Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-15
THURSDAY. .. MAY 10. 1890
Street improvements Not Luxury
but a Necessity.

TAere is no need 10 tell any one with eyes
10 see and ears to hear that Richmond Is %
prosperous and growing city. We nave
the population. the taxable values, the
banking capital. the manufactures, the
jobbing trade. and the general business
that bespeaks thriving community. Year
bv wear new industries are established and
old plants enlarged. This means increase
in the number of employees. and the new
corners need dwelling houses and the pa
tronage they have TO bestOw upon the re-
tailers justifios the opening Of more stores.
Hence we see great activity in building ope-
rations. In the old sections of the city va
cant lots are becoming scarce, and high
prices on one hand and numerous street
car lines on the other have induced many
investors 10 seek building sites in neigh
borhoods which were barren fields five or
ten years ago.
II is beginning 20 be a reproach to the
city that il does not always advance the
line of street-improvements abreast the
progress of private enterprise. Grading,
cuttering, and paving should keep pace
with building. so that those who have IN
vested and those who desire 10 do so may
have due encouragement. Lavish eXpen-
dituTe of municipal money 3 not expected
and is not necessary; but there should be
such steady and liberal appropriations to
streets as will afford to those who are will
ing TO erect houses in unimproycd sections
the guarantee that IN the course of a GER
cain number Of years they will be reached
by good thoroughfares and sewers, and gas
and water pipes.
without q wise and well-settled policy in
this respect the city will suffer.
Richmond can't afford not to make these
appropriations.
Individual enterprise will be stifed if
the Council is unwilling or dnable 10 meet
Il with the assurance that, SO far as pru-
dent management of our finances will per-
nit the city will do her part cheerfully 10
prove that Richmondis appreciative of the
men who prefer to place their money
within our limits rather than in distant
towns.
Some will answer that we are now doing
all that We can do; that we have the City
Hall to build, q large interest account to
meet, and many other pressing demands
upon our Treasury. Wei, admit all this.
Are we not 70 have future? Wal not the
new assessment (whon we fairly begin to
realize from it, relieve Us to q great ex-
tent And if we cannot begin pouring out
money upon the streets now. may we not
formulate some scheme 10 commence at the
earliest practicable moment? May we not
secure plan of improvement which Will
find its full development when present exi-
Eencies are past? Let rs devise scheme
and work up 10 it. Let Us lay the founda-
ton so that when money in excess of cur
rent demands begins TO come into the
Treasury it will be devoted to this pur-
pose.
In the opinion Of many well-informed
persons the Council could have done bet
ter for streets this year than 1t did. Per-
haps so-perhaps not; but where there IS
will there Is a way usually to be found.
Without criticizing any vote cast while the
budget was before the two branches OF the
Council II can hardly be doubted that to
start out nor in the pursuit of a well-or-
dered and permanent scheme for street
improvement Will be vastly to the advan-
tage Of the city and greatly to the en-
couragement of all property-owners, and
especially those in localities which, though
fully taxed, rs yet enjoy but portion OF
the blessings Of municipal government.
There is no boom in Richmond in the
lurid acceptation OF that word, but there is
fine. healthy growth, supported and sus-
tanned by wealth and population; by busi-
ness that will always afford employment
for scores of thousands, and by the conf
dence Of the general public that we are
rapidly nearing greatness.
So believing, let Us prepare for the
future now opening to us, and how can II
be done better than by liberal appropria-
tons from year 10 year 10 keep in repair
old streets, to open up new ones, and to
make handsome thoroughtares, to be lined
with suitable dwellings and business
houses!