Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-13
IL This Fair ?

Cur Richmond contemporaries. fright
oned nv the probabilities and promises OF
the greater Norfolk. are urging the con-
solidatlon Of Richmond and Manchester.
The powerful argument Is used That IL
Norfolk and the towns which are con-
nected with her by every natural tie,
separated by narrow river only. ana al
most In speaking distance from the mouse
tops, should wisely consolidate In one
municipality. our population would AZ
one jump exceed that OF Richmond. ana
Norfolk would be easily the first virginia
city in numbers as she Is already In some
respects not necessary to mention-water,
for example. The pride OF Manchester
and her fear are both appealed to thus
for consolidation, and Norfolk is pre-
scented as fearful example, In one
sense-that Is, an example OF probable
commercial sagacity and progress which
threatens the precedence and glory or
the capital city.
While we recognize the occasion for this
alarm. we do not think II Is quite fair 10
coerce Manchester. She might Afterwards
file a bill for divorce, and claim that she
married under duress. Certainly II our
Richmond brethren resort TO this species
OF argument to influence suburban towns
to come over and augment their city CEN
sus, we are justified In saying to our SUI
burban neighbors: How readily We may
outstrip Richmond and give her second
place in the Commonwe alth by simple
sensible act OF consolidation such as that
recently taken by New York, Brooklyn.
and other corporations. Every advan-
tage that comes to society from unity or
action would thus be attained. just as
economy and simplicity and profit are
the result of business combination, where
legitimate, so Is II In greater degree
with communities. and the people are
the partners or shareholders who get the
dividends from the savings. Richmond
realizes Norfolk's opportunity and thinks
Il so expedent in every respect that the
danger of being eclipsed in population.
with all that implies In commercial SUI
periority and popular estimation. that
the alarm is at once sounded. and Norfolk
is pointed to as sea serpent Wlndihs
its mighty coils around the satellites or
lesser communities until Richmond is
outclassed. Richmond will claim. as
others have. that all is fair In love and
war. and that If Manchester must be
frightened into consolidation. why she
must that Is ALL Anything to beat
Grant" Do our people see the point! Is
1t necessary to elaborate this idea? AS
we have said before. II is not In our
heart 10 caiole or oyer-persuade our peo-
pie to take step contrary to their
wishes even though we are convinced OF
It's advantage. We prefer for them to
move of their own free will: but II Is
our duty 10 hand them the mirror that
they may see themselves as others see
them-Norfolk Landmark
There is good deal Of wisdom and
irony mixed In the foregoing article. and
II would have been quite complete II
the Landmark had urged the people Of
the two cities here to consider well, In
connection with consolidation, whether
the consolidated city should bear the
name Of Richmond or Manchester.
But. seriously speaking, we do not ann
only TO keep ahead of Norfolk, but to
get into the class to which we un-
doubtedly belong. We have been out
ranked by a number Of cities which are
much smaller than Richmond. but which
have annexed enough territory and popu-
,ation TO raise them to the 100000 class.
Richmond belongs to the 10000 class, and
IL she does not "get there" 1t Will
be her own fault Meanwhile we ad-
wise Norfolk and Portsmouth TO proceed
with their consolidation scheme.