Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-08
CORPORATE LIMITS.
SHOULD THEY BE EXTENDED IN The
NEAR FuTURE'
Same Considerations In Favor; Many
Others Against the Prop"si'ioh-
Public improvements.

TIN, the territorial limits Of Richmond
will have 20 be enlarged in the course OF
few wears does not admit Of doubt.
Tho fact that in 1890 the United States
census viii be taken has suggested to some
that the present year is fitting opportu-
n;tv 20 secure from the General Assembly
Of Virginia such legislation "a will extend
opr limits in the direction and to the extent
desired.
All over the land cities are resornng 10
The cxpedient Of incorporating neighoor-
INC territory with a view OF making pct
t1,T showing in the enumeration OF pupu,
lation in 1890. Few of them have as g9on
right rs Richmond 70 extend their blnltS.
Our CITY has grown so fast IN the last three
or fcur wears that we now have in some OF
Che suburbs a population almost IS dense
rs that within the line. and most OF these
people are very DESTROYS Of having the clty
BRING TO them the advantages OF light, slsi
water. and culverts, and the protection OIL
the police and fire departments.
Is THERE USANIMTY2
Whom II comes to asking the General AS
eernhiy for an extension OF our corPOia,o
limits the first essential IS that the people
OF this city should be UNANIMOUS III sup
port Of the application. II,
The next IS that we should DC anie 10
show that the pcople 20 be annexed favor
81 and would be benefited by u. AS yet
there has been very little discussion OF the
subject though II IS known thai IN Wow Oh
the erection of The Leo monument on inc
Allen lot a movement Is almost certain 70
hc made 10 incorporate at least That al
iunci of the city, and that vii bring mp tho
whole question.
OPPOSITION TO ANNEXATION
cs~.,o ~ tho l,cstnosted men in our city
affairs say that extension Of our territory
al present Is not desirable because we n
ready have so many unimp,ONed suee,S'
and they argue that the oniY ouJect !hc
suburban population can nave IN desiring
to he annexed TO the city is 20 nave theI
s,ryoundinrs bcttered. and If we cannot
do that then the annexation would not ac-
complish the object desired.
When the last extension OF the cOrpO-
rate limits was made the act of Assembly
required that the city of Richmond shouio
assume a share of the county debt IN pro
portion 70 the value OF the proPerly tahcn
from the county and put INTO the city :;
also that the net revenue derived rom
the property annexed should Tor certain
number Of wears hc spent IN city improve
ments in those sections.
Is THIS THE TINE?
II il certain fact that in the course OF
n few wears we will have to have more ter
=
Now. the one question is, Whether this
Is the OppOrtune moment to press inc mat
ter? ,,, r..i;.l,
thing TO annex any portion of our ADJOINING
territory without the means 10 improve H..
On the other hand, II seems 10 he ii pity 10
LET tho opportunity pass of appearing IN the
United States census il figures 10 which
we ere Justly entitled as enumerating our
population. u.....e -.
tending the corporate limits gone IN other
STATES that unless Richmond does as other
cities DO we will find ourselves Lowered he
rank, whereas we are justly emitted 10 ID
elevated. g.,
IL Is however. matter largely financial.
II il not thing 70 be hastily conslueIcu'
and no donbt many of the people living ID
sections of the city which have not yet re-
ceJved their lust share Of improvements
will uot willingly consent 20 see Other
such property annexed and that other pro-
pertv gwen the advantage over theirs, rs
would be the case should the revenues
from the annexed portion be devoted 10
public improvements for several years To
come.
REASONS.
A well-known city official whose opinion
alwavs carries great weight with II SAID
fmpracticable. and not TO he thought or I'M
less the citizens of the suburban territory
would consent for the property proposed
II be improved to be specially taxed Tor
The purpose ON whole system Of pubic
IMPROVEMENTS. said he. needs overhaullng.
4 Clay-Ward alderman said 1t would not
do to to take in more territory until We
lave given to the people within our pres
eut limits good streets, water, and gas A
fine showing i'll the census reports Is very
desirable. but TO obtain i by any, such
movement as this would. he thought, be
much too costly. In the course OF few
years he believed an opportunity would be
presented TO extend our limits upon such
terms and conditions az will be mutually
advantageous to the city and suburbs anG
the county at large, for the county Will
have a great voice in this matter.
CERTAINLY.
Whether annexation Is TO be immediate
or few years oil, 1t is quite certain tha
Richmond must have bigger clotheStor hei
large aud growing body, and the extension
will not only be westward, but eastward
and northward, and II will be OF great value
TO suburban property and give 10 the cltl
in the ewes Of the world that dignity o
numbers to which we are entitled.