Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-14

The Dispatch has been asked by num-
Der OF persons to continue "hammering'
Mt our authorities until they afford the
nrotect,on that IL needed for vacant
houses. And from the. Information we
have lately received, we are more firmly
convinced than ever before that il such
nrotent,on could be afforded many men
who are AT present disnclined to do so
wonld invest In Richmond real estate.
Tho Dispatch will. Of course, cheerfully
do its part in this work; but there snouid
he an organization formed to urge upon
our authorities greater diligence, and 10
sec to t. as far as possible, that every
offender Is prosecuted
There ought 10 be an organization OF our
real estate agents and property-owners
10 give special attention TO the SUBJECT
II the fault is with the police or courts,
suitable representations should be made.
90 that there will be moro vigorous en-
forcement OF the laws. II the trouble
lies with the junk dealers, VINO arc the
persons suspected OF buying most OF the
stolen property. unremitting efforts should
be made 20 have them detected and pun
ished. Finally, If our city or state laws
are insufficient, committees should be APP
pointed 10 draft new laws and have them
passed. II possible.
In fine. those who are most interested In
this matter-that is 10 say, the owners or
agents of improved real estats-shouio
band themselves together for mutual pro-
lection. That a reform can be worked
in this way we have no sort OF doubt.
The success that has attended the
efforts Of our Society for the Prevention
Of Cruelty TO Animals is a standing enco-
MUM upon the advantages OF special or
ganlzations to effect the execution OF the
laws.
Such an organization as we urge could
save property-ownevs tens OF thousands
OF dollars annually. The practice OF pill
Laying vacant houses Is said to obtain in
Richmond to a greater extent than In
any other city of our size. Whether this be
true OF not we cannot say. but we be-
lieve that the house left vacant here and
not robbed is the exception to the rule.
or course it is not to be expected that
our city can station policeman in front
OF every vacant house-not at alI-but 1t
would not be too much to ask that such
activity be displayed by the authorities as
would make it so dangerous to rob va.
cant house that few persons would care
to indulge In that money-getting method.
Respectable" boys who destroy property
through mere wantonness should be
looked after, also, and when caught pun
ished.
For many years complaints have been
made of great losses inflicted upon house
owners here by the depredations OF
thieves and mischievous boys. Still the
evil continues, and it would seem that it
will never stop until the persons most in
terested in stopping 1t associate them
selves to secure the protection that is
wanted. We cannot hope TO obtain entire
immunity from the thieves. but We can
at least make their work very risky for
them.
A Society for the Protection of Vacant
Houses, by Offering suitable rewards
could secure thousands of watchers, and,
knowing this, the pillagers would have to
be more careful in their operations than
at present, and would find much greater
difficulty than they have now in disposing
of their plumber.
Yes; organization is the thing.