Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The AdVi.abiitty Of u large ADprO-
prIRtioa Discussed.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
have read the article Of "Cyis" in
"wednesday mornings Dispatch, and take
issue with him In ms structures upon tue
sums expended on streets.
The first thing 10 recognize is that the
congregating of large number OF people.
with their needed dwellings and buildings
for many uses. into comparatively small
spacp. a, i'm a cit,, creates demands upon the
residents therein beyond and above those
which are made in o village. Ihe-" demands
take the form Of supply Of artificial hight,
and Of water 0f - WcrS, police, fire bri-
gsde. markets. military, care oi the poor,
and care OF the highways, which last must
suit tue demands Of a dense population.
These demands are made I'm the interest of
convenience and comfort, Oi health, Of good
order, ~ the preservation of lie and pro-
pcrtv from the dangers OF fire, and 10
facilitate and rcudcr easier and 10 tighten the
emplOvment- of the people. With the ten
dcncy TO condensation Of population these
demands enlarge faster than the area OF the
city.
Now, il We accept the FOREGOING as true
statement OF the existing condition OF affairs
Wnat course shall wC pursue!
Would it not be wisdom TO adopt such
policy as 1iu best enable the Taxpayer to
bear TINS buIdent
The sources OF taxation may be placed in
two general cllssp, real and personal Only
the realty can engage the attention OF The
Council. and | do claim that the improve
mpnt o. our streets. thus rendering the
realty more deslrable for use and occupancy
(which is hut anOthernamc for yaluaole) Will
enable the taxpayer TO more easily meet the
demands OF the tlX~cOllCct0r. should Tue
demand for an increased reic OF taxation bee
made upon the owner Of $1,000 house SIT
uatcd In one Of The outlying wards, on
which the clty tax is SlS per year, he would
Justly REBEL for he could s1Y While taxed as
q resident Of the city | have none OF the
comforts aud conycnlences Of "a cijy. / have
neither sidewalk. sewer, light, nor water,
but II supplied with these who viii no. say
his home is rendered more desirable by 5000
in yiluc and he will pay the then tax oil $50
with less inconvenience.
In this matter the finished wards Madi-
son and Monroe rs much interested rs
The outlying wards, for IL the rate OF taxa
ton De increased they will be called upon TO
pay il without additional spondius benc-
fits.
Come. "Ciyi,," You say you have served
i'm IN. Council and bali suspect yOu were
member OF tle Finance Committee. Tell
as, have not yOu wtcstled with the budget as
iuUtI 81 Alt~ the Utht 90 z a-tN.' .ttif4if w tt'
ia. only 81 600 incomcs Tell u,, too, was
10, the policy Of the Council regarding
streets. when YOU were member, much like
that Of The householder, who says to himself.
.Niy income this ye2r will be SO much; /
must clothe and feed NY family; school my
children; will spend so much for amuse-
ments; will give 80 much TO the poor, and
do something for the Church. II ! have
ANYTHING lett | VIII have that lCaky roof fixed
aud the house painiedF" II.
So far from Monroe and Madison being
"Gnshed" wards, there are many thorough
fares in improving neighborhoods in them
sadly IN need OF repairs. Broken side
walks can be seen IN numerous drec-
ticns. R0adwayS have been cut into ruts by
wagons and too often decay has taken the
Vlace OF thrift aud tldiness. II a large ap-
preparation for street Improvements he made
the Monroe and Madison-Ward couuciimen
will be able easily 20 SHOW where their share
can be adyautageously expended.
The people have only to let their councils
men know that they want large approprla-
ton for streets and it will be made.