The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-09
FINANCE COMMITTEE
STANDS BY 0lO PLAN
Recommends That Original Scheme
for Chambcriayne Avenue Be
Adhered To.
DIFFERENCE IN COST
Bolton Route is Strongly Supported
Although, On Its Face, 1t VIII Be
More Expensive Than Alternate
Recommendation of City Eng ineer.

hours. during which a number of
prominent citizens gave their views
and Information on the subject. the
Finance Committee last night sus-
tanned its former action In regard to
the Chamberlayne Avenue Boulevard,
and referred the resolution to the
Board Of Aldermen. recommending its
adoption. The matter has been be-
fore the officials for some eighteen
months, and few weeks ago was
favorably passed by the Finance Com
mittee. 1t was referred back for fur
Their consideration. IN view of a pro-
posed new plan. which had been for
mulated by the city engineer. but last
night the old resolution was retained
intact. with recommendations.
At the earnest request Of the citi-
zens OF Ginter Park, who were anx-
ious to obtain some suitable inlet to
the city, a plan for the extension of
Chamberlayne Avenue. ultimately to
connect with Broad Street. was formed
and after many months of investiga-
ton and discussion passed by the
Finance Committee. The resolution
as adopted. after other plans had been
proposed and found undesirable, pre-
scribed for a route to be known as
Route c." which was the plan adopt
ed again last night. BY this route
Chamberlayne Avenue. running south
through Ginter Park. was changed
from Its course where 1t diverged
slightly to the west at Graham Road.
and made to run almost directly
south. At the point Of contact with
Shockoe Creek, on Bacon's Quarter
Branch. a viaduct was to be built
and the extended avenue should run
over this across the creek, through
Calhoun Street 80 a point at the in
tersection Of Adams and Leigh Streets
Property Is Secured.
Under the annexation decree, a sum
of money was set aside to provide
for the improvement of this thorough
fare, and a commission appointed by
the Hastings Court to condemn neces-
sary property along the route present
ed their findings as s2s. 900 from Call
houn Street north to Graham Road.
North OF Graham Road. and south OF
Calhoun Street, as far as Leigh Street.
no condemnation of property was
necessary. and sometime ago the
Ginter Park Citizens League asked
that this $4,000 be ordered paid in
order that work on the new road
should begin at once. The resolution
drawn to this effect was favorably
passed by the Finance Committee
| some weeks ago.
This route c was the result OF
plans drawn by James Bolton. OF the
engineering firm of Bolton. Pratt &
Clark OF this city, and upon con-
! alteration OF the estimates of cost
| laid out in these plans City Engineer
Boiling selected another route which
he claimed would be cheaper and
more advisable. The Bolton route
| would cost approximately 100000.
| while the city engineers report figured
approximately 100000. The latter
route would follow Chanberlayne Av
enue as Il Is now located until 1t
reaches shockoe Creek. and there to
build a viaduct and to follow Brook
Avenue to Broad Street
Appeal Fur Original Plan.
Attorney General Pollard. b. w
Wilson and other prominent citizens
of the Northsde made a strong ap-
peal for the original route c. declar-
ing that the condemnation of prop
erty necessary after the avenue had
connected with Brook Avenue would
be enormous, and that even then the
route would not be as desirable since
the vicinity through which travel
would come is not of as high char
acter as the other location. They fur
Their declared that II the committee
would recommend the route c and
bring the avenue to Adams and Leigh
Streets. the task would be finished. for
then a suitable inlet to Broad Street
would be already available.
Mr.. Wilson also said that IN the
event of the favorable action OF the
committee. and the new road should
be brought TO Leigh Street. any of a
number of alternate routes from that
point could be found In case the one
proposed did not seem practical. 1t
was shown In this connection that in
the case of the Brook Avenue route
the right OF way from curb to curb
| in some places was only eighteen feet
and a few inches. which would neces-
state the Wholesale condemnation OF
valuable property, which would
amount to staggering sum Of
money.
Blue prints Of the routes. and tables
OF figures. were presented to the COM
mittee, showing the great difference
in cost OF khe two routes, and Com
missioner Henry Beck, Of the Ad-
ministrative Board. told the commit
tee that in his opinion the figures Of
the City Engineer in regard to prop
| erty values were nearer correct than
those Of Engineer Bolton, but he was
sure Mr.. BollinkS construction figures
| were incorrect. He intimated, also,
that the route was, in his opinion.
the logical course.
| City Attorney Told To Act.
| When the ctttzens OF Gtnter Park,
and others interested. had conclude ed
their case. the committee studied the
advisability Of reaching a hasty con-
clusion in matter involving the ex-
penditure OF such 4 large sum OF mon
ey. but it was recalled that this mat
| ter had already been under discus
sion for eighteen months and that the
decree of annexation. which provided
4 for the condemnation of property
gives the city until Juno Of this year
to complete its plans. after which time
property cannot be taken over without
cost. It was proposed that the city
| attorney be instructed to institute con-
domination proceedings on both routes
to determine definitely just what each
| would cost. but after lengthy argu-
ment It was decided that this action
would require moro time than could
| be safely spared. and the body voted
to send the matter to the Board Of
Aldermen. which meets tonight. and
reCOmm end that II hA nassed