Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-03

refuse TO unite. there might be ques-
ton In 1870 whether Richmond or Nor
folk was the leading city IN virginia
How would our people IKE TO have ii'ch-
mond ranked as "the second city In Viz
ginia?'
The larger cur population The better IT
viii be Tor our jobbcrs. Country mcr-
chants IKE e. deal with large city
Every drummer likes 20 hc abe 90 speak
Of his city as "a big, thrifty, progressive
''wide-awakc" town.
Yes: We need Manchcster's population
to give us rank In the census tables; we
need hcr people 90 help us build a great
city herc al the fans ~ the James. be
cause they are an intelligent, hard
working. thrifty and r.ucSy people
We need the ground that Man
chester covers in order that Rich
mond may expand In that dife'-
ton In the years 10 come. Every lhoh
Of ground that we take from hcnrico
has to be fough, for Why should VIC
Dee forever wrestling ana bargaining with
The county Tor extensions when here is
=
ccssihle. too And then The odd are mat
II We had Manchester We should hnd th't
Hcnf!co could be more easily piac'l''
when We wished slice or two OF htr TER
ritory: for then Henrico would not nave
the monopoly Of territory needed ior
Richmond's growth.
OF course there IS considerable opPo-
sition ia Manchester % anneAdtloh'
That is natural Annexation wo"iu
,ause a disturbance OF the existing OF
der Of things there AID personal al
vantaecs I'm some cases might have to
be sacrificed to the communityS goo''
And then il is said that Richmond has
an immense debt ana wants Manchester
10 help 10 pay IT., How absurd TINS
idea IS viii be seen az once when we
consider that Richmond's assessed val
nos are S5tq3cg5l. while Manchestcr's
are but ss.0J7 75g. This doen't look as
If vo could shuttle much Of our bur
den upon Manchester. Again u s
said in Manchester that even II tha'
CITY were formed into two wards those
two wards would be utterly at inc
mercy" Of our six, over here on TINS
side Of the river the opponents oil an
ncxation declare that they are airail
Of annexation lest Manchestei's Two
wards should combine with our three
lower wards and control all apWoIria-
tons These Richmond gentlemen also
saw that We would have u divide our
whole street fund with Manchester
either I'm accordance with her needs.
ar IN accordance with "the equal divi-
sion system" and that in either event
Manchester would o. a burden upon Us.
Also that this would mean that our
East ana West-Ends would not gel
the street Improvements that th'y
need.
WIN our Richmond people I'm dealing
with municipal affairs ever become ol-
zens of Richmond instead of citiz'ns.oi
this that. or the other ward Are we
never 10 have any metropoiitanism mere
Are We never 90 cease scramblhs '"'
"our ward: never TO look forward 10
the time when RICHMOND is our first
consideration? Really the annexation OF
Manchester ili+Il i' 'a'
in breaking up this dreadiully mario"
and depressing ward spirit
The truth is there should be NJ"
division of wards in Richmond anyhow
but if Manchester is annexed then II
should certainly be made.
There is no need of hurry in forcing q
decision Of this annexation question.
Let the subject De thoroughly discussed.
Let tho people on both sides Of the
river understand what are the advan-
tages and Disadvantages Of the pro-
posed movement.
OF this one thing we feel quite sure
the agitation Of The question will do
Richmond good. 1t will do good by
putting her businessmen and taxpayers
90 asking: What is to be Richmonds
futuree What are we doing TO advance
her prosperity? whittier are we drift
ing?