The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-29
PROPERTY OWNERS
MUST USE PRECAUTIONS.
Damaged BY Floods Must Raise
Lots To Street Level.
IsK CITY ATTORNEYS ADVICE
Administrative Board Wants To
Know Rights of Those Who Have
Built Over Or Upon Banks OF
Shockoe's Unbridled Depths.

In order to facilitate progress in the
Hearing up of shockoe Creek valley,
|hs Administrative Board yesterday
Hdopted two resolutions of importance.
pne Of the resolutions is in the shape
pr preventive measure and the
Pther seeks information.
A delegation of citizens owning and
Representing owners of property along
he valley, appeared before the boerd.
This same delegation had appeared
before the Mayor and the Finance
Committee. and city officials last sum-
ner, shortly after rho disastrous over
Bow in early August,
They entered the same pleas-that
Fhe city had not done what 1t should
ID relieving the city of the dangers
Eriang by reason Of the existence of
Shockoe Creek.
This delegation embraces Fire
Com missioner w. A Cheatwood. John
ZEE Davis and Rev. John Scott. They
eviewed the situation. and asked i'm
mediate relief from further possible
Manages due to overflow Of the
creek
Must FIJI In Cellars
Commissioner Hirschberg offered a
resolution calling upon all property
owners along the valley, whose build
ngs are below the street grade to
Immediately fill in the cellars or other
Expressions. so that they might be on
he established grade, This. he argued
you'd eliminate much of the POSSIBLE
|ty OF damages TO the houses.
Another resolution calls upon the
pity attorney to advise the board of
he rights exercised by citizens in
building over the creek or upon its
banks, 1t was iutimated that certain
titizens had taken advantage OF city
property in erecting buildings. and the
board seeks to learn the rights of both
he city and the individual In the
premises
Reports from both tho health de-
partment and the building inspector
ire to the effect that the conditions
IL they are call for no drastic action
pn the part OF the city.
The location Of dwelling houses
AlonR the banks of the creek are not
(uch as persons seeking pleasing and
comfortable surroundings would
kelect, it was stated. The neighbor-
hood Is not the most attractive in tho
pity, 1t was further said, and those
rho prefer to live there, must abide
by the consequences.
Matter of Choice"
1T is a matter of choice" said the
building inspector Most Of the resi-
tents OF that locality seem to relish
heir surroundings My department
fannot order the removal Of houses,
Imply because they may need paint
ng or withdrawing, and bear an
lightly appearance My duties are to
-move buildings in dangerous con-
sisicn. There are some owners, | IN
Informed, who have their little all in
ested in the buildings there. II would
pc inhuman on the part Of the city to
Destroy those buildings, when they
re found TO be perfectly safc al
hough not In the best condition from
n aesthetic standpoint"
Work Is progYesS1n on the i'm
brovements 10 the western end Of the
treek. II was urged nv Commits
Homer Beck last year, when appro-
Priations for the improverne were
Feirs received, thar the< Prosper Step
o take was TO complete tho work
rom the upper end. forward 10
lanes River. He gave "a his reasons
hat there would be less opportuni-
Ces for the falling or washing of de-
bris into the creek as the work of
banking and covering progressed
Much Money Needed.
The Administrative Board will
DEEDS many thousands Of dollars for
ne completion Of the work. and IL il
believed the city Council will provide
large portion In the next budget
I'VE cannot do everything at once, "
aid Commissioner Hohson. we are
being importuned from every section
bf the city, After every rain the
citizens want us 10 relieve them OF the
formulated water or mud which ma
uraily settles or Is washed upon the
.dewalks and streets The situation
long Shockoe Creek is an incident -
II was stated at the meeting OF the
board yesterday that no one tlafnaged
by the recent overflow. nor any one
flse. need suffer for food and cloth
ng. II the city. cannot supply the
demand. there are a number or In
titutions whose object in life IT Is To
lid the people in distress, whether
rom an overflow, snow storm. a
anime, or from lack OF work.
The water in the valley has recadad
o about It's normal condition. and
|freet cleaners and health iusnectors
IRE diligently attending to their duties
n the case.