The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-09-06

SOuNll Val NAAAlSR1 ~ -hoiiS INV
North Carolina, together with
substantially all the paved
thoroughfares throughout tn e
County; and,
WHEREAS, the water within
this proposed reservoir would
reach a level of within twenty
five feet of the highest point on
Main Street in the City of Hen
Jacksonville. leaving said City
mere island of about ten to fiji
teen blocks square, without means
of outlet, thereby rendering the
remainder of said City property
useless and worthless; and
WHEREAS, the construction
of such a reservoir would destroy
the City and County school sys-
ten in that many of the best
school houses of the COUNTY ly-
ing within the area to be Cover
ed by water, and the City School,
would be so close to the shore
line as to permit the attendance
of only a comparatively few
students; and,
WHEREAS, the assessed valua-
ton of all real property in the
County is approximately $751;
100000, with more than half of
this property so valued lying
within the area contemplated to
be covered by water; and that
the combined principal bonded
debt of said County and City
aggregates about seven million
dollars, which is already an ex-
tremely heavy burden upon the
taxpayers of the entire County;
that the proposed reservoir would
take such a large part of the
property valuation of said Coun-
ty that the tax burden would be
more than doubled. creating an
obligation in bonded debts of
about seven million dollars against
an assessed valuation of real
property of about million
dollars, which would result in an
absolute confiscation of all real
property within the City; that the
property not covered by said lake
within the County would likewise
be damaged so that the remain
ing taxable property within the
County would be sparcely settled
and beyond the power of the
people to meet the obligation of
tax necessarily imposed; and
WHEREAS, this Board has
twice called upon the Tennessee
Valley Authority for a statement
concerning its attitude toward the
construction of such a dam. with
the result that said Authority
issued a public statement TO the
press, a copy of which is hereto
attached; that. thereafter many
developments, such as the con-
struction of school houses, GYM
naslums, roads and bridges, hos
pitfalls and the like, were propos-
ed by interested parties, and upon
learning of such proposal the
Tennessee Valley Authority re-
quested that before the conf
mencement of such construction
the Authority be consulted, so
as to determine whether the pro-
posed reservoir would inundate
the buildings and highways: that
recently this County made effort
to obtain State Sanitorium and
the attitude of this Authority
hindered, if not prohibited, the
location of said Sanitorium in
Henderson County; that more re-
Gently and within the past week
this County made formal applica-
tlon for a sanitary project neces-
sary for the good health of the
community; upon its approval by
the WPA Engineer and Admins
traitor the County was advised
that the work could not go for
ward without permission from the
Tennessee Valley Authority. A
statement concerning the atti-
tude of this Authority, issued
July %, 1885, is also attached.
That this attitude is continuing
to prohibit private capital from
Investing anywhere within the
County, and is a general detri-
ment to the progress and well
being of the community, due to
the fact that no part of the
| County can escape the damage
to result by the construction of
such a huge reservoir, and, in
fact, the construction of such 9
reservoir will destroy Henderson
County and the City of Hender,
sonville as Governmental units OF
the State of North Carolina
| Therefore. be it
RESOLVED, on motion of G
w. Justice, seconded by ]. A
Rusher, that it is the concensu:
of opinion of this Board that the
construction of dam on French
Broad River, as above proposed
= is a detriment to the entire popu
: Ilation of Henderson County; tha
= this Board opposes the construc
! ton of such a dam and likewise
: opposes the attitude of the Tenn
essee Valley Authority in failins
= to make definite and positive
4 statement as to it's future posi-
e ton toward the construction o
: this dam.
t That we do hereby solicit tn,
/ aid of Senators Josiah w. Bale!
? and Robert R. Reynolds and Con
f gresham Zebulon Weaver in pre-
L b -