Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-07
The Meeting This Evening.

The Norfolk virginian says that II the
views OF the progressive men OF that
city and section prevail the Greater
Norfolk" OF 1900 will have population
OF 100000.
In that event. and should the union or
Richmond and Manchester be defeated
Richmond would probably be the
SECOND city in Virginia" at the begin
ming OF the next century.
We don't blame Norfolk for walking
TO the front" II she can. The policy OF
consolidation and annexation advocated
by the virginian 10 being actively pur-
sued by cities all over the country In
their struggles for place In the census
of 1900. Norfolk and Richmond will both
lose rank II they sit still and do moth
Ing while 90 many Of their rivals are
acquiring adjacent urban and suburban
property.
1t 10 a race for rank: for population;
for consequence. It is not sentimental
idea; at least not chiefly sentimental
idea. For while as a mere matter OF
pride we desire Richmond to hold her
place rs first In the rank Of Virginia
cities; while We want her to maintain
her present place az she does not ad-
vance, In the rank Of American cities,
we could not conscientiously advocate an
nexation II these were the only benefits
expected. No sir, our firm belief Is that
for Richmond to be put into the 100000
class OF cities would be to increase our
Importance as q business centre In the
eyes Of the world, and put money into
our pockets.
With a higher census rank we should
have better business standing, and
might expect TO grow faster and prosper
more In the future than In the past. An
nexation would mean. too, the union OF
the strength. ambitions. and hopes of two
large communities. 1t would make Rich
mond more Of city; would broaden the
horizon Of our people, and lead the way
10 that metropolitanism which is so badly
needed here.
That the question OF the union OF Rich
mond and Manchester Is important there
can be no denying. but 1t Is astounding
10 us TO find how few Of our business
men have give II any consideration.
After the Chamber Of Commerce meet"
Ing this evening. when the subject Is
to be discussed we hope to have better
report than this to make
Let the meeting consider annexation
from the Richmond view. not from the
ward or precinct view. If the scheme
is killed because It is TO the very best
interest Of Richmond to kill IT. we shall
have many regrets but shall not muir
muir. But IL the scheme should be killed
because Of opposition arising TO II from
this. that, or the other ward, we snail
never cease to bemoan the narrowness
and short-sightednes Of our people.
Then we shall grieve nightly. Then In
deed we shall feel the heaviness or the
defeat.
we had expected a good deal Of opposf-
ton from Manchester, but not much from
Richmond. In Manchester there are
nany men well satisfied with present
conditions and who do not wish to DO
disturbed. OF course they will net favor
annexation. but we had hoped that Rfoh-
mond would give Manchester well-nigh
unanimous WelCutuos ~ - oos W ~
There is fear in soma Quartars here that
Manchester. IL united to Richmond. VIII
20 into league with our lower wards
and that the combination will rule big
ger Richmond" To our mind this rear
is exaggerated. If not utterly ioous"'
At any rate we are willing to take the
little risk that we see for the great sood
which we think annexation promises
Besides, as We have said before. Hicn-
mond has outgrown our present warn
arrangement. This city ought 20 nave
more wards The present division ID "n.
equal and unjust 1t was made aoou'
twenty-five years ago. since when uine
great changes have taken place here.
We commend the subject OF annexA'ion
20 the Thoughtful consideration OF tne
business.men's meeting to be held TINS
evening. All that we ask is that those
who are to argue for and those VINO
are to argue against annexation VIII De
Guided by the city view. rather than
the ward yiew--that Is. py the oroao
y,sv rather than the narrow view