The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-05
APPROVES
BIG PARK FOR FULTON
City May Save Large Sums In Fur
chase OF Thirty-Acrc Tract On
Fulton Hill.
RECOMMEND FEIrIG LAND
May Purchase Site Adjoining Oak
wood Cemetery. But Not For Pro-
posed City Farm--To Board of Al
derYncn For Action.


derInen For Action
After long session OF the
Utilities Committee last night It
| was determined to recommend TO
the City Council o resolution pro-
passing the purchase OF so acres of
land on Fulton Hill, for the es-
tablishment Oh q park.
The cost OF this property win
amount to about $4,000. The as
sistant City Engineer has figured out
that the purchase OF the property will
save the city some money. The pro-
posed site for the park surrounds the
Fulton School property. and will make
of that territory a beautiful park.
overlooking the river and GILES Creek
As well.
If the property is not secured by
the city In the coming years the city
will have to open up streets, and give
to the residents OF that section the
streets to which they NAV be entitled.
| The cost of this, as figured out by the
City Engineers Department will be
something like $4,000. This. it was
generally conceded by the Ctilities
Committee last night, would be the
eventual cost to the CITY.
Assistant City Engineer Taliaferro
drew the plans and Appropriated the
cost. According to the report as sub
mitted by Mr.. Boiling the itemized
statement contains the following fig
ures:
Grading streets, $2l,s79: curbinz
and guttering, s17,4 65: sewers, $i0,-
4s3; water mains. si3.423: gas mains.
$500; making as a total the sum of
$4,000.
Save City Money.
Mr.. Pitcher, of the committee,
showed that this cost would he elini-
mated II the city bought the thirty
acres. because the streets would moi
ing TO Mr.. Pitcher, the city would save
money by buying the thirty acres for
park, and then after the park had
been established. dispose of the prop
erty. which might not be needed. In
this latter transaction, the city would
recover large sum. which would go
toward paying for the original invest
ment
The city engineer agreed that the
purchase of the property would re-
dound to the benefit of the city. He
osiV"Sa NAAhI ny tbE purchase Oh the
property at the sum of $36.0s0 there
would be an additional sum added for
the laying out of the park, the plac-
ing OF water and gas mains and the
construction of roadways through the
park, amounting to about $4,000.
This. added TO the price of the prop
erty would make the total sum about
as much as it will cost the city 10
grade the streets and put Fulton Hill
| in condition
But. with the acceptance OF the
resolution as passed by the commit
tee last night. the city will have the
property. and the people of Fulton
will have a park, and the grading and
possible damages to abutting property
will be avoided.
A subcommittee of the full commit
tee had gone over the ground and
had the assistance of the city engi-
neer. This committee unanimously
recommended the purchase of the en-
tire thirty acres. giving its reasons that
| the city would save money by the ex-
penditure at this time OF a sufficient
sum for the purchase, thereby pre-
venting future expenditures
VI This com naa.see consisted Of Messrs.
JEFF Powers. of Jefferson Ward: p. r.
Pitcher, OF Clay Ward, and Arthur
Nielsen. of Jefferson Ward They went
over the ground fully. and were as
sisted by Assistant City Engineer
Taliaferro, one of the most accurate
men In the office ef the eity-e engineer.
The resolution will go TO the Board
OF Aldermen next Tuesday night, and
by that body will be referred to the
Finance Committee. The Utilities
Committee will urge the adoption of
the resolution as being for the benefit
of the city at large and the people of
Fulton in particular.
Alderman Joseph Powers made the
motion to recommend to Council for
passage. and he intimated that when
the proposition got to the Board of
Aldermen he would do his best for its
passage.
|, BUY FeitIg Property.
The committee also recommended
the purchase or the Jacob Feitig
property. adjoining lakewood Cemetery.
as approved by the Administrative
Board and the city attorney. This
property embraces 1909 acres. A
stream runs through the property
which 10 liable to be polluated by the
city. The owner of the property may
sue the city for this damage TO his
property. and in order to head off any
such contingency. the city attorney
recommends the purchase of the land.
| The cost Is to be not more than 500
600.
At the meeting of the committee,
lit was suggested that the land might
be used as a. city farm" This COM
mittee does not wish such use.
| In order TO head on any such plan
| which the Administrative Board may
shave had in mind. Alderman Christian
moved that the purchase be recon-
mended. with the provision that 1t be
used as an annex to lakewood Gem
etsry. This resolution was adopted.
Messrs. Batkins. Mitchell, Pitcher. Joe
Powers and Christian expressed them
selves as being opposed to the use OF
the property for n city farm.
The committee recommended that
Locust Alley be widcned to Street
sixty -efght feet wide. believing that
the thoroughfare would be eventually
the opening wedge to the distribution
OF Main Street traffic. This resolu-
ticn will he sent to the Board OF Al
dermen next Tuesday night.
The members present were Messrs.