Gadsden County Times

Street Needed For Expansion By Local Firm
Approve Issuance Of Revenue Bonds To Construct Pool

The Quincy City Commission has deferred action for two weeks on the closing of a half block on Washington Street, following a request from a Quincy Telephone Company spokesman Monday night at a public hearing.

The hearing was held by the city governors after a request by Suber-Edwards & Co. to "close the west half of a block on Washington Street between Cleveland and Graves streets" in order to carry out a needed $75,000-$100,000 expansion program, which would employ about 30 additional persons.

Several prominent Quincy businessmen, farmers and civic leaders attended the hearing, and expressed a desire for the city to close the street because of the economic benefits which would result.

They included Richard J. Gardner, chairman of the Committee of 40; Charlie W. Thomas, Jr., ex-city commissioner appearing as a member of the executive committee of the Quincy Development Commission and as an individual; J. Fisher Williams, president of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce; Douglas Owens, farmer; Tony Shelfer, a property owner of the street in question; J. B. Suber, Gretna mayor; and John Allen Smith, Hardaway farmer.

W. D. Lines, appearing on behalf of the Quincy Telephone Co., asked the commission to defer action on the closing for two weeks— in order to give company officials time to determine any financial losses which could occur, and to work out a mutual agreement for compensation with Suber-Edwards & Co.

Lines also said that the phone company had future plans with which the street closing might interfere. However, he added that all possible efforts would be made to reach a mutual agreement with Suber-Edwards officials.

J. Q. Kelly, a Quincy businessman, also appeared at the hearing and stated that he opposes closing any city street at any time for any purpose.

Gardner, speaking for J. A. Naff and the Suber-Edwards

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