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February 27, 1923
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<br />prive him of all his railway ~rontag and will greatly diminish the value of his remaining
<br />property. Moreover, this incident~lL~mage will be taken into account by the viewers with the
<br />resulting increase in cost of the property. I doubt if the fi~e~set is much, if any, ttuder
<br />$10,000.00. This will make the total cost of the stable and lot, not including the bridge and
<br />filling about
<br />
<br /> For this reason, I have been further, investigating sites and have found ~a very suit-
<br />able location between Race Ave. and Scott St., near Dinwiddie. This property has a frontage
<br />of eighty nine feet on Race AVe., one hundred and nineteen feet on Scott St. and a depth of
<br />two hundmed and twenty six feet. If the stable is constructed fronting on Race Ave., there
<br />could be no legal objection from property owners under Section 51-B of the Building Code,
<br />only one residence would be involved; namely, the one at the southeast corner of Washington
<br />St. and Race Ave, Wilktns' wood yard occupies the entire north side of the block, and a shop
<br />and a wood yard the south side, excepting the corner residence named above, The street is
<br />therefore non-residential in character and no consent from property owners would be necessary.
<br />Sc far as the general neighborhood is concerned, we have Wi!kine' wood yard and stable opposite
<br />the proposed stable, Duke and Smith's material yard,to the east of it and Price's stable one
<br />block sou~n. As this~table will be kept in excellent condition, I can see no valid objection
<br />to placing it on the site proposed.
<br />
<br /> .I have investigated the possibilities of placing this s~able a~ the incinerator
<br />and find that nearly the entire drill period would be required ~or the men to go to the Armory~
<br />get their uniforms and equipment, Eo to the stables and then return. Moreover, the acquirement
<br />of a site at the incinerator will be a somewhat lengthy process. I believe it would be also
<br />objectionable to have the City stable.and the Grimes Battery stable close ~ogether, ~specially
<br />as white men~nuld be in the Battery stable and colored men in the City stable.
<br />
<br /> The property fronting on Race Ave. has been offezed ~o the City for ~4,300.O0. I
<br />believe that the assessed valuation would ~e somewhere in the neigh~brhood of $3,300,O0 ~o
<br />$3,500.00 and it seems that the offer of $~,500.00 is very reasonable.
<br />
<br /> In view of the fact that the purchase of a site has already been passed on by the
<br /> Finance Committee, it is recommended that I be authorized to of_er Archibald Ogg
<br /> for this property. The Federal Inspector will be in Portsmouth on March 6th and it is extreme-
<br />ly desirable that the matter be definitely settled prior to his arrival.~ _
<br /> T
<br />
<br /> On motion, the recommendation was referred to Finance Committee.
<br />
<br /> · o, good roads, it is
<br /> 3rd. ~If the majorit~ of the Council is in favor of a bond issue ~ ~
<br /> s~q~gested that the attached resolution be passed:
<br />
<br /> "~HEREAS,
<br />and welfare of
<br />
<br /> WHEREAS,
<br />like the
<br />
<br /> the construction of a logical system of good roads is essential to the progress
<br /> the State of Virginia, and
<br />
<br /> such a mystem can be constructed only by a strong centralized State authority
<br />State Highway Commission,
<br />
<br /> BE IT RESOLVED:
<br />
<br /> lsd- That the Council of the City of Portsmouth request our representative in the
<br />House of Delegates and ou~ Senator, to support the bond issue for Scads in every possible w~y.
<br />
<br /> 2nd- That the Council ~eels the greatest confidence in the presen~ Highway Commission
<br />and its able Chairman and calls on the Legislature of the State to give them full and~Unstimted
<br />support.
<br />
<br /> .3rd- That the City M~nager is authorized to spend from'the fund for the traveling
<br />expenses of the Council not to exceed $200.00 for paying ~he e~o~nse o£ ? representative or
<br />representatives of the City of Portsmouth in Richmond to assist in securmng the passage of the
<br />Bill authorizing the bond issue."
<br />
<br /> On motion of Mr. Stewart, the resolution was adopted;
<br />
<br /> ~th, "Permit fees for the removal of sidewalks and street paving amoun~to $1~676.37 and
<br />for repairs to street car rights of way, $181.~1, making a total of $I,85~,28~ Under an exist-
<br />ing ordinance, these fees are returnable to.the appropriations~when authorized by the Council.
<br />It is recommended that an approprSation of $1,858.2~ be ma~e, $500.G0 o~ this. amount,being ap-
<br />propriated to Account ~-B, A-2, $500.00 to ~LB, 0-~, and $858.28 to Account ~-C, C-~.
<br /> On motion, the'recommendation was referred to the Finance Committee.
<br /> 5th. ~The Council has made available immediately for our park work the sum of $15[~000.00
<br />of which $9,500, is required for the contract for tree planting~tc. It now appears ~ha~
<br />but little, if. any, of this mone~ c~n be sxpended b~fore nSxt Fall. It h~s been estimmted
<br />by the Department of Public Servmce that $[7,$~7. wzll be ~eeded for continuing this work
<br />economically, in addition to the $12,000. already appropriated~
<br />
<br /> t am now recommending that I be authorized to use the $12,000 for drainage, elec-
<br />tric l~Ehts, cutting brush, roads and walks~ preparation o£ athletic fields, and benches. Later
<br />on the add2tional appropriations may be asked for the contract work. Immediate action on t~his
<br />request is desired and as it involves no new appropriation; I think the Council may properly
<br />take such action tonight.
<br />
<br /> A memorandum prepared in the office of the Director of Public Service is attadhed.
<br /> On motion of Mr. Esleeck, the recommendation of the Nanager was concurred in, and by
<br /> the following vote:
<br /> Ayes-- Brooks, Esleeck, Hutchins, ~ith, Stewart, Vfhite, g.
<br />
<br />
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