The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-27
ARGUE QUESTION. OF
BRIDGE APPROACHES
Advocates OF Rival Routes Cut
Their Prices to Meet
Competition.
NOW FAR BELOW APPRAISERS
Question Has Been Before City Coun-
Gil for Twenty-Five Months With
out Definite Steps to Relieve Seri.
Gus Traffic Congestion.

LItu6Sb dpPedTcu De1OISs-.hliE touhSi'
Committee on Streets, yesterday after
noon. to submit evidence IN support Of
their claims. A committee room packed
With supporters OF one or the other
route watched the proceedings. which
lasted from Sis o'clock in the after
noon until 1880 o'clock at night.
Tho noteworthy development of the
hearing was now OFFER from owners of
~ operty on Fifteenth and Dock Streets,
submitted through Leroy Brown. pro-
posing to transfer to the city sufficient
property to make Dock street, and Fiji
teenth Street between Dock and Main
Streets. eighty feet wide. at cost of
approxirating $265,00O.
According to estimates compiled
more than year ago by the City Engi-
neer from the assessed valuation OF the
property In question. the cost of ac-
ouirinB the same property offered yes
terday through Mr.. Brown, would have
been I'm excess of 100000. The figures
for the separate parcels that VIII have
Il. be acquired, as submitted to the
committee by Mr.. Brown. arc consid-
erably lower than the allowance made
Tor tho same property by the Hastings
Court condemnation commission, whose
appraisal was rejected by the Council
az excessive
IAMBEKT ARGUES FOR
FOURTEENTH sTHEET ROUTE
George w. Lambert presented the
case for the Fourteenth Street route.
Allowing even for the sudden shrink
age In Fifteenth Street valuations, he
told the committee, the Fourteenth
Street plan was the cheapest. since II
offered siStyfoot approach from
Main Street to the bridge for guar
nntecd price of $4,000. the s,nn to
include paving the Fourteenth Street
block between Main and Cary Streets,
the construction Of sidewalks, and
Joint responsibility with the Southern
Railway Company for the construction
of concrete bridge across the canal,
The committee listened to tho argu-
ment at length. and questioned the
Speakers closely. II voted TO hold an
other public hearing. OH the evening
of November 4. Several citizens, who
desire to be heard. but were prevented
from speaking last night, will be given
m opportunity to address the commit
tee mt the second meeting.
Addressing himself to the Fifteenth
street plan, Mr.. Brown told the com
mittec that James T. Sloan has con-
scented to part with no much OF his
Dock property as Is needed for the
Improvement. for $4,000. The Huat-
!nss Court appraisers allowed him
more than $4,000 for the same prop
erty, He noted reductions I'm ralua-
tions OH other parcels OF property
along the route. as compared with the
values reported by the condemnation
commission.
sEABOARD WOULD SWAP
For CITY PROPERTY
President HarahRn, of the SeRboartl
Ais Line Railway. eaid Mr.. Brown, has
indicated his Willingness to cooperate
with the city In any plan for the i'm
rrovement OF Fifteenth Street, and his
road is prepared to transfer such Of
its holdings on Fifteenth Street as Is
needed for tho Improvement, for s26,-
600. The Seaboard. aaid Mr.. Brown. IS
willing as an alternative plan. to eN-
basis. for the practically abandoned
Gas Works property which the city
owns In the vicinity.
II this exchange Is effected, said Mr..
Brown. all Of the property. needed for
the widening OF Fifteenth and Dock
Streets to eighty feet, except four par
Gels. can be obtained for slSi.o0o. The
fou properties for which nc could not
speak. said Mr.. Brown, were valued by
the Hastings Court appraisers at about
100000. and. in View OF the reductions
on the other properties all along the
line, should be obtained for consid-
erably less.
While the Fourteenth Street plan was
practicable and economical. said the
speaker, II cannot solve the problem OF
congestion The congestion. he said,
could be relieved only by opening UP
a wide thoroughfare along Fourteenth
street and the Dock, thus encouraging
a division of the traffic between Four
tenth and Fifteenth streets, instead of
a concentration into Fourteenth Street
alone.
wRANGLED OVER PROBLEM
FOR TWENTY-FIVE MONTHS
For the Fourteenth Street plan the
case was ably presented by Mr.. Lam
bert, He pointed to the fact that tho
Council and its committees have been
wrestling with the bridge approach
problem for twenty-five months with
out finding solution because of the
absence OF n concrete plan. The Four
teenth Street plan, he insisted. was
still the only concrete one before the
committee. and the most economical.
Briefly described, the plan OF Mr..
Lambert and his associates, is To make
Fourteenth street between Main and
Cary. sixty feet wide by cutting Off
from the property fronting on the east
side OF Fourteenth Street n sufficient
slice to effect the widening. In order
to compensate for this trimming, 1t is
proposed to open up new thirty foot
street. running like Fourteenth. be-
tween Main and Cary Streets. To open
this new street, the plan proposes the
acquisition of two stores fronting on
Main Street between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Streets The properties
trimmed on Fourteenth Street are 10
receive compensating additions in the
rear, and will be given IA rear opening
on tho new street.
TOTAL COST ESTIMATED
TO he NOT OVER s:85,OOO
All of the property owners on Four
teenth street that are affected, 1t is
stated, have consented 10 this plan, and
The sch eme. the committee was assured.
tGn be carried through for $265,0O0.
This would include the cost OF ac-
uuiring the two stores on Main Street
and the opening and paving OF the new
street. as we'll as the reconstruction OF
all buildings which are required TO be
altered.
Eighty-five per cent Of the merchants
iE the immediate community, as we'll as
large majority Of the business men on
the Southsicd. Mr.. Lambert told the
committee, prefer the Fourteenth Street
route as the most direct approach to tho
bridge and as tho one better calculated
IL serve the traffic needs OF that Sec
ton. II. w. Wood reminded the COM
mittec also that certain portions OF the
Fifteenth Street route, during periods
Of high water, become navigable for