Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-03-06
OUR CITYS EXTENSION.
An Appeal to the Legislature for Ex-
tended Boundary-The Great Ad-
vantages 70 all conce ned

enterprise, II has been found to the inter
est OF all our larger cities and many towns
| 10 unite with their surrounding territory
as means OF mutual benefit aud pro
gress.
, Boston, New York. Philadelphia. the
cities of the west and many smaller towns
have, within few years, extended their
corporate limits to the great advantage OF
their former suburbs and their common
prosperity. While this movement In the
direction Of local self government is wide
| spread, in no instance has desire to re
| turn 10 their former condition been ex
pressed. A stronger verdict Of approval
could not be found
10 our OVID State the city of Baltimore,
Frederick, Hagerstown, Rockville, Cam
| bridge. Chestertown and other towns
recognize the necessity and benefits of
extension. Then why should not Annapo
| lis embrace her natural limits and assert
| her claim TO development of the extra
| ordinary opportunities which her situa
| tiun presents for the growth of trade,
industries aud as place of residenceI
The present movement may be regard
ed either as al extension of the city OF
Annapolis or as the creation of a precinct
cor borough or township of Anne Arun-
del county, having a local government
composed of members chosen by the peo
| pie Of tue incfuded territory.
Included between the Severn aud South
rivers and extending from Thomas Point
10 line drawn at about two miles from
the present city limit, and running from
south to Severn river, we aveAgterritory
which nature seems TO have set apart as
peculiarly endowed and having common
interest. more or less than this area
would weaken the natural dependence
and relation which every part OF this
area owes TO the whole in its common de-
yelopment and prosperity.
Bounded on the east by the Chesapeake
with the magnificent water fronts of the
South river, Annapolis roads and the
Severn, at the nearest point of approach
10 the Eastern Shore. geography Indicates
this region as future terminal point for
the West The elevation and lay of the
land adapts ii admirably to the establish
inent OF manufactures and division into
small homesteads. connected by the roads
and railroads which already annihilate
distance by 1t traversing from end to end.
From the State House to Bay Ridge, the
longest distance from a central point TO
the proposed boundary, is but a pleasant
walk or short dive, and as increased ia
cilities are afforded every part of the
area will become accessible, and distance
as measured by time, be greatly dimin-
ished
There is no point on the Atlantic sea
board which offers greater inducements
Tor investment or possesses greater advan
tages as port or manufacturing location
or place oil residence than the region de
scrlbed and ii only needs to be recng-
nlzed in consolidated form TO command
that respect which it can never receive In
IN its present separated and disjointed |
aspect.
70 appreciate the possibilities of our
future 1T Is only necessary TO imagine |
what must eventually take place, the tx
tension of the Annapolis and Elkriuge |
X X. to Hagerstown, giving us the short |
est line to the West; straight line to |
Washington and Alexandria, the compile |
tiOn Of the Eastern Shore II. r. with its |
point of transit at Thomas Point. and the |
extension of the II. r. at Centrevile to |
Kent Island, and with these concentrated |
Interests who can doubt a resulting &C |
tivity in business and industry. Annapo
lis will become TO. Baltimore and Wash |
ington what Wilmington is to Philadel- |
phia.
The question of taxation is an import |
ant factor In this proposition. 1t is not |
proposed to separate from Anne Arundel /
county except so far as the expenditure |
OF fair proportion of taxes now paid is
to be set aside for the area mentioned
to be expended under local supervision
nor is the territory outside the present |
city limits to pay more than eoonty taxes,
except as they receive The benefits of a
city in the form of streets, lights, police,
ETC.
Philadelphia, which embraces an area
of twenty miles by eight or ten. adopts
a plan OF this nature with entire satisfac-
ton TO the outlying proprieters.
Acareiul examination of this subject will
be necessary to so adjust the scheme of
taxation that it may be acceptable to the
people.
The advantages to be obtained by this
area regarded as one community, are
manifold. Representing large territory
with considerable population we could
command respect and attract attention,
and before Congress and the State could
obtain rights and favors which our scant
showing now preclude. In the extension
of streets, roads and avenues, regard
would be had TO a general plain, giving
an opportunity for the division of prop
erty into building lots Of greater or less
extent, affording comfortable homes for
all classes.
The emancipation of labor from end
less toll has created demand for more
spacious aud comfortable homes. and
with more time at his disposal the labor
ing man desires his own house, at least
little ground for a garden and space for
COW, poultry. aud his dog and Cat. The
proposed extension would greatly aid in
supplying this need
The tyrany of prejudice and habit for
ces Us 10 still regard town or city as a
fortress were people are packed together
for mutual protection. while in fact all
the habits of our day demand free light
and air, and, as far as possible, q union
of country aud city lite. Railroads and
police have rendered this possible and
we should rather lock TO the future than
cling 10 the dead past, The originally I
restricted limits of Annapolis, laid out