Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-10


The conduit for electric wires which lS
being laid on Main street. in sight Of ali
our neople. Is to be extended to various
| other sections Of the city. But not every
where viii 1t he 80 large as on MAN
street on Franklin street, from Third 10
| Harrison. an Edison tube. O.. an iron
pipe of moderate slze-will be put do"''
| All the same 10 place that tuoe III
position will require tho opening OF inc
| street Since that IS unavoidable. ana
since the ultimate good TO be accomplish
ed Is great. we should be rejoiced IL '"0
| CITY Council would seize upon that oppof-
tunity and follow that work BY paving
FRANKLIN street with vltrihad brick OF
| asphaltum
without a question, Franklin street u
our handsomest residence street. IL j.
not TO be disputed that az fashiohap'e
,boroughfare # is much used, not only
by visitors to Richmond, but by our
own citizens residing in other neighbor-
hoods.
In one sense. Franklin street Is the
street OF the woll-to-do folk, whose res'-
dences line IT, but, in larger and truer
sense. it is the street of all Richmond
There we love to ssunter on summer
afternoons; there delight TO sun ourselves
on bright winter days. There We love 7"
90 I'm our best clothes TO see and be seem
There have arisen many beautiiul pu'iu
ings. Two handsome churches have Deen
built already. and another VIII make us
anpearance there in the course Of fe"
wears. a site for II having been bought
There too. is that hotel which is spread
ing the fame OF Richmond, and which, in
its graceful outline. as seen from Frank
lin street. presents a sight delightful 10
every artistic eye. There, winter and
summer, is the most popular drive, lead
ing; as It does into the neighborhood OF
Richmond College, the Lee Monument, the
Soldiers Home and the New Reservoir.
In short, Franklin street is a thorough
fare in which we all have an interest,
and in which most of us take pride.
We believe If the City Council would
make an appropriation to lay vitrited
brick or asphaltum on the driveway of
Franklin street, the general sentiment Of
the community would heartily approve 1t.
This Is a question we would not mind sub
hitting TO the judgment and determine |
lion of the taxpayers Of our community. !
They would not hesitate to bear the cost;
they know nat action is needed. Al
present the street is in shabby condi- |
ton for the best residence street in
city of the population, wealth, and pros
poets Of Richmond.
II the city would pave the driveway |
we might rely upon the property-owners' !
repavjng the sidewalks with suitable ma
terial Indeed, If we mistake not, 1t Is
in the power Of the Council to order that
work to be done at the expense Of the /
abutting property-owners. And just there
We find an additional reason for the |
Councils acting in this case. The pro-
pertv-owners in question can better ar
ford TO 20 to this expense than any other
property-owners on a residential street
could under like circumstances. The
bricl, sidewalks which we now have on
Franklin street are broken and rough.
Moreover. they look countryfied on that
Fashionable avenue. They are out OF
place Ihey are not III hStplhS VIZ"
surroundings.
The Dispatch would rejoice to See the
city pride and public spirit of Richmond
awakened In this matter. Let US look
at it and treat II as an enterprise which
will be to the advantage Of all Let no
neighborhood envy or Jealousy divert rs
from giving fair consideration 70 an OBJ
ject so truly worthy-so metropolitan IN
character. Sooner or later Franklin
street must be paved from buildng-lins
TO line, and the time 70 90 It is before
not after-the electric conduit has been
laid there.