The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-04
fFor the pispa,ch.l
Annexation Of Manchester.

Cities want population, md at kicii.
sunonG's present growth she wants It greater
than perhaps at any other time. a rev
hundreds Of people do not make o city, ana
as cities have competing Interests they are
aided by large population. which secures
productive capacity and commercial energy.
: A large city creates for Itself cheap Haf-
let. because large consumers can always
Inv cheapest. London attracts the pro-
s,Icfs OF the world, because considerable
Quantity OF everything the world produces
ia either consumed there or sinds from that
srreat mart arteries OF distribution, at cheap
eat rates OF carriage or freight, 10 other
points OF consumption. Commercial and
political power aud influence Of city is
mainly to be measured by its population.
Natural advantages of location as to nayiga-
tion and health must be taken into the cal
culation; but population is indispensable.
A greatly populous city will overcome even
natural disadvantages IN developing It's ca
pacity for production and wealth. Even
wealth will not answer for city Without
population. The bone and muscle OF pop
ula,ion are really the true wealth OF city.
Il is their continued capacity OF duplicating
productions and manufactures that secures
The wealth ard power OF q city. Without
and shrinks into state OF uselessness.
Then, II these views are true, why should
not Richmond avail herself OF whatever or-
nor,nniiy is afforded her to increase her
nonulation? It may be said for the reasons
above cited, she has practically the advan-
taces OF the population OF Manchester as It
is: and this is to some extent true. The
lines or commercial and industrial dis.
association OF Manchester from Richmond
are TO great extent impercep:ible to the
world. and the influence OF Manchester's
populatlon Is practically added to Richmond
in her business status, because OF the proX-
unity of Manchester and owing to the fact
the greater abSorbs the less. This fact alone
makes it to the interest OF Richmond-if
even no other cxisted-to care for, promote,
and every way secure for that city the best
possible conditions Of prosperity with her
self: for baing practically part OF Rich
mopd. how can she act wisely unless she
secure the health, energy. and comfort OF
every one OF her members, Manchester being
in truth one. We may imagine Manchester
aseparate community, that is all; for, for all
the interests that encourage population or
city, Mancbestei'sG lin pr oport!on to her num-
bers) is as necessary TO Richmond as hers Is
TO herself Mere territory is not question
OF importance generally; but In this Case
the annexation of Manchester to Richmond
becomes matter Of vast utility, as serving
to settle conflicting interests Of the riparian
rights Of the two cities.
The question We have undertaken to dis.
cuss is one OF great importance to Rich
mopd az well az Manchester; and while 1t Is
deserving and susceptible OF compreben-
siye treatise, for pract cal purposes ut this
time we must cDntine our remarks to few
prominent considerations. The writer IS
consderabl taxpayer in the city OF Rich-
,nond, and Is neither bondhOlder or land
owner OF Manchester, and he mentions this
because people are too apt 10 look at the
dollars and cents that appear to be involved
in such proposition as annexation, since
it is usually esteemed Of great advantage to
marry wealth. And while we shall under
take to show that even as Il money trans
action Richmond would gain by the union,
we shall continue the line OF our remarks
as tending to show the general relations and
interests OF population.
The necessities vi a city are great, and
that necessity is the mother OF invention "
has grown into M adagc. The great wants
OF a vast metropolis (not only necessary
wants, but also those OF social and even
sumptuous character) compel industry and
the indolcnt intoa quckcned pace; and the
results OF the greatest possible production
of a city is owing largely to the impending
necessities Of it's people, and to their emu
latiOn in the enjoymentS IT social life from
being brought into intimate relations and
contact.
Besides this, the necessary cost OF main;
tanning Il city government, under the best;
socinl conditions OF population, are les,
sened proporiionately as the numbers are
increased; and thus the result OF the an-
ncXation OF Manchester would be the means
OF some proportiouately less expense of our
CITY government TO each OF us from the ope-
ration OF cularging our population by the
addition OF the population OF Manchester
TO ours, and just so Manchester would be
benefited too. We, do not desire 10 mag
Nifty results, but il our premises are right
some beneficial effect is in this way incvita-
ble-littlc or much, 1t Is beyond qucS-
tion truc-and as it is 10 continue
for all time. it becomes a natter OF wonder
ful import. For, like compromising OF in
terest on money, it magnltes It's dimensions
amazingly, and should not he disregarded,
though appearing OF little moment just now.
The leople OF Manchester area fair average
populaii lion, compared with any community,
and would not cost Richmond rs much 10
govern them--as part OF herseii-aS they
now do Manchester, for the reason just
cited. Mancheste's people have undertaken
improvements, and grazing OF their streets,
that have subjected them to hardshipS to
meet their taxes, and thus they have been
forced to practice economy and industry.
that only the better qualities them for Use
full citizens Of Richmond. These eXpend-
lures are not lost, for they will in time be of
great advantage, and are but part OF Il work
that would ultimately be needed, and must
be ere long but part OF the general system
OF grading Of Richmond. H.
These views would indeed appear useless
If we would but consider the uniform ten
dency Of cities to absorb their suburban
portion OF them that are located on oppo-
site banks OF river are but the more obvi-
Gus. First, because population begins on
the margin Of navigation, and can only en-
tend back from the stream or up and down
1t, so that its centre cannot be focus,
while population, for reasons OF economy at
least should have centre at liz greatest point
0fc0mmerce and navigation. Secondly, be-
cause the interests or navigation and ship
ping and cortrol OF water power and water
supply should be under one government.
Such is the condition Of all the great cities Of
the world, whatever was their beginning.
London city, within the Roman walls, had a
population OF between $4,000 and 10000 !;
the old city without the Roman walls be-
tween 10000 and $4,000. But that city las
now swallowed up many cities, towns, viii
lagos, and separate Jurisdictions on both
sides OF the river Thames. Four com.
sx,oou,o,lfh, nr ~ ha Mil