Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-16
AN OPEN LETTER TO MAJ. DOOLEY.
Secretary of the Manchester COM
mtttee Submits Some Figures.


mtttee submits Some Figures.
The following letter explains itself and
discusses a subject In which there is
great public interest:
MANCHESTER, VA, May u. 1896
Major James II. Dooley, Richmond. Va:
Dear Sir.-Occupying the position OF
secretary to the Manchester Committee
on Annexation. which committee was ap-
pointed by our Council at the request Of
the Richmond Annexation Committee to
confer with them about the expedlency
OF annexation, I have made bold to ad-
dress you this letter. not in any captious
or acrimonious spirit, but to endeavor to
obtain all possible information. so that
our committee may act intellgently in
this matter. and make proper report
to our Council. And here II may be
well for me TO explain the attitude Of
our committee towards the Richmond
committee. We have made no proposition
TO them Of any character. nor do We ex-
pect to do go. The scheme OF annexation
originated in Richmond. and we shall
await whatever proposition may be made
by the Richmond committee. by whom
we have been very courteously treated.
and report the same 20 our Council, either
ldNOfdDly OF unIdNOIdOly, as ClTCufn-
stances may determine.
was very glad TO read In Sundays
Times your frank and manly dlsavowal
Of any intention to wound our sensibli-
ties by the suppositious comparison made
in your speech before the Chamber OF
Commerce, which / must say was some
what unfortunate In this respect that
taken in connection with what you had
previously spoken. II conveyed to our peo-
pie the impression they formed from IL.
l also thank you In the name OF our
people for the exalted tribute you pay
in your letter to their virtue. manll-
ness and independence. and / desire to
return the compliment to the good peo-
pie of Richmond. amongst whom | num-
Der many friends and acquaintances.
WAS NOT WELL INFORMED.
must take exception. however to what
you actually did say in reference to
your poor neighbor across the river"
and as | am well convinced that you did
not intend TO wilfully misrepresent us. |
conclude that you have only been over
small part of our city yourself, or that
you were very badly informed about our
true condition. Firstly. as to lights-our
streets are lighted with electric-lights
with no suspicion of being discontinued).
and our stores were lighted with incan-
descent electrc-lights for some consider
able time before progressive" Richmond
commenced the use of them. 1t is true
that in our residences we use oil-lamps.
our city possessing no gas plant-an in
stituton in your city for furnishing poor
lights at great profit to your city
government. which profit, being paid by
YOUR own citizens. furnishes another Illus
~ ha 'rnhhinR
to pay Paul.
Secondly--as to water which you
stated we draw from a ''stand-pump'
why. Major. isn't our immense and lofty
in sight Of your beautiful
residence on the other side OF the river,
from which we draw our Water-supply!
Ask any Of your city engineers connect
ed with your Water Department. ana
they will tell you about our water Ca
pacity Certainly, there VIII be no talk OF
water-meters over here for many years,
And you attack our water system, Wheh
your people have been discussing rhe adj
visibility of putting In water-meters D.
cause all cannot get sufficiency OF water.
We have such a supply of water ana
under such pressure that our water-plugs
can throw streams az high as any house
in Richmond. and for mat reason we
have no need of fire-engines. One big ex-
pense saved.
Thjrdly-as TO streets. Well.
confess that they might be i'm
proved: but Mr.. Hutzler very frankly
said in his graceful speech before
the Chamber OF Commerce that yours
are very little better. And, then. having
discouraged our lights. our water, ana
our streets. you dispose OF us In genera
terms by stating that we are IN want
of everything that beautihes, adorhs, or
renders a city attractive" These Things
Major. are matters OF taste, ABOUT "hie"
there can be no discussion. III our CITY
possesses no attraction, IL ~ slhsuiaiH
strange that from the year 1913 10 ue
wear 1892 the time of the last census-ih
a neriod of seventeen years-our city
e,,adr,,nled is population. There is one
thing that should render our city particu-
,ar,v attract,ye-we are a very healthy
reonle our mortuary report for the year
,sat shows n death-rate Of only l5.5 per
I ooo per annum. Can you say as much LOT
soNE FACTS ABOUT RICHMOND.
have been betrayed into writing more
than | intended, preliminary TO the man
object of my letter. which liz 10 ask you
something about the nnanciai condi,'oI,
of YOUR city. You seem TO nave iooheu
verv critically at our Treasurer's report
Have YOU looked as critically at your
own? Now, whilst j differ very materiai's
with you about the true definition OF
revenue. etc. l shall conform win youI
thereof. and, In accordance
Win YOUR idea. present you with state
rnent COMPLIED from the Report OF the
Urea surer OF the City of Richmond Tor
tho fiscal year ending January 81, sso'
which is now before me:
RECEIPTS.
From all sources .............'..' s-'o''-'' ~
Deduct for:
Money borrowed on .oo, ooo "A