Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-05
Street improvements.

The plan of Major DooiKy seems 10 offer
The basis for q practical solution OF the
street-improvcment problem which has so
long confronted US.
II is not likely that for years to come the
city will be able 10 add very largely to the
street fund from general taxation, and yet
the demand for new streets and for the I'M
provement Of old ones is 80 urgent that II
cannot longer DO disregarded without
giving q check to individual aud public en-
terprise.
mere are hundreds of property-hoiders
here who would cbeerfullv submit to
special tax if they could thereby secure
the improvements they wish. by such
means all OF the great cities OF the West
have been built up and 10 this we. too,
must como at last unless we wish TO check
the city's growth.
Major DooLEY. "a chairman of the Lee
District Committee on Annexation, has
drafted bill which he will this evening
submit TO conference OF his committee
with the City Council Committee on the
same subject, and upon 1t be invites tho
freest discussion. being satisfied, as many
Others are, that he has hit upon
scheme which will afford the money need
ed for the purpose indicated without any
general increase of taxation. IL is. IN brief,
10 tax abu,ting owners for permanent i'm
provements but he provides that this tax
shall fall lightly. In many cities this tax
must be paid in a lump-sum. Here 1t is pro-
vided that il may be paid in the form OF an
annual tax equal TO 9 per cent. upon the
city's investment. Ii you have the means
to discharge the whole debt at once you
can do so if you have not, then you can
nav an annual tax. In favorable condi-
ton Of the money market the city can get
all the money that she needs by the sale OF
her per cent. bonds; and as these bonds
would be for special purpose, and would
be PAYABLE out of special fund which
would be always more than adequate, they
would not be included in the city's bonded
limit.
There is q safeguard provided in the bill
that no matter how many property-owners
may petition for improvements on any
square the work cannot be ordered or the
tax laid without the approval Of the City
Council
We doubt not, however, that the bill
would provo moro acceptable to the gene
raj public IL 1t contained a proviso that III
cases where the property owners have
long borne the burden of contributing to
the general street fund-that is TO say,
have been paying In taxes which have been
expended in other neighborhoods-that
the CITY should bear certain proportion of
the assessment. With such an equalization
feature it would secure friends in quar-
ters where otherwise it may find oppo-
uents.
is the only way out of our difficulty.
To reject IL altogether is to postpone in
definitely many improvements which are
absolutely necessary to the growth and
prosperity of Richmond. Tie general
street fund cannot DO much increased for
years 10 come.
II upon full investigation this plan seems
to meet our wants, we should ask for the
necessary legislation at this session of the
General Assembly. We may not have an
other session for two years; but when 1t
should be put into operation is for the
City Council to order and the Council. we
dare say, will wait for an opportune time.
1t isa plan intended to benefit oil the
unimproved sections of the city, and 1t Will
make annexation easier. Our suburban
friends cannot ask the City Council to do
better by them than it does by its own
residents and property owners. And no.
where would the City Council order per-
manent improvements from this special
fund unless 1t was shown that the owners
of the bulk Of the property in question
approved. and at all times it would 20
ready to hear arguments pro and con.