The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-06
SATURDAY. MAY 6. 1905.
The Logic Of Expansion.

Is It true, as claimed by the opponents
OF Greater Expansion, that there are
plenty OF factory sites in the city VI
Richmond? If so, why did a prominent
real estate agent state at the recent
meeting of the Committee on Charter,
Ordinance and Reform that he had spent
three weeks in a vain search 1or
manufacturing site desired by Il man who
wished to invest SIS, 900 in a new Richmond
industry and that the man had finally
to locate in Manchester? We have not
sufficiency, or anything like sufficiency.
of desirable sites for manufacturing IN
dustries This is virtually admitted by
the oppositionists, but they argue that
there are plenty of sites In the COUNT!
So there are; but manufacturers insist
upon city convcnienccs as prerequisite
to establishing new plants. Such was
e the testimony of representative mnnulac-y
turing concerns from twenty-siX cities OF
the East in letters written to a citizen
of Richmond They all said that the
first requisite was to be located IN the
city, because in that event their opera
tives were more comfortable and saved
time in getting to and from the factory,
and because manufacturers must have
city conveniences and city protection.
u II city conveniences and city protection
are no inducements to manufacturers and
home builders, why do not all the mall
ufacturers and residents pick up and
move out of tho city into the county,
where they can have more room and
where they will avoid city taxation? II
city convcniences are no inducement why
is it that lots on the side of street
which divides city from county are worth
from 25 to 80 per cent. moro than lots
on the other side? If city conveniences
arc no inducement, why is it that on
such streets lots on the city side are
built UP. while lots on the other side
remain vacant?
City convenicnces are not only desira-
BILE, but absolutely necessary, and man
ufacturers and homc-builders al. willing
to pay the additional taxation in order
TO secure them.
But, say the opposltlonlsts, the city
can furnish conveniences to county resi-
dents. So 1t can. but that sort of policy
will build up the county at the expense
Of the city Ind will enable owners Of
county property to sell at city prices
while paying county taxes. and the bur-
den will fall upon tho city taxpayers.
Such a policy would mean that the city
of Richmond must become the supply
depot for water, drainage, gas and police
and fire protection for county property,
in order that owners may. sell to pros
pective manufacturers and home-builders
at city prices. If that is the policy
which Richmond Is to pursue. the NUM-
poration, and the citizens of Richmond
are the stockholders. The corporation
should bic conducted in such a way as
to promote the welfare Of the stock
holders and not the welfare OF those who
squat in the suburbs and enjoy tho bene-
fits of the city, without bearing any Of
the burdens of city taxation,
We must enlarge our borders, and we
must take In sufficient territory TO pro-
vide an abundance of cheap resident
lots and factory sites. All natural growth
Is through the extremitles, and the law
Is as true In the growth OF cities as In
the growth Of plants Why defy the
laws OF natureg Let us open the way for
natural growth by giving plenty Of room
in the suburbs.