Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-14
Lee D,strict and Our suburbs.

Bv an act Of Assembly at its last session
n norton of Henr1co county. west and
northwest of our corporate lines was
formed into special tax district. and the
County Court was authorized to appoint
commissioners In whom was vested the
power 10 levy special tax TO improve
roads, streets, etc. All this has been done,
but the amount OF revenue realized TINS
year is small. Next year, upon the basis
of the new assessment, it will be four or
FIVE times as large.
These county property-ownersa are about
10 take action supplemental to the general
object of this law, and an improvement
company is proposed, the idea being that
any expenditures made by citizens that
would be made by the city il the territory
were in the corporate limits will be repaid
by as when this section is annexed.
This seems reasonable. There can be
hardly any objection TO il If the proposed
improvements are made in accordance with
plans approved by the City Council.
The time is rapidly approaching when
our corporate limits must be extended. III
will be natural for Henrico to resist any
cession of her territory to the city
we believe she always does so-but her
well-informed citizens nevertheless know
that 1t will have to be done. II is only
question of time; of lines; of conditions
as to the improvement of the streets OF the
annexed territory. and as TO Richmond'sas-
sumption of q proper share OF Henrlco's
,raaant dahf
We expect to see the whole subject dis
cussed at the next regular session OF the
General Assembly. If there is an extra
session it will be held to pass upon
a proposition TO settle the debt and
there will be no leisure for the considera-
ton of disputed local questions. Hence
it is not likely that any move can be made
in this direction until December. This will
be early enough. There is no need to rush
into the matter with great haste. Besides
neither the people of Richmond nor those
Of Henrico have given the subject sufh-
cient thought to enable them to say pre-
cisely what territory should or should not
be annexed. When the map of Richmond
and five miles around. which has been pre-
pared for tho Chamber of Commerce, has
been printed, everybody interested in the
extension of our corporate limits will be
able to form An intelligent opinion on the
subject.
One thing, however, is certain-unless
Richmond herself is prepared to improve
the streets of the annexed territory or
some scheme can be devised TO apply the
revenues of the new territory to this pur-
pose for a certain number of years, an
nexation will not be popular in the SUI
burbs.
We wish our public-spirited citizens OF
Richmond and Henrico would think of oil
this and would canvass the entire subject
for the benefit of the general public.
Lee district should. however, take
prompt steps to improve its streets. 1t
ought not to wait for legislative action.
Lee monument may prove bad instead OF
a good advertisement of our enterprise if
we leave il much longer out there the sole
occupant of bleak old field. Very re-
Gently two Virginia newspapers, whose
editors were III the city some weeks ago,
expressed profound surprise that there is
no building going on about the monument.
and that no advance has been made in
identifying the grounds since the statue
was unveiled.
1t does look badly. The general public
does not understand that the monument
grounds are out of-that is. beyond-the
city. All it sees is that here is magnif-
cent granite pedestal surmounted by fine
bronze equestrian statue of LEE; that here
ought to be one of the prettiest sections of
the city--and that there is no sign of en-
terprise observable.