Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-09
the successful bidder. The contract will
be lei. very shortly and Nork. comm enced

be let very shortly and work commenced
within thirty days thereafter. Our city
government has shown its, appreciation
of this action. on the part of Congress,
by appropriating s3S.000 for an equipment
with which to dredge the approaches to
our wtarves. etc. This supplementary ap-
preparation, on the part of our municipal
government. was heartily advocated by
the Chamber We think. therefore, we
can congra tulate ourselves on the work
done in behalf Of the river and rejoice
that the prospect of deep water to the
sea is now brighter than ever before: :
! IMPROVEMENT OF THE FIRE. DE-
.PARTMENT.
At the last annual meeting of this
body. a resolution was offered by Mr.. r.
L.sTraylor requesting the Chambers Com
mittee on Insurance and Legislation to
promptly submit to the board for recon-
mendation to the City Council such me as
ures as would stay the large fire waste
from which the city had been suffering
A called meeting of the board was held
January a. 1902, at which was received
and adopted the joint report of those COM
mittees. This report was accompanied
by resolution addressed to the City
Council. asking for adequate and speedy
protection from fire. Our city authorities,
: lully luc lIIlpOrLd1lCe OIL lu6
subject, ordered a full investigation with
the pleasing result that about $4,000 has
been expended on water mains. one hum
dred and fifty fire plugs have been pur-
chased, new alarm wires have been strung
i and in the thickly settled business por-
tions of the city placed in conduits: one
engine has been rebuilt. one hook and
ladder truck and one new engine and
crew have been installed; the total Gust
of all of which was 100000. The efficiency
of the whole department has been inn
proved; and it is gratifying to record
that our city has, during The last year,
suffered no very disastrous cnnfayra-
ton.
EXTENSION OF CORPORATE
LIMITS.
The report Of my able predecessor IN
Office. Mr.. L. q. Norris dwelt very intel
ligently upon the Importance of this sub
ject- It is matter in which our city is
! deeply concerned, and the chamber has
had its interest thoroughly enlisted with
a. view of furthering any plan just to the
city and the adjoining property holders,
which might be formulated. In Febru-
airy last. our Committee on Legislation
had under consideration the very inter-
esting report submitted by sub-com1nit-
| tee of the City Council on this subject.
! This committee. however, through it's
chairman, Colonel w. o. Shelton, recon-
| nended that no action in regard to the
matter be taken by the chamber until the
said report had been passed upon by the
full committee of our City Council. While
awaiting this action. our States new. Con-
|. stitution was proclaimed. Section 126 OF
| this. requires the General Assembly to
provide by general laws for. the extern
sion or contraction, from time to time. of
the corporate limits Of cities and towns"
and that .'no special act for such pur-
pose shall be valid" This, of course. pre-
cluded any. further action upon the ques-
ton from Richmond alone. Consequent
ly. 1t was determined by the chambers
special Committee on Corporate Extern
sion and by the Committee on Legisla-
ton to have the matter considered at
conference, proposed by Roanoke for an
other purpose. and which was held in this
hall, December 9. 1902. This conference
was participated in by representatives
of Roanoke, Norfolk Petersburg Suffolk,
Bristol and Richmond. and a resolution
was adopted. authorizing the appoint
nlent CO committee of two from each
city represented. with the privilege to
cities not represented of making similar
appointments. to take under considera-
ton the various bills now pending before
the Legislature on this subject. The COM
mittees OF the General Assembly having
these bills under consideration were also
duly petitioned to grant a hearing to the
commercial bodies and city councils of
such cities as might desire TO appear
before them, prior to the ena ctnent of
any general law for the extension of the
corporate limits Of the cities and towns
of the State.
A strong committee was named. Messrs.
E. a. Catlin and w. O. Shelton, being
Richmond's representatives to carry out
the objects of the resolution and we can
have the satisfaction of knowing that
all bills relating to the subject Of cor
porate limits before the Legislature will
be carefully scanned and, that we shall
have the opportunity Of advocating and
urging the passage Of some law which.
in measure, If not entirely. will meet