The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-04
SUNDAY. DpoENtBEzR I, 1904, 4
Greater

EVERY one l.. agreed that Richmond "a
,nsnt enlarge her borders and widen en-. n! n.y.
territories. and long step forward mas "a
/. been taken By the Civic 1mpr ''t
League in preparing a con1preh en- s 81 e ana
irtel,gen. plan TOR xtendins the c''s
limits In another part Of the paper W.
]. Print full page map showing ao /. ehc esq
proposed changes.
This plan is both good Of itself, ana IS ;
con,,nended BY large number OF o1t 'Ea'
whose intelligence. foresight and paor'oe-
,sr, slikes entitle their opinions to great
4 Weight Briefly, the arguments for such
4 far:rearhlns step are the absolute '' neces'
city for ,sa nitary reasons for controlnns
tho natural channels for sewerage when llN
rr,,h Into Bacon Quarter. Branch. These
a1irc,,1 streams carry the drainage OF
barton Hei ghts. Chestnut Hill and Fair Fair
mount, and IL IS an obvious requirement
for I: health that the city, into whose w 'se$
drains these streams empty, should AT
least. have the right to control TINS ms sew
era go. u
This. reason. Important as It is. IS ny
mol means the only one for extending 3,
Rr,,th,nondig limits. An equally coge'nt ]
consideration is to be seen IN the neeo
& OF preserving the original lines O. INC
4 streets. IA striking example Of what a''-
sence Of city control leads to is seen N
the DETECTION Of Franklin Street wh'cnf
was tbrought, about by the Lee An mn y
Company in order TO give their lots
BETTER iron tsge.rssvery good for the lot
selJ3esrs but very poor for the city, su !'
occurrences as this can be repeated AZ
viii by any one who so desires. the sole
requirement being the purchase OF land u
beyond the city Limits. Tho result OF
& suoh changes from the true line ct the
streets will. be to give Richmond twisted,
z angular tortuous and unsghtly avenues
from which there can be no escape ex-
cept Though great expense.
The latter course was pursued by Parls'
and the value of;nere beauty as u paying
3 asset has been we'll justified in that city,.
3 But London has been unable TO pay the
price Of straight streets and wide tho
roughfarcs. and remains with the same
Il crooked and narrow streets that nave
been In use for centuries.
To-day 1t needs no argument to SHOW
that wide streets, commodious parks and
plenty Of breathipE spaces are not only
desirable out, necessary attributes Of
great city. Equally 1t Is absolutely clear
that It Is far cheaper, safer and wiser
4 to plan for such civic comforts along with
the future growth OF our city than to buy
or condemn space for them later. The
main street of Barton Heights Is far too
marrow, but@if Barton Heights and all
other adjacent territory were under the
control and direction OF the City Ensi-
neer's Office, no, more narrow streets
would be laid out. !,
This ia only ono example of the benefit
that our city will gain from a consistent
and intelligent, policy for Its future growth.
( The same principle that applies to streets
would care for the creation Of parks. the
planting OF trees. tho protection OF yards
and all other Nike Interests.
In the matter OF police protection, q
x few mounted police could easily and eff
GENTLY patrol tho now territory with the
same O: less cost and for greater benefit
TO the inhabitants than at present.
From every standpoint, the proposed en-
larsement of our borders is advisable, and
we trust that the day Will soon como
when Richmond will have the space In
which to grow and theauthority to direct
how tina, growth shall BIO governed.
Let US all unite our efforts for Greater
Richmond that VIII be worthy of our
bright future.
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