Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-30
AILFAVOR ANNEXlNG
What Prominent Citizens Say Of Uniting
Richmond and Manchester.
WOULD DE Of MUTUAL BENEFIT.
This seems to lie the Consensu" OF
OpInion in both Cities-Iiow Con-
soIidntion Would Help the "e"er"A
welfare.

The agitation again OF tne Pue'''"" va
annexing Richmond and Manchester oe-
velops that there Is certainly strong
s-ntlment in favor OF the Consolidation OF
the two cities, provided iair
and equitable plan can be reach-
81 The subject Ia not entirely a
,ow one. but II has not until now been
giving any serious thought In rec mt years
There seems at present to be tendency
on the part of most Of the Large cities TO
reach out and bring under their corporate
pow,-rs all important suburbs, thus CEN
tralizing the interests OF the entire COM
munitIes. IL APPEARS to be with the spirit
Of making one great city Of the two. or
blending their common interests, or set
Ting any petty j.alousies. and bringing
all the people under one municipal roof.
and of making each citizen coequal
member OF the big household that II rs
now proposed TO unite the two cities. In
order TO ascertain tn sentiment OF some
OF the leading citizens of Richmond and
Manchester upon this matter. n Dispatch
reporter yesterday interviewed the fol-
lowing gentlemen upon the subject:
MAYOR TAYLOR'S VIEWS.
Mayor Richard VI. Taylor: l really have
not had time to look into the question Of
annexlng the two cities. but as a gene
raj proposition. would say that
favored it. 1t seems to me that IL could
be successfully brought about. and so as
to rebound TO the best interests OF both
places. | have observed that it IS now
the policy Of nearly all the larger cities
to swe. themselves as much as possible
by taking In their suburbs. | believe
Richmond should be I'm the procession.
She should take Manchester IN on n
fair and honorable basis. giving her what
she deserves. or course Manchester
would have much to gain by coming
In, but all these matters are for the spe
cial committee to consider in formulating
a plan.
MUST PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Colonel a. s. Buford: The proposition
t. indeed a gigantic one. and ii is one
which cannot be hastily acted upon.
There are involved in this annexation
many intricate questions. which make 1t
impossible for me at present to say
whether / would favor the consolidation
or not. As a general proposition | would
say that it would be a good thing, and
| do not see why the annexation could
not be brought about with satisfactory
results to each OF the cities. | have not
given the matter much thought or re
search. and am. therefore, not prepared
TO express an opinion.
ONLY TEMPORARY OBJECTIONS.
Judge George l.. Christian: For the pas.
twenty years ] have been in favor Of
the consolidation of the two corporations
| Of Richmond and Manchester. l can see
| that there are objections which can be
urged on both sides to any scheme look
| ing to carrying this consolidation into
| effect; but | think when any or all Of
| these are maturely considered they Will
| be found TO be only temporary, and that
| the real and permanent interests OF both
| cities will be promoted by consolidation.
| SHOULD ALREADY HAVE BEEN so.
Mr. Arthur b. Clarke. president OF the
! Old Dominion Iron and Nail-Works: The
que stOn Of the annexation Of Manchester
and Richmond has been n live one for
! a great many years. and j know OF no
reason why the matter has not been
| adjusted long ago. 1t is well known
| that the heavy increase in the population
| Of many cities IL effected by absorbing
| tn, smaller cities and towns that grow
up around their borders: for example,
| the city OF London proper does not cover
as much ground as Richmond, nor las
| ii now much more than her population;
but with additions from time to time Of
| Westminster. Southwark. Smthneld. and
other adjacent towns she Is London OF
over 10000 inhabitants. Boston absorbed
CharcstOwn, Dorchester. and other towns.
Many other cities have done likewise.
I am not informed as to the financial
| feature of the case. but | am sure a
satisfactory plan Of consolidating :he
| debt and adjustment OF taxes could be
made. .
The relationship OF the two cities Is
unusually close. Much of the manu-
featuring capital invested in Manchester
is owned in Richmond. and hundreds.
probably thousands, OF her citizens find
their daily employment in these establish
ments, and in the mills. factories. and
commercial institutions located In this
city ! do not see that Richmond Will
derive any benefit from the union. except
TO elevate her TO her proper position
among the cities Of the country. while
Manchester will lose naught in becoming
in name a part of what she is so largely
in fact | would be glad to welcome
our friends to our family household.
1T SEEMS But HUMAN.
Colonel John Il. Cary: believe in the
man and believe in everything that per-
tains to humanity" While l have not
looked into this annexation question at
all, have talked some about 1t, and as
| a proposition In the abstract ! think
am inclined in favor of it. Consolida-
ton OF the two cities would. II appears
TO me. centralize the interests and as
piratlons of the people, and would do
much TO allay any little jealousies
IA tuI nfrYht let i a
in home-home industries of all kinds
and think that the consolidation OF the
two towns would produce good In this
respect at least. Although | favor an
nexatlon in a general way, | cannot say
that | would vote for any specific plan
which might be presented. ! do not yet
know what might be the consequences
of II, and would not like to commit my
self until have had more time to in
vestigate the details Of the question.
some Expressions from Manchester.
These expressions fairly represent the
sentiment of the businessmen Of Rich
mond. Pretty nearly all with whom the
DISPATCH representatives have talked are
in favor OF consolidation, though they
have not given much thought TO the de-
tails. These are left, as Mayor Taylor
well says, TO the committee appointed
to arrange them, and an efficient COM
mittee IL IL.
There seems TO be n much stronger
sentiment in favor of annexation amone
the people OF Manchester than there has
ever been before. Below are given ex-
pressions on the subject from few OF
her citizens:
Mr.. u. L. Pulliam: earnestly favor
consolidation. The two cities are now
practically one All the advantages OF
the present connection remain and are
augmented. and many more gained. Our
business and social relations are very
intimate-just like those Of different parts
of Richmond. We are the same conserva-
tive law-abding people. We are mutual
~ dependent on one another for business,
credit, pleasure, and advancement Man
chester is Rugged in the embrace Of Rich
mond on two sides, and only separated
by the river. Richmond's history IL hers.
Her farthest corporate limit Is about as
near Richmond business centre as Libby
Hill or the Lee monument while the
greater part OF her domain is at Rich
monds business centre. What helps
Richmond and builds her up. helps and
builds up Manchester. Their interests
are accordant. Recognizing these broad.
salient truths. l am strongly In favor OF
annexation; because,
REASONS FOR HIS FAITH.