Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-08

ing plants In this city, and yet we do
not think how lit;lc area we have avail
able for such hpurposos,
rake the river front from the Tredegar
to Rockets. there are but n few sites for
manufacturing plants. Besides these few
we must seek the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway. up Seventeenth street and can
find few there; and few. II any, else
where within the limits Of the city.
But look at the curve in our noble river
which makes the city embrace almost
within It's arms between Hollywood and
Rockets the low-lylng plateau Of land
on the Manchester side. with long water
front where manufactures can be estab-
iiShed using water. steam, or electricity,
and from whose doors the railroads can
take manufactured goods TO all parts Of
the country and bring raw material with
IN their walls thus saving draylge and
handling
If Richmond ever becomes a great city
this inside surface within the horseshoe
bend on the other side IL the river must
become potent factor in its accomplish
mentS Besides, there Is a strip OF land
with wharfage facilities for trade on the
Manchester side. which seems indispensa-
BILE TO our city I'm connection with the in
creased trade. With the increase OF manu-
features come n manufacturing popula-
ton. who must have homes at low rentals
or modest prices. and accessible to their
plac OF work. Where are these homes
TO be found?
IMPEDIMENT TO PROGRESS.
Look at acknowledging between the
deep ravines on the north and James
river on the south. and narrow stii
more in this area by the black belt.
which extends from Church Hiil TO the
ton n. nrGg I.ptul
street. This blackbc!t Is even greater
impedim MT TO the path OF progress
northward than these ravlnos. our space
is. therefore, limited TO the narrower area
between Leigh street and the river. But
think OF the prices which prevail on
Clay. Marshall. Broad. Grace. Franklin.
Main, Cary, and Canal streets and the
cross streets-lots ranging from 20 10
$50 per foot; rents from $3.50 TO N'oo
per housc per year To go out iar enough
10 find houses and lots ranging IN price
| from $50 to 1880. and rentals from - TO
$l2 per month. the poor mechanic or
| ealaried man must pass beyond the city
limits on the west and out TO the north
cast part OF Church Hll or Fulton, and
AZ least two miles from his business
while Just across the river. In easy Walk
Ing distance of his business ana accessible
10 two lines of stTeet-cars, and "ithlh
one or one and a quarter miles from inc
City Hall. the workngman finds home :
coming within the conditions Of price OF
rental named above.
The prices Of land for manufacturing
nlants. from 81 to si5 per front foot. ac-
cording to locality. in Manchester. as
compared to the range from SO TO $40
per front foot In Richmond. leaves some
thing with which TO build the houses ana
supply the machinery on the oth slue
Of the river while the prices of the laha
in Richmond take up much of the money
which could go into the manufacturing
plants. A.,
There Is also a tract of land in Man
chester Of about sixty acres lying on
the Atlantic Coast Line free Tor manu-
featuring sites. with land lying all around
for the operatives at from y 10 % PEI
front foot At least one manufacturing
establishment has gone from Rlchmohu
,bcra to get the benefit Of the induce
ments offered.
with CHEAP land on river front or
railroad and cheap ren's 10 offer new
impetus will be given 10 our manuiac-
lures. population will increase: ana soon
the taxable values of Manchester VIII
become large enough to furnish OASIS
for taxes to pay for the needed improve
ments of streets. construction of sewers,
WILL PUT UP VALUES.
I believe. and in this / am supported
nv the opinion OF some of our best real
estate agents. that the legal act Of union
Of the two cities before any improve
ments shall have been added VIII ope-
rate 10 put up the market value OF Man
chester real estate from 10 per cent. TO
% per cent. ! believe that many people
will seek homes there then who would
not co there now. and many people VIII
invest in Manchester If 1T is called klch-
mond who would not do so otherwise.
The time Is surely coming. and ] trust
IL is not far distant, when our vacant
houses will be filled, our trade VIII grow,
and the increased number or our people
Will seek homes across the river Ihey
are now compelled. for cheapness, to
pierce the black belt. and seek the happy
fields beyond. called Barton Heights or
Chestnut Hill. or TO go to the ends OF the
| city, east or west. al a loss OF time ana
| cost of street-car fare going TO ana from
| their work.
We lose much of our best population IN
this way Give US Manchester, and the
tide will be turned southwark instead
of north or west or east, beyond our
limits and beyond the reach of our tax
assessor.
There is hardly a house in Manchester
over four squares from street-cars, and
the average distance is not more than two
squares.
In seeking annexation Of territory, as
we must sooner or later Is IL best TO get
an area bailt up with houses occupied
by n sober and industrious people, with
streets curbed, guttered, and some OF
them paved better Than our own, or TO
add waste fields with no houses and no
streets, except on maps-the former nearer
the heart OF our city by more than a
mile than the latter could be? If we
wish 10 secure Investment of capital N
manufacturing or other enterprises here
We must seek more available ground for
sites and tor homes for the operatives
and at cheaper rates than we can now
supply To these conditions We must
add immediate proximity 10 water or
railroad or both. We cannot do without
these essentials. Where do we find
them. ana all OF ...vm combined? Only
right across the river in the limits Of our
sister cit..
LANGUISHING FOR TRADE.
There is a part of our city from Four
tsenth street eastward languishing for
want of trade. Our city has lett IL in It's
march westward. and it needs revival.
We do not want Richmond like an apple
rotten at the core.
Union with Manchester, the making free
the only tOll-bridge. the building of a
stone bridge for all time revivify the
moribund centre and add taxable values
10 decaying prices large enough TO pay
FOR interest on much Of the needed IN
vestment made necessary in that section.
Politically, the acquisition of Manches-
ter to Richmond is very valuable. The
respective populations are much alike
In proportion Of races. IN political faith.
i'm morals In character. The moral
tone OF Manchester is quite as high as
our own. In proportion TO numbers
here are fewer criminal cases on the
docket Of her courts than here, and the
number Of con,icts in our State prison
from Manchester is said 10 be smaller
i'm proportion 10 numbers than from any
city or town In the STATE. Unite the TWO
cites. and We will have increased repre-
sentation IN our Leg stature. IN ore II not
both branches, and We viii absolutely
control the selection OF the representa-
tive from this congressional district
Both are very important considerations.
We constantly need State legislation. ana
none know the value OF adding frlehds
from the number of members III our
LEGISLATURE more than those VINO nav
had occasion to go there Tor the passage
of hills Richmond wants always "A repre-
se,totive i'm Washington who VIII voice
the intelligent public opinion OF her peo-
attDlt WHICH