The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-10

,oar,yot nIacc. Such things may be well
anougb II Won have the money 10 spare. but
,o spend your money thus. and then to say
Won have none 10 spare for streets, u Ike
deriving man Of his daliy iood, In oruer
40 huv him diamond hre9sipin. Ii pleases
mo ,o soe that the public shows signs Of
anureciating the Importance Of the subject.
p. The Chamber Of Commerce invited me
IN saw how thought public opinion could
be hest utilized in advancing the Interests,
Of this city.
BEFORE Won 20. like Don puiXote, riding
about the world in search of new adyen-
lures. bring public opinion To bear upon
This home matter, which is entirely under
our own control. and which lies al the iounda-
tion of the growth and extension Of every
city.
1T is twenty-ihree years since the Legis-
la,ure extended the city limits. Walk up
Franklin. your most fashionable street.
where property il worth $500 per front foot.
Beyond Harrison street there IS no gutter,
no curbstone, no pavement. Nhen Mr.. 10.
| w Powers built his fine residence which
il an ornament 10 the street, and credit to
his courage and enterprise-he could not,
with all his influence. get The city 10 give
him "A cuyeri. lie had 10 advance the
money 10 build it. This was allowed as IA
".
..Tbrough the SHOWS and lee of winter he
must trudge over the muddy sidewalk; and
today he fiocks there 10y himself, because
others. who would gladly be his neighDors,
will not build fine houses on country road
side.
principal street and because ! have no pro-
| perry ON the upper end of IT. But the same
| is true of nearly every street IN your su-
burbs.
..Floyd street il an exception, and proves
what | say. owing, perhaps, to some III
side influences, Floyd avenue has been I'M
proved nearly up 10 the corporation line.
| / ook at the result. Thirty-seyen handsome
brick houses were started there in twelve
months.
NO such suburban improvement has
ever been seen in Richmond. II other
streets were similarly improved, you Would
have them quickly built up. The people
want TO spread out, but they are retarded,
depressed and driven back by lack oi street
facilities.
| THE TIMES. in its excellent editorial Of
sunday. suggests that we induce industrial
plants to come by giving them land, &c.
.If such policy be adopted the land
must be gwen in the suburbs. Land IN the
heart Of Richmond cannot be given, uc-
cause il is too valuable. and because IL Is
already occupied. II YOU offer it in the
suburbs. the manufacturer VIII ask what
about water. sc.
He will lind that you are Offering him
land where wise City Council debars him
from the use Of the cty's water.
"a Philadelphia house approached me
last fall 70 buy a lot on BOwo street. near The
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad. to establish an industrial plant.
The price was satisfactory, the location
exactly suited 10 their wants. but they
could get no water. ] lost the sale: me
city lost the industry. What do you think
that party thought of Richmond rs pro-
ercssiyo. manufacturing city, Manuiac-
lures cannot ne carried on without wafer
Before YOU bring people 10 locate manuiac-
lures. would il not be well 20 Doe able 10 as
sure them that they can have water and
other facilities. which are usually given u
taxpayers in other cities:
This question of streets is at the fOunda-
| ton. Every progressive city recognizes
that fact. Mr.. Anderson asks if solve the
question. Certainly not. il rests upon the
City Council 10 do that.
at j. 10 be done by recognizing the jim.
portance of street Improvements; by glNin-
! Them a fair share Of the city revenues. ard
not by pursuing the disastrous policy Of
! first providing for every thing else, and
giving the streets the begSarly piiianc,
! which remains.
"Rathcr than postpone the growth OF tAc
| city. would Dee willing t0 have tie charter
amended, So as t0 allow a special loan 10 ue
made. say of s2jD,0OO per annum for ten
years. so Investment could DE made
which would yield larger per cent. to TIC
| CITY and 10 fine public.