The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-18

- ~ AA-AS - ~ 4ooss
II EXTENSION OF THE CRY LIaITs.-Yester
day morning the Senate and House com.
mittees to whom the subject had been re-
ferred met in the Senate chamber to hear
the discussion of the question ofthe .exten.
sion of the limits of the city of Richmond.
On the side of the extension, Mcssrs.
Lyons, Ould Of the Senate, and Lee
and Evans of the House of Delegates, were
present. The anti-extension party was re-
presented by Colonel Sherwin McRae, Mr.
John B. Young of Henrico, and Mr.. White
the delegate from Henrico. There were
also present Mr.. Gill, City Engineer and
General W. II. Richardson, John B. Cren-
shaw, William Christian, and r. 81. Whit
lock Of Henrico, who were in favor OF the
extension, and Messrs, ]. b. keesee. OF
Richmond, and Abner W. Richardson OF
Henrico, both opposed to the extension
Colonel McRae made some explanations
of remarks submitted at the last discus
sion. Before opening the discussion some
Of the gentlemen gave statements IN an
swer to questions propounded to them.
Mr.. Gill, city engineer, being examined
before the committee, stated that the pre-
sent boundaries of the city embraced an
area Of $500 acres, and that the proposed
extension would add about 500 acres.
He estimated the increased population at
5000. The present line divided houses
and lots, and to obviate this the proposed
| line was made to run along streets. AT
present there are fifty miles of streets in
the city, all of which were improyed-a
great part paved, and nearly oil with paved
sidewalks.
Mr.. William Christian, of Henrico,
thought the value of the property in
cluded in the extension would be greatly
enhanced, and that many citizens of Union
Hill favored the extension, although he
believed majority were opposed to it.
Mr.. R. II. Whitlock, Of Henrico, thought
the same property would be enhanced
! twenty-five per cent. in value, but could
not say what was the opinion of a majority
of the people in regard to the extension.
Mr.. Abner W. Richardson, of Henrico,
said that Mr.. Whitlock was the only citi-
zen in his neighborhood whom he knew to
favor the extension. Mr.. Richardson was
| in the commission business in Richmond,
and paid half his commission in city taxes.
He thought large majority of the resi-
dents of Church and Union Hills did busi-
ness in the city, and that if the corporate
limits were extended they would move out
and build another town outside, and con-
tinue to do so as often as the limits were
extended. This is the most determined
and unlimited aversion to city limits we
have ever known. When our western rail-
road connections are completed the city
will grow so rapidly that there will be me-
cessarily another extension Of limits within
decade and our friends who are in this
intractable mood had better ut once cross
the Chickahominy, and entrcnch them
selves there against the advancing lines OF
Richmond. Two moves are worse than a
fire, and it will be economy to settle the
matter by such a move as will save the
trouble Of second. But then they are
good citizens, and we hope they will
as we'll as for Richmond.
Mr.. Lyons then addressed the committee
until near the hour for the meeting of the
Senate in favor of extending the limits OF
the city. He argued to show that Henrico
was dependent on Richmond, and was inte-
rested in her extension and prosperity; that
the lands in Henrico would be enhanced
by the extension of the city and the i'm
/ provcment of what were now the suburbs
of the city. No man in Henrico would say
that it was better to have small city than
q large one in Richmond; and this night,
did the people of Henrico apprehend the
destruction of Richmond, they could not
sleep in their beds. He showed how large
towns were spreading at the North-how
lots were laid out there far away from the
centre, streets marked and curbstones
laid, and houses began to go up, and the
street cars were run out for miles,
giving the citizens resident ten miles
or more from their places OF business
the advantage of reaching their Offices
and stores at the earliest business hours,
moving to or fro at the nominal charge OF
five to ten cents. But here the city must
be trammelled within the limits that had
existed so long, and the roads OF Henrlco
which entered into the city were, many oil
them, impossible. The opposition was not
for the benefit of the people, but for the
personal interests of men holding offices.
A citizen who last year was in favor of the
extension was now justice of the peace,
and was opposed to it. The constable
could not lose his little commission-they y
were, in fact, protesting, not against the
extension of the limits, but against the
abolition of their Offices. So with persons
who were crowding into the city to do busi-
pess, and sleeping outside to avoid taxes OF
the CITY which afforded them the oppor-
tunity to conduct their pursuits. Should
such opposition weigh feather in the deci-
| sion of the question:
Mr.. LYONS entered at length upon the
discussion Of the prospects of the city and
the necessity of the improvement OF the
adjacent country to accommodate the
wants of the city population. The ex-
! tension of the limits was necessary to this
end. He spoke of the high rents in this
city now, and presented the extension, the
LAYING out of lots and streets, and building
houses in what is now the country, and the
extension Of the city railroad as the means
of reducing rents and increasing the COM
fort, convenience, and economy OF busI-
ness men and the mechanics.
Mr.. Lyons declared himself opposed to
making the population brought into the
CITY by the extension liable for a part OF
the city debt. He would not tax them for
that; but they ought to bear their part OF
the ordinary expenses Of the city govern.
ment. He would be opposed to any bill
that had not this provision.
Colonel McRae explained his constitu.
tional objection to the extension Of the
limits: which was that the Constitution
had apportioned representation and given
to Henrico two representatives, and the
extension would "change the basis Of re-
presentation"-i. e., deprive her Of her full