Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-15
The Richmond Of To-Day.

Tho annual message Of the Mayor 70 the City
Council. transmitted yesterday 10 accordance
with the charter and published by Ne this morn
tng. embraces the salient points 10 all OF the 70
ports OF the heads Of departments OF the city
government, with his own comments and recon-
mendstions thereupon.
lis n PAPER In which h condensed In attrac-
alive form and with iaborous care the municipal
history Of Richmond for the past twelve months,
and Is IL. therefore. worthy OF careful study. To
neglect 70 read II Is to refuse 70 DO informed con-
corning cur city goyernment-that government
20 which We pay moro taxes than 70 any other,
and which IN turn provides us with police ana
health officers; furnishes us with water and gas
supplies provides IRE department; constructs
aud keeps ia order our streets, parks, and mar
tets and in a hundred other ways has DAILY con-
ncction with our lives and fortunes- Hoping TO in
terest all the people Of Richmond In Richmonds
affairs, which, Of course are the peoples affairs.
the Mayor has sifted out Of the departmental
reports the matters OF greatest moment, and in
his message presents them for the consideration
OF the City Council and tho public. The time is
ppportune. We are soon 10 vote for members OF
the Board Of Aldermen and Of the Common
Council. and II Il appears that our business has
not been wen managed we can easily make the
lot puts In our own hands. 1t, however, seems
that Richmond is getting along very vol indeed,
and our government continues as ever untainted
By that corruption which Is the disgrace and
burden Of so many American cities
That We have large debt the figures plainly
exhibit; but they also show that II We chose to
auction of our water and gas-wOrks and other
sslea BILE property which we own-the like OF which
IL not owned by all clties-we could extinguish II
entirely, or make IL 20 small as 20 be hot worth
talking about II also appears that the water
md gas-works are paying properties, and there
exists In the community, 80 far as the DlsPAfCH
Knows no considerable sentiment in favor OF
parting with either. Hence We are not surprised
20 ind the Mayor again urging that the city
should own electric-light plant That is the
3ogic Of the situation. II we are 10 furnish light
we should furnish the best light-that which the
aublic wants-and we ought not 10 permit pri-
Sate corporation to bargain with Us 10 DO that
which we can do better and cheaper for our
selves.
on the subject OF the water supply the Mayor
quotes from the report OF Superintendent Boil
aISG to demonstrate that we must cease wasting
city water or proceed 10 add 70 the pumping ca
psclty of the new waier-works. The alternative
81 water-meues or a large appropriation for new
bumps, and II Il not 70 De escapei very mum
longer The waste OF water here in Richmond IL
pstoundingly exravagani.
The annexation o: Leo.' rcle to this city Is re-
ferred to by the Mayor. and he notifies the City
Council that IL is its duty 10 look after that new
territory. The property-owners In question will
pay this years taxes into the treasury OF ki-h-
Inond and will, OF course, expect and be entitled
10 receive as soon as possible the benefits which
induced them TO ask 10 be made part OF this
corporation
The City-Hall building, the Crematory, the
Almshouse and City Hospital. the Street and
Health Departments, the police force and FIRE
Department. the Volunteers, etc. etc, are all
mentioned in the message. Numerous new APP
preparations are recommended. but the Mayor
feiterates his earnest hope that the Council shall
make the city live within Its income lie Is
tight. This IL can do: this II should do, and
whether one looks at the question from the stand
point Of a taxpayer or OF holder OF the city's
obligations, the duty and necessity are equally
apparent
The terseneas and e1piicitDees Of the message
recommend IL TO all readers. There is In 1t no
wasting Of words and no sugar-coating Of I'M
palatable truths IL II clear, clean-cut. busi-
pess-like statement, which is the product OF
much study, and is, therefore, worthy Of great
attention.