Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-01
n Improvement OF volume and economy
4 use not now IN practice
VlRGfNiUS NEWTON.
Water, Light, sewers. ana schools

'i Use HNL INV TT N4trNtt.
VlRGINius NEWTON.
Water, Light, Sewers. ana schools.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
In response TO your request, submit the
following suggestions as 10 what may be-
done by our people for the Improvement
OF Richmond aud the advancement Of her
interests. Most people, even Of intelh-
gence and education. give very little
| thought and have very crude ideas 0s 90
what makes q city grow and improve.
Any intelligent man can walk about IN
n city and point 20 many things which
might be improved. either by individual
| or corporate effort. For instance. he
| might point 20 the very discrcditable de-
pot buildings OF the Southern railway and
| Chesapeake and Ohio companies and say.
| THE great majority Of the passengers
who arrive Ia this city are landed 40 these
| nprepossessing-lo looking shantics. What
an unfavorable impression they must form
Of our spirit Of progress and our inn
| pOrtance MS a city when they learn that
| these miserable houses represent the two
great arteries OF our travel and com
merce"
And yet these are not the sort OF evils
which the people can remedy. Al that
they can 90 is 90 call attention and bring
| 10 bear the pressure OF public opinion
upon the corporations by which they are
I controlled.
Again, you may bring together num-
/ Der of our most experienced businessmen.
and upon a general survey Of the situa-
ton they may ten you that the railroads
are not doing Justice TO Richmond. They
might tell you that the great Southern
railway. which was developed by Rich
mond brains ami capital. which was
granted n most valuable and liberal char
ter by the General Assembly Of Virginia,
whose charter provided that the principal
| offices Of the company should be here.
has practically side-tracked this city, has
removed its offices % Washington and
New York. has abandoned our convenient
port at West Point, has diverted the
through passenger travel on one side and
the through freight on the other. and will
not even sell through ticket over its own
lire via West Point 10 the South From
such wrongs as these the city suffers. but
Il is not within the power Of the people
to apply the remedy. They can complain,
they can organize, they can agltate for
their correction. but they cannot compel.
But If you wish to know what "a GER
tainly within the power OF the people 10
do for the Improvement Of their city. go
back TO first principles and consider how
a town is commenced and how 10 Inn
proves and expands.
At first, on account OF real or fancied
advantages. people get together I'm n VIII
lago They must have houses I'm which 10
I've. Then they must have streets. j.
the farmers. who bring their produce I'm
and exchange IL for groceries and clothing.
get mired I'm the streets, they viii go 20
another village where the streets are bet
ter and the people are more alive TO their
business interests. As the village grows.
the people viii want a supply Of pure
water When It expands into n city II
must have lights and good sewers and
public schools.
such improvements. If judiciOusly made,
arc profitable Investments, and justify the
creation Of n municipal debt IF the
population continues to increase. as IT
does I'm Richmond the demand for Inn
provements and consequently for more
revenue ana moro credit will grow pari
pasus. If tho funds raised by taxation
or by sale of bonds, are SO used and the
improvements paid for with them are so
directed as 20 procure economically. and
vet upon a liberal scale. the facilities
cOnveniencos. and advantages requisite
for n growing population. the city go
happily governed will attract an ever
increasing multitude Of people and an
evcr-increasing volume OF business.
II. on the other hand, tho funds should
be expended I'm paying two prices for the
work that is done. or i'm employing two
men 20 90 the work Of one; if the thrifty
and industrious are taxed merely TO sup
port the lazy and the idle: If current eX-'
pensos Of government are annually met
by sales Of bonds and increase Of debt
yo9 may naturally expect your credit ana
your prosperity 10 decline with equal step
The credit and prosperity Of city 90
hand-in-hand. How. then, should you OBJ
tain this credit and enhance your pros
pority2
by limiting current expenses TO current
revenues. and using your bonds only 10
make such improvements as viii be pro-
ntable. Nothing can be a more profitable
Investment 20 a city than the extension
into attractive suburbs Of good, subs'an-
tial streets. with light, water. and sew
ers.
This IS what Richmond needs and it IS
that which the people can accomplish.
Let her extend her street improvements
and thereby invite residents TO take up
the distant lots which now are compare
lively unpr0ductive; TO build houses. 20
Increase the taxable values and public
revenues.
OF an the elements which consDlre 20
make n pr0sDor0r- city, financial credit
IS the chief Rea. estate is the basis of
the city's credit The ability 10 raise
money depends chiefly upon tho valuation
Of real estate.
The value OF ro7l estate depends upon
Investment demand Every judiciou5 man
seeking an Investment I'm city lots in-
Quires. first what IS the indebtedness or
this community; what is its rate Of taxa
ton: what .3 IT'S standing in The world OF
finance?
il an Individual or n corporation i5 in
bad credit business viii decline. II credit
IS good business VIII flow Boz. new chan
roIs will open. new opportunities can Doe
seized and developed. IT, however, the
peonle abandon their duties as super
visors of the public disbursements and
supinely allow tho moneys raised By tne
abuse OF their credit 20 Doe squanlered Ioi
improper or unwise purposes-f they al-
low the public credit 20 be shaken-cap'- |
TAI will shake it's wings and fy 20 other
cities. where &c can enjoy more vigilant
protection.
] heartily congratulate and compliment
Won up0n the firm stand which you have
taken in behalf of moro economical gov [
eminent and the improvement Of Rich /
m0nds credit
You send abroad 20 ask mo ma others
"to suggest how business may be im- /
proved and how the growth and develop |
raent of the city may best be- enhanced
/ reply that you are advocating the very |
means. and the only means, by wnich /
these objects may be accomplished.
Suppose q friend. who IS doing n large /
business. but IS leading nm extrayagant /
life. living on borrowed money, paying /
-. nj. t..-Lon ne rnu-h ns n l. worth. |