Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-20
Richmond and Manchester.

There have been many kindly express
Eions from our Virginia exchanges on the
proposed consolidation of Richmond ana
Manchester Almost without exception
they commend the scheme and wish to
see Richmond in the 10000 class OF cities
70 which she really belongs. All OF the
utterances show good feeling for the capi-
tai city; most of them exhibit appreca-
ton OF the Dispatchs efforts in this con-
nection.
Twenty years ago the founder OF the
DISPATCH filled our editorial columns with
bright, argumentative articles showing
that 1t was to the interest of both Rich
mond and Manchester to consolidate.
Manchester was willing, but a few old
pull-backs on prosperity. then living in
Richmond, managed 10 defeat the scheme
by proposing impossible terms. To-day
the great mass OF the people of both
cities are more heartily in favor OF con-
solidation than ever before. and the more
they think about 1t the stronger will
their opinion grow.
1t seems TO the Dispatch that there
ought 70 be no difficulty in arranging
terms between the two cities-that, is to
say, II the conferrees who are TO be ap-
pointed shall be men who really wish to
advance and not retard the scheme. We
cannot be too careful in selecting con-
ferrees. They should be intelligent. clear
headed practical men; men who will not
allow petty personal interests TO stand
in the way OF the general good.
As soon as possible after a consolida-
ton bin is passed by the General Assem-
bly, we want TO see plans laid for building
u great. wide avenue across James river
TO connect Richmond and Manchester; an
avenue laid out upon granite arches SPAN
ming the river; an avenue wide enough to
accommodate half a dozen strcet-car lines
and hundreds OF vehicles, and to carry all
the gas-plpes. water-pipes, and electric
wires that we may need for Bigger Rich
mond" for hundred years 10 come.
Such bridge-avenue viii cost a great
deal Of money. but 1t will need no re-
pairing: once built II will stand forever.
We could take a series OF years to build
II. II could be put up at the rate OF one
arch per annum until 1t was finished, and
30 would not involve us In an expense
greater than We could conveniently bear.
II would be q monument to our union: a
binding tie to consolidation. Then Man.
chester would grow as never before. and
the more Manchester-South Richmond
We should rather say--grew. the greater
would be the prosperity OF the north side.
OF OLD Richmond.
We consider II highly probable that
Richmond and Manchester will CONSOLE
Gate In the near future. With consolida-
lion will come the bridge-avenue. Then.
except for the river scenery that we shall
continue 10 have in passing to and fro,
we Shall hardly know the north side from
the south side.
These are days OF competition, concen-
'ration. and consolidation. Each census
shows Richmond dropping lower and
lower on the list Of great cities: dropping.
not because We are not growing greatly
~ population and wealth, but because
other cities are overreaching us by an
neSing all the towns and villages abou,
thefn- We must DO likewise or consent
70 zee ourselves misunderstood II not mis-
represented In oil future census reports.