The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-29
WEDNESDAY,. MARCH .. 1905
The Fret Step.

tee On annexation has decided to adopt
tho lines for Greater Richmond pro-
posca by the Joint Committee on Pro-
Eress. The action OF the subcommittee
Z rejects not only its own capacity to APP
preciatc and meet the existing needs anu
conditions Of OUR city, but is also q high
tribute TO the vigorous campaign that
has been waged for Greater Richmond
l,y representative business associations.
On December 8. 1904, there was pub
lished in The Times-Dispatch a map,
which had been adopted by the Civic 1n-
provement League for the extension Of
Richmond's limits. Those lines have been
recommended by the subcommittee prac-
tcally without change, so far as this side
Of, the James is concerned. For a long
time previously the Chamber of Com
smerce had been urging an extension
Of our. corporation borders. and It was
very largely due to the influence and eff
forts Of the Chamber Of Commerce III
seconding Colonel George Wayne Andcr-
son that the present Anderson bill be-
d came q law. 81 elS s4 is FL
1t should always be borne in mind that
the Anderson bill was enacted only after
a tedious and hard fight, and that under
Its provisions tho cxpediency sand justice
az nnneSntion are removed from the pit
falls log-rolints legislation and dangers
OF personal and selfish interests. hi
lii December. 1901, the Travellers Pro-
tcctive Association held meeting for
Greater Richmond, as a result OF which
the Joint Committee on Progress came
into active existence. Behind all these
organizations lay the power of the peo-
Tle, who needed and demanded more
room. 1t was obvious that we were suf-
fering terribly from ovcrcroWdlng and
the various organizations, by their mass
meetings, aroused the people to the press
ing necessities OF the situation and helped
clear the way for the broad-minded
action of the subcommittee on anne%a-
ton. The same spirit of nggressivc pro-
Eress can make Richmond the greatest
manufacturing center in tho South. 1t
cannot be stated too often that Richmond
must offer sites to manufacturers and
homes to warl1Ingmen on advantageous
terms. ~
There Is ,io need for either factories
or homes to be outside tho city limits II
property is fairly and sensibly taxed.
Wc do not need and should never adopt
any system Of free sites or cut rate taxes.
All that is necessary Is to make fair
assessments and then tax every one alike.
. 4 nj -
with the world.
II is alleged by outsiders that Rich.
mond, despite her growth In wealth,
BUSINESS and manufactures Is a city di-
yided against itself. Such critics say
we are a community which has no public
spirit, no civic pride and no co-opera-
ton. The answer 10 such charges is the
magnificent work done In the last three
# weeks by men who were nctuatcd solely
by a desire to better tho condition OF
their icllow-citizens. No one who at
tended the various mass meetings held
IN the interest Of Greater Richmond
and snw the citizens Of all walks OF life
who had come to testify BY their pres
cnce their belief In a great future fol
hHr cts could doubt that Richmond haL
in her borders the men that make cities
+ great and powerful and enduring.
The spirit OF corporation in Rchmon.
for public ends is not Developed as Il
can and will be, but wheN the bushes.
men and the Council of a city work TO
gether. that city must pr9gress rapid,
and securely,
Richmond has taken the hrst step AM
10 make the future all that we can dcsir'
only needs that the same cooperation b
maintained.