Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-10
COUNCIL IS EXPECTED tn
APPROVE FARM SELECTION
Beiicrcd That Boards Choice q
Ncwstcad Property VIII
BE Affirmed.
FINANCE COMMITTEES TO AC,
Will Meet To-Day to Pass ON RECON-
mcndation In Order That ResoIu.
ton May Go to Aldermen Tues.
day Night.

| Prospects of settling the question of
! the purchase Of city farm bcrors ,bc
present Council goes out of Office, on
september l, are believed to be exceed
| inIlE bright, and, with this end in
! view, special meeting of the Com
! mittee on Finance will be held either
! this afternoon or tonight, the hour
| To be determined this morning.
The committee will receive "A recon-
mendation from the Administrative
Roard that the Newsstand Farm. on the
James River. eight miles below Rich
! mond. which consists of 1,l61 acres.
be acquired ut "A price of s65 an acre,
or total sf s75.465
The Council Committee on Public
buildings, Properties and Utilities has
recommended the purchase of this
same property. and it's recommends
zion was referred to tho Finance Com
mittcc, which in turn called upon the
Administrative Board to make a re-
port For many weeks members Of
the board have been engaged in in
speeding various properties which have
been offered To the city. From the
nrSt thc Newsstand site has been the
faNorttc. the only objection raised TO
II being its cost, which is regarded
III some quarters as excessive /, is
SAID that the owner, j. McPhail, has
spent $4,000 on the property since he
bought IL. ten years ago
COUNCIL WILL HOLD
SPECIAL SESSION
II the Finance Committee approves
'he Selection its recommendation will
80 20 the board or Alderpen. which
meets Tuesday night. a epecial ses-
sion of the Common Council will bc
hcid before the end of the month so
thh' II me ordinance authorizing the
purchase is put on its passage II may
be concurred In before the new Coun
en- comes into office on September
The Endorsement Of the Newste,a
Farm by the Administrative Board was
unanimous, 81 motion in favor Of it's
acquisition being offered yesterday bv
commissioner Hobson and carried
without dissenting voice
Alderman l.. 7. Christian. who is
chairman OF the Public Utilities Com
hittee, is an enthusiastic advocate of
thiS location as city farm
II has every advantage TO make tho
property ideal for the purpose which
Is contemplated. said Major Christian
last night. 1T is on the James River.
"hich means cheap haul. and at the
chd OF ne osborne Turnpike. by which
route II can be reached in less than
haif-hour from the hear, Of ,hc
city. 1t is an out-and-out farm. vet
close enough for the city to SUNNY
IL with current from the municipal
electric plant. If il so desired
FERTILITY OF SOIL
Is FARMS RIG ASSET
The chief attraction. as see it.
is the fertility OF it's soil. 1t is adj
mirably suited for agriculture, which
VIII be far more beneficial for the civ
IMAM 70 inauEuratc some manufacture
ing work 10 he done by persons sent
to the farm. Its value is enhanced by
stand OF growing pine"
The decision Of the Administrative
n"ard was reached largely upon the
suggestion Of W. H. Whitaker. super-
lntcndent of the District of Columbia
reform School. at Occoquan MIR. Whit
takcr was called in by the board in
an advisory capacity. because of his
wlde reputation as an expert
Mr.. Whitaker has extended an in
Nitation 10 members Of the Admits
trative Board and Council to visit the
occoquan farm when the negotiations
Tor the purchase of tho Richmond
larm have been closed. He is anxious
Tor them to inspect the buildings AT
occoquan before starting any improve
mcnts here.