456 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



to determine that the pro[)ert\ outside of tliat line vv.is 



really benefited. But they were obliged tO' get it; there was 



no other resource ; so they drew this line, and they foun^l 



when they came to spread the damages over it that tJiat 



line was not wide enough, so they widened it again, ani 



finally the_\ gi»t the mone) corresponding to the aggregat":-* 



damages." 



But this method (U)es not seem to be very cooamendable from 



an\ princijDle of strict justice. The only other method is to go very 



carefully; inter the question how far adjoining properties are likely to 



be benefited l)v the improvement to- be carried on in an area. But 



this method is alsn of a somewhat ])roblematic and tentative 



character. The general experience in London improvement 



schemes seems tO' be that adjoining properties to an improved area 



vary very considerably as to any enhancement of their value, and 



that it is difficult to la\ down an\ general principle. Victoria Street. 



for example, was cut through some bad slums near We.stminster more 



than twenty years ago. but it is onl\ within the last }ear or twt) that 



the slums surrounding it ha\e l)egun to alter in character for the 



better. 



(2) A second difiicult} arises, that if }ou once admit the 

 principle of a betterment rale on property that has been improved b\ 

 a scheme, it is ver\- difficult to oppose logically the claims for special 

 treatment made b\ those who allege that their property has been 

 deteriorated b\ an improvemenl. Take, for example, a case which 

 if of every-day occurrence. .At the edge of a jjoor and low class 

 neighbourhood, which is to be done away with bv the Municipal 

 authority, there ma\ be a pork butcher or small grocer who does a 

 thoTOUghlv thriving trade, especiallv on Saturdav nights, chieflv 

 owing to the character of the neighbourh(r()d on wh'ch his shop 

 adjoins. Clear awa\ that neighbourhood, 'ouiKi eitht-r big ware- 

 houses or high-class shops, and this small trader is ruined. How, if 

 you claim compensation from his neighbours who may ha})pen to be 

 improved, can you refuse compensation to him if he is ruined? J 

 admit that a case like this might occasionally be met b\ the answer 

 that the small grocer should sell his property and gi\e wax to a 

 better class establishment, and that he would get enhanced value for 

 his property. But this does not really> deal satisfactorilv with the 

 matter in all cases. 



(3) Further, there is a very practical diflicult\ as to the 

 date from which such betterment is to be charged, and of the 

 time when the incidence of such betterment rate is to l)e decided. 

 it is obviously necessary not to keep the possibilitv of a betterment 

 charge hanging over the people for an indefinite period, though, at 

 the same time, it might take years before it could be reallv seen 

 whether an improvement to a neighbourhood would benefit adjoin- 

 ing owners or the reverse. As I pointed out before, the improve- 

 ment in the neighbourhood of Victoria Street has taken about 

 twentv vears to make itself appreci:?.b]v felt, so that it would clearlv 



