The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-23
COMMISSIONERS HEAR
FROM PROPERTY OWNERS
holy Directed to Acquire Site for
Establishment OF PnrIS I'm
COlOrcd District,
PRICE SET FOR MOST OF TRACT
Hefusnl OF Some Holders to Submit
Figures Iins Caused Delay md
Started Condemnation Proceedings.

Commissioners appointed by tho
musings Court TO appr;isc the value
or property required by the city for
the park which it is proposed to cs-
tablish in the colorcd residence dis
trlct held meeting I'm the Office of
inc CITY Attorney yesterday afternoon
ana heard number of tho affected
property owners. The commission is
composed of l.. A. Catlin chairman;
L. c. Lewis james X. Sheppard and
w. H. Zimmermann
Inc property for which negotiations
are under way is about four square
DOCKS In area. 1t is bounded on tho
east by Seventh Street, on the west
by an alley between Fifth and Sixth
streets. on the north by Hospital
Street and on tho south by Federal
street. Owners of about three -rourths
OF tho entire tract have offered TO sell
their holdings to the city for prices
aggrcGating $4,000. The delay and.
In some cases. the absolute refusal of
inc owners OF the remainder Of the
property to submit a price has caused
the city 10 begin proceedings for the
condemnation of the whole tract
The proceedings are being conduct
ed under authority OF Il joint rcsolu-
.ioh recommended by Il subcommittee
from the Council Committee on Public
Buildings. Properties and Utilities and
passed by both branches OF the Coun-
Gil last January. The City Attorney is
given authority under this measure to
acquire the property through the usual
channels.
HEAR OTHER OWNERS
AT MEETING TUESDAY
The commission appointed by tho
tustingS Court met for organization
purposes on May 10. 1t held meetings
on the grounds on May Is and IL and
day In the City Attorneys office TO
hear from property owners and their
representatives. Another meeting Will
be held at o'clock Tuesday after
noon In the Office OF the City Attorney.
AZ which time the following property
owners have been asked to appear:
Walter S. Jackson. John o. Lewis,
Mamie r. Cowardin. ii. G. Redd. Mary
}. Jenkins. Franklin Stearns, Jr, w
IL. Watson. ~ l.. Latham, NJ. r. Will
liams. Mary y. Robertson, II. 3. Jones,
of this city. and the Du Pont Powder
Company. of Wilmington, Del
On the feasibility of establishing n
park designed particularly for the use
OF the colored residents. conflicting
testimony was introduced before the
council committees which had the pro-
ject under consideration. An infiucn-
tial representation of colored citi-
zens embracing ministers and social
workers, advised against establishing
such park on the ground that II
would be patronizcd chiefly by the
roWuy cicinents ana would contribute
10 the police problem Of tho ncighbor-
hoou. 1t was opposed also because
1t involved new application of the
so-callcd "Jim-Crow'' principle, which
was repugnant to the moro progress
sive colOred elements.
In behalf OF the proposed park IT
was urged that Jackson Ward is now
without an opcn-nir breathing place,
and that such a convenience should be
provided rs Il health measure IL for
no other reason. park designed for
colored use II was urged. moreover,
would have the effect of attracting n
large number of colored people who
are driven now to Monroe, CANDLES
Hill and other uptown parks-a cir
cumstance which produces consider
able friction during the summer sea-
SON