Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-03
u.,,.r st,cet. for Richuso nj


street front and the Jefrcrson-street SIDE
OF the jefferson Hotel! How much fich-
mond would be improved II II could nave
such streets ~ these on those OF her
thoroughfarss which are most used py
our people and seen oftenest by strangers
visiting here But all this We know To
be beyond our means. The expenditure
thai We have made upon our city Han
and other extrayagances that We have
INDUCED In prevent us from improving
our streets as they should he improved
But there IL work necessary to be done
upon our streets which cannot be safeN
postponed longer. The longer IL ~
deferred the more OF II there VIII be 10
do and the greater will be the cost or
il So our people should give immediate
consideration TO this subject with
view OF devising a plan which VIII meet
with the approval Of the taxpayers.
At the Good Roads Convention lately
held in this city. evidence was gwen
that a considerable number OF our city
people were willing to bear special TAX
10 help the country people establish
better road system II now seems Ger
tain that that scheme will not be adoptru
bv the Legislature, but viii he vastly
modified. But where there were dozen
Richmonders to approve that scheme
we should think that there would
Ice a hundred to endorse plan
to levy for Il few years smail
special tax to improve some Of our own
shabby streets.
The Dispatch well knows that the
average citizen here is bearing as much
taxation as he wishes to, but we also
know-at least, we firmly believe-that
there is 10 other way possible TO raise
the money we require for street i'm
provements. We may be mistaken-we
hope We are-but IL any one knows any
other way 10 raise the money. We trust
that he will not keep IL TO himself. but
will make it known to the public through
the columns Of the Dispatch. Our infor-
nation Is that the current expenses ana
interest account Of our city VIII, Tor
years to come, absorb all of the revenue
that can he raised from the present rate
OF taxation. We. however, Include IN
being annually Appropriated to streets;
a sum grossly inadequate TO their needs.
Five or ten years ago the streets or
Richmond were as good as the streets
of any city OF our size in this country.
They are not so now. They have de-
Perforated. The cost of the City Hall
and increase in other Of our municipal
expenditures have left us too small
street fund TO meet the growing demands
Of the city. Now not only are many new
streets needed in new neghborhoods. but
we have TO repair many Of the oid streets.
Nor can We 90 along much longer as we
are going now. Sooner or later we shall
have to meet this question squarely. And
really the only way out of it seems 10
be TO levy for a few years a special tax
Then We could bring our streets up 10 the
desired standard and could thereafter
keep them up out OF ihe general reve-
| nues of the city. But we repeat, If any
one has better plan than ours, We say
To- him. "Out with it,"
We must, however, say that We be-
iieve that before any proposition TO levy
a special tax could carry Of submitted
TO the people,. we should have 10 arrange
a plan of distribution different from that
which has generally obtained here. An
Improvement in the mode OF distribution
of the street fund has been made this
year, but the question has not yet been
squarely met
! We are deeply impressed with the ne
cessity OF making prompt and general
Improvement of our streets. II is an age
! Of beautiful streets, yet We must say
! much as we dislike to run down" any
thing here-that some Of the principal
thoroughfares of Richmond are a dis
grace 10 her. Richmond can DO better
she must do better. or else lay up against
the future the biggest job of repairs that
ever any city OF our size had TO deal with.
We reiterate that we do not believe
that Richmond will be able to put down
such streets as the squares near the
jefferson Hotel No. indeed. Streets one
half as good as those will satisfy us.
Nor could the Dispatch conscientiously
urge the creation of large street fund
| TO be divided as our street funds are
usually divided; but We think that We
could get legislation that would cure that
trouble and so provide that the money
thus raised should be spent by commits
sioners, or the City Council, in a fair
| and busness-like manner. Nor could We
recommend anything more than light
| tax: but a light tax extending over three
/ ar four wears would bring us in all the
money that we need, and the average
/ Taxpayer would never know that such
a tax had been imposed If he were not
| told about II.
If We are not to improve our streets
/ bv a special levy. how are We 10 DO II?