The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-10-23
OFFICIALS Find
C|N OVNSLOTS
LONG FORGOTTEN.
Ownership Of Valuable Real
Estate Revealed in Nov
ing Offices.
FIRMS SEEKING LEASES.
Commissioners Can Rent or
Sell Property for Busi-
ness Houses.
IfIRMS SEEKING LEASES.

City officials were surprised TO learn
yesterday that the municipality owns
< a number OF valuable building lots
some OF them suitable for the location
Of stores and high grade residences.
The existence OF much of this property
has been forgotten for years.
That the city is much richer III
real estate than anyone suspected was
brought to light during the City Hall
House Cleaning" which resulted when
the records and furniture 0f Clerk Al.
bert ]. kern's office was moved from
the old quarters TO its new location
in the addition TO City Hall In pro.
cess OF construction. ComuisSG:cGer
Ira Smith is seeking TO list all such
properties.
A lot 100 BY 60 feet, suitable for
the erection OF small store building
at Morgantown and East Park aye-
nues, is the property OF the city. East
Park avenue and Morgantown avenue
are both paved streets and the pro-
perty is well located in the business
section OF the East Side. Already sew.
eral persons are seeking to purchase
or rent this lot from the city.
A lot at Fourth street and Benoni
avenue, near the end OF the Fourth
street concrete bridge is the property
3sot, the city, according to Information
in the hands OF Commissioner Smith,
This lot is suitable tor1the slocatioiisot
Z q candy and racket store. An Italian
has applied for lease. A ;confection-
Fary on this lot would draw mucn
trade from the children. attendiL g ths
old Fourth Ward School.
& "A lot 40 by 120 feet on Jefferson
street extension between Hamilton
and Chestnut streets on which the
sold city reservoir was located has In.
creased In value during recent years
and is suitable for residence sites.
n "a fine plot OF ground 260 by 65 feet
between Second and Third streets be.
tween Virginia avenue and the Balti.
more & Ohio Railroad has increased
in value during recent years ana
could be sold to advantage for build.
ing lots. This property while not for.
gotten by the city officials is little
known to the ma jority of the residents
of the city. Members OF the City Board
of Affairs are planning to convert It
into city park. The central location
sof this large tract of land and its
picturesque situation overlooking the
Monongahela River makes II espec.
tally suitable for park purposes.
"A 25 by SO foot lot on Sixth street
off Locust avenue, the former site OF
the old West Fairmont fire station. Ia
NJ ~ al httf1 A.
ling on this lot Is used by the city as
a store house.
"A fine lot on Parks avenue near the
Smith Race Grocery Company belongs
ito the city. II is the site of an old
building used by the city as stor-
age room.
In Chestnut street near jefferson
extension there Is an odd shaped little
plot OF grounl intended when the
street was laid for the site OF pub
lie fountain.
The city wharf property, large
tract on the East side Of the Monon-
bridge, while not used to a great ex.
tent at present, will become immen.
seiy valuable In the future, accord.
ling to city Officials. When the lower
sSlllO ikiFGl udo uecli llupIOftu " SuGlt
an extent with locks and dams as 10
make an all the year water stage Cor
coal sbarges, 1t Is believed that an I'M.
mense amount OF river traffic will ori.
ginate in Fairmont, including great
coal sfiets which will float to gulf ports
anl Intermediate points. The Monon-
gahela River has already been con.
yerted into what is practically canal
by ysgoyernment locks and dams.
Other valuable real estate belong.
ing TO the city and more generally
known to tax payers, includes the
site Of the East Side Fire Depart.
ment, the site OF the city building In
Monroe street, the sites OF the city
reservoir and pumping station on the
tTygarts Valley River and the crema'
Tory property on the Barrackville road.
Which the city is known to have title
tn fee simple, there are hundreds OF
easements and rights Of way leeded to
j the municipality for streets. water
lline, sewer lines and other purposes,
according to the dust.covered docn.
Apts In the oil safe In the clerks
Itmay, be necessary to employ a
torney, the City Commissioners
tabulate and index these val.
papers. The work OF such a per.
city officials say. might reveal
fact that the city owns much val.
Bile property now occupied by priv.
le firms and individuals.
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