, without exception. as far as
we are advised. opposed to this loca-
. tion. believing. as they do. shRt II will
1 nc q resort OF the idle and vicious
3 only.
,, THE cost of grading. filling and ter
racing and the annual outlay are. OF
course. unknown quantities, but they
win he very large we are therefore.
Y forced to the conclusion. as suggested
| by those mostly in interest. that If
t .hese expenditures be put upon shockoe
, Creek and Bacon Quarter Branch
! vastly more benefit will accrue TO the
/ people it is proposed to help than can
. ne derived from park
Q PROMINENT NEGROES
HAVE CHANGED THEIR VIEWS
Alderman Mitchell was moved TO eX
press his surprise yesterday that sew
: eral OF the prominent negroes who in
E the beginning favored the establish
1 menl of the park at this location, and
even went so far as to take the sub
: committee over the grounds with an
idea of lmpresslnE il with its de-
4 STABILITY. have experienced a sudden
i change of heart. and arc now oppos-
/ ing the scheme.
Among the colored people there is
, a sharp division OF opinion as 70 the
j dcsira bility OF establishing in the
II Smiths Hill section. a park designed
i for the exclusive use of negroes. One
i faction which includes many of the
i ministers and social workers. is un-
! alte-ably opposed TO the scheme. be-
lievlng that such Il park would be q
a resort for the vicious and would be
Il Stunned by the respectable elements
TO others OF this faction the draw wing
4 OF race lines in the use of public parks
i is obnoxious.
| For the establishment OF the park
4 il 10 urged that il would provide an at
i tractive open-air breathing space for
section OF the city which, although
i the most dcnsely populated in Rich
mord Is now without park facilities
4 It's establishment appealed TO the Pub
/ IL 20