The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-26
Some Considerations on Greater

Tomorrow evening the Committee OH
Charter. Ordinances and Reform from
the Board Of Aldermen and the Common
Council will meet for further considcrn-:
tion OF the question OF annexation. The
time that has elapsed since the last open
meeting Of this committee has been a.
period OF active campaigning for extern
sion OF the city limits northwards. More
over, the idea of Richmond as IA power
sful and prosperous manufacturing center
has terminated and borne fruit.
Freight rates, proximity to the coal
and Iron fields, railroad facilities, good
labor. and an exceptionally equable cli-
mate have all combined to make Rich
smond remarkably we'll adapted for manu-
featuring The notable growth OF the
Locomotive Works and the high charac-
ter of the work done by the mechanics
of that institution ha se demonstrated the
capacity OF our workingmen to compete
successfully with the best plants in this
country. This example has naturally en-
3couraged the belief that Richmond must
grow as manufacturing center. and the
subcommittee is therefore perfectly in
tel,igh,e. While theoretically desiring
Greater Rseamoni.. ard actually admit
ting the absolute necessit. FOR more
room Within our city limits f-or, consid-
e.stidsi ee health. rent and the comfort
and a-osissrit II d. the working class.
shasa Eeatlerne. are baking at moving
the ci,r boundaries northwards for fear
that thereby present manufacturers viii
~ brou=h; IN The city 20 their damage,
and otter factories viii he deferred from
coming here.
With ali due respect TO these gentle.
men. this view. though apparently pa
triotic, Is actually destructive Of all
future growth for il is based on a timId-
ity that is unjustitied and on premise
that is false. First Of all, there is no
need for fear that plants will be moved,
even If their taxes were reasonably in
creased, SO long as the present adyan-
tages OF Richmond as place for mann
featuring remains unimpaired, and this
will be, so long as our workingmen.
climate and railroad facilities are I'M
changed. =. Z,
Again. the premise that Rlchmonds
tax rate is SO intolcrahy high as to force
manufacturers to leave rather than bear
1t, is demonstrably false.
We have problems that 3are neither
different or more difficult than those OF
other cities, and nowhere else in Amer
lea have manufactures been driven away
by increasing city limits. Just consider
the growth Of Greater New York, PhIla-
delphia, St. Louis and Chicago. to cite
only the most striking examples. But
these problems can be solved by brains
and ability, and the present Council Is
capable Of dealing with any question that
can arise under these new conditions.
We are opposed 10 any cut rate in taxes
for anybody. There can be no good cti-
zenship and no enduring growth on any
basis of unfair advantage. But If tic
manufacturing plants are fairly assessed,
they both can and will bear their fair
share 0f the burden.
The people demand broad gagged
expansion at this time. and we have no
itar mat thelr representatives Will fail
10 recognize and respond TO that de-
lnand definite northern line, on this
liberal idea should be. indicated in tile
ordinance, but 1t must not be forgotten
that the line VIII only be finally fixed By
decree Of the Circuit Court Of Henrlco
county, after full consideration given 10
the rights Of all parties to be affected.
details Of terms 70 be sci out in sucn
court decree