Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-04-15
.ICoMMuNIcArEn

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IMPROVEMENTS AND TAXATION
presume that nobody would object
to the finest kind Of streets. public
parks and the best system OF sewers
possible, did the financial copdi-
lion of our city admit of our getting
them; but that they would cause such
an increase of population as would
Justify US in going 10 debt for them ct
present, il not true. Business is not
created by such things. but by helping
each other Instead Of giving our trade
to other places and ia providing new
industries.
Let US see what Is our relative posi-,
ton in comparison with ether cities OF
the Commonwealth which are, it IL
said, more prosperous.
Newport News, which has increased
moro rapidly than any other, bad year
or 80 ago no fewers, no streets and the
worst sidewalks imaginable; from mud
to granoiithic. Her properly tax was
then 80 cents on the 500. She hes now
one avenue and one street paved with
asphalt, the others remaining unpsved,
and is beginning to improve her side
walks. Her new system of sewers, al
ter much trouble with them, is now
said to be very good. Her present
property tax is III % on the 800. She
is prosperous, because she has shipysrd
emplo, log 8. 900 men and tie largest
drydock ia America and is the shipping
port of the c. & o. Ry with its great
coal trade.
Roanoke, called she magic city,"
arch over Sssai ae srss %aS g. ~ building an
through her territory aud passable
streets. Her tax, too, Ia 81 rs en- the
$1C0 She hes, / think, fallen of in
population recently; certainly 10 the
al sessed value Of her property. What
prosperity she has since Der 'boom" is
over Is due to railroad shops and fine
country around her.
Portsmouth's prosperity tax Is $1.75
on the 800 ana her people are CON-
planning of it, She bss bad sewerage
for FIVE years, and fairly well paved
streets, perhaps s good as ours. She
has the Gosport Navy Yard Common
" called the Noifolk) Alongside OF her
Dam iIle's property tax Is also 81 rs on
the 800 and she has recently paved
some streets with maca lam, brick and
Belgian block and has sewerage, but she
Is the centre of the great tobacco trade.
Manchester Is slowly improving for she
psrtskes Of the prosperity oil Richmond,
aud her taxes are lower. As Richmond
is the state capital and her ctiz.ns are,
many of thtm, very wealthy, aud have
invested largely 10 all sorts OF manu-
faclures, she is now prosperous and IL
gradually improving her streets, which
were as whole, by no means IS good
as ours; but her property tax is tut 81 40
on the 800.
| Now, how is Alexau dris, with few
manufacturers, very few capitalists. and
a tax rate OF 81 80 on the 500. to sfioi d
the Injuries proposed by her "proeres'
siyeu citizene. The increase of all the
citi. I have mentioned was gained
without them, by the means l have sug-
gest, d for the Improvement OF Alexan =
dr.a. Let us have more factories (not
| BY substituting strangers to come here
and establish them, but by assisting our
own people); let us support our own
merchants; and let US practice, iu our
municipal affairs, the economy of our
fathers and stop grumbling, and We
shall see prosperity come gradually 10
US and then be able to make improve
m ants. Figuring out schemes TO inn
prove our foances hereafter and
speu ding the money we expect to have,
now, would be like the imaginative
milk maid fables who spilled the milk
she had, while contemplating the future
grandeur which wss to be built upon
the sale OF 1t.
| AN 0TD TAxpayER