The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-01
ALWAYS READ TIE TINES
FRIDAY. AUGUST /, 1890.
onJrcT,oNs TO CITY ExTENsIoNiI

OBJECTIONS TO CITY ENTENsioNit
~ far. all the references which THE
TIMES has made TO the proposed extension
Of our corporate limits have been cohiincu
IN tho advantages which would follow from
that step if finally decided upon. There
now remains but one phase of this question:
which we have not discussed namely, the
affections that can be urged against extern
sion on the part OF those who oppose H. ana
certain Instructions In the way oil It's DelhS
carried out, independently Of these ohJec-
tons.
What are the objectionst In the nrst
place. il is not at all unnatural or improper
that the owners Of unimpro'ed SUBURBAN
property should dispute the justice oil eN-
tension IL its general effect, so far as they
are concerned, will be TO impose upon
them the burden Of city taxation without
conterring any counter-balancing advan-
tage excelt so far rs an advantage Is IN
VOWED in the mere act Of being included In
the incorporated area Of the city. This Is
An undoubted advantage III itself, ana one
which the owners Of unimproved SUBURBAN
property would be glad 10 acquire If 1t car
ried along with it no drawback IN the form
Of additional taxation.
There are two courses OF action Whlch
the city might pursue in such case as
this. In the first place. IL might extend It's
limits only upon certain definite lines, that
is. upon lines along which there had been a
III, IA al "A :
the case of Bartonsyille, for instance,or along
which the rapid expansion of the city at
very early date is inevitable, as in the in
stance of the Lee district. or the plan, II
legal might be adopted of retaining the
present county rate of taxation IN
the great majority of the districts
which still remain unimproved. In
such case as this, the owners OF the I'M
improved property would not incur any
damage, and the city would be in position
10 superintend the general system OF streets,
which the disposition to build as soon as II
would exhibit itself, would require to be laid
of. Moreover. the city could begin imposing
the usual rate of taxation as soon as con-
siderable suburban growth justified it,
without having to submit to the delay which
we are now experiencing. TO be included
in the corporate limits. would certainly in
crease the value of all outlying unimproved
property, and the owners of such property
could not object to the increased taxes
which they would haxe to pay on this ac-
count, which would be a distinct advantage
TO the city and NO injury to themselves.
To follow the plan which we referred to|
first, would be. on the whole, decidedly the
most advisable, because there can be mol
sound objection 10 the incorporation of dis
tricts already built up, or which must in
eyitably, in very short time, be covered
with houses. Not TO extend the present
corporate limits to these districts at an
early day, will DE to inflict an eyer-increas-
ing injury upon the larger proportion of our
citizens. Now, it has been asked, why
should we extend the corporation even to
these districts, when the outskirts of the
area already incorporated remain unbullt
upons The answer TO this is obvious.
These vacancies are due, in principal inca
sure, TO the policy which is pursued by our
city legislature with reference to the gene
raj improvement Of our streets. 1t is stated
that there is hardly street in Richmond
which enjoys every advantage in the way
of sewers, water, gas and culyerts up to the
corporate boundaries. This being the case,
and being the case for the reason named, il
has followed very naturally that Richmond
is comparatively slow in advancing the line
Of building even In its present area; and
if the present policy of our city legislature
is TO be pursued indefinitely, it will con-
tinue TO offer an equal degree of obstruction
10 the expansion Of the city hereafter.
There il no justification for this policy. 1t
has done rs much as, if not in reality, more
than, any other influence in our recent cor
porate history, to impede the progress of
Richmond, and to that extent, to inflict
very serious injury upon those of our citi-
zens whose means of renting or purchasing
homes are limited. As if this policy OF re-
ducing the appropriations for the improve
ment of streets, TO the mercst pittance,
speaking comparatively, was not objection
able enough in ITSELF it has long been a GUS
tom Of our city representatives 10 divide this
pittance up between the wards, irrespective
of their needs, whereas it can be seen at
a glance that the only policy that should be
followed is be to devote in greater part
such appropriations as are made, TO the
wards where the demand for improvements
is most urgent. The adoption of different
course constitutes the obstruction in the
way OF the expansion Of the city, 10 which
we referred. Ii is the only obstruction of
serious importance, unfortunately it is one
which public sentiment will insist in time
shall be removed and removed beyond the
prospect Of return.
In conclusion, IL can De said and said
upon just grounds, that there is no tenable
objec ton 10 the extension OF our corporate
limits, at least upon the lines which our
present suburban growth or our assured
suburban growth in the near future sug-
gest as being entirely advisable. Further
more, whatever obstruction in the way Of
this extension now exists, does not rest
upon any substantial basis, but will melt
away a. soon as the censure OF the public
is brought Enthusiastically ".bear upon it,.
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REPUBLICAN COMMITTEES.