The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-04


that gives good pressure OH the top
floor OF the highest buildings. We ALSO
have tho handsotnest flre englne-house
In the city ana ono Of the best equipped
companies IN fact, we have a Now
1,ichmond.n But much remains yet to 10
done. rho Flnnnce Committed at Its
| last meeting, reported nh ordinance d.
! rectlhg tho City Engineer to erect sewers
Ia tho Boulevard, at n cost Of about
100000, to drain the western watershed
| Of tho district. which means that the
western hair will soon BIO built up. THO
nervous brother need not fear for tho
expenditure OF money on sewers, for the
city has no other Investment that pays SO
| we'll and so surc MS Sewers" #
Annexation.
Alderman John y. Minor writes on tho
subject Of annextltlon, which, iii his
opinion, will be Of the great advantage
| to the growth, development and pros
| pcrlty of New Richmond.
The total area Of the city now Is $500
acres, OF which 1000 acres is In the
river. Under tho recent annexation or
dinnncc, 900 acres are added, making q
total acreage Of 1850 acres
"Annexation, as proposed by tho Coun-
oil. Will In my Judgment. prove Of In
| cstilnabe benefit TO Richmond.
.rhe proposed now lines Will nearly
double our present land area. will In
crease our population by about twolve
! thousand; will greatly improve our health
conditions, and will enable the city to
| offer to manufacturers desirable sites
within the city limits.
"Tror many years Richmond has been
surrounded by thickly settled districts,
lunprovdcd with water and sewers. This
menace toslthe health of the city VIII
be renoveds BY the proposed annexation,
ana will be soon apparent IN the de-
crease Of our death rate, which Is now
high. For want Of sufficient
vacant land within the city limits avail.
| able for homes, the majority OF dwell
ings that have been built in recent years
have been without space for sufficient
| air and light. ind the children have been
brought up In the street. With enlarged
| limits and cheaper land, there Will no
| longer be an excuse for such conditions,
and Il believe detached dwellings, with
small yards will soon be more often
| seen than blocks OF closely built tenc77
mcnts, for rents will be lower ind m'et,
| OF moderate means will be encouraged to
| build their own homes.
Retain Present Factories.
| ,syirgina misunderstanding sites within the
city limits will enable us to retain, the
factories we already have, which, other
| wise we might lose for want Of room to
meet their expanding business re1,llre~.
ments, and to accommodate many Others
whom, Richmond other advantages viii
attract! ". 53 85 !. III j 1&
1.-THE two advantages Just alluded to.
viz! desirable s;manufacturng sltas and
cheap homes fors employees with all city
conveniences, wlll{do much to make Rich
mond the greatest Manufacturing city
Of the South.
IN order to gain all of tho benefits of
annexaton,BHit will be nace ssary, low
ever in my opinion, to at once Issue
sufficient bonds to put water gas and
sewers all through the new territory, SO
that It may be Immediately INN ayal'a at
for development. sAsi By
"For niany8 years Richmond has been
terribly handicapped In the struggle with
her sister cities Of the Southern COM
merclalt supremacy, and vet, despite her
handicap. has more than held her own.
What then may we not expect but to
achieve when she enters the arena Wit
her handicap removed, her people strong
or, healthier and happier than ever be-
fore, and her material resources enor.
mousl " Increased and increasingly.
Municipal Welfare,
Alder W.T.. Da bney;S father Of the
municipal electric light ownership and
prominent in,every movement TO advance,
the city's interest, has written the fol-
lowing paper on municipal welfare;
Your request for a general review Of
Richmond S progress In the past ten
years is a subject our people would en-
| valuable paper will crafty them to this
extent. behave this would result In
| great good. vt It would stimulate interest
| In public affairs. which has not been
properly manifested BY our people, i
| '"The improvements In our general con-
dition during the past ten years are SO
marked that hardly any individual in I
our community has failed to observe the
| great progress we have made. and I has
not accepted our condition with much
pride and satisfaction. 81
1.-THE ctty's tinances have never been In
| better shape; revenues annually lncreas-5
| ling with Increase In tax rate; our ur-a
exhausted bonding limit will In nineteen
hundred and six. exceed over two and
one half millions. and notwithstanding
this fact, we have recent ak pended
about one million dollars in Improvement s.
on our water and light plants. which
| will soon be perfected. There are few
cities In this country the size Of Rich.
mond or larger, that have not only eX.
! hnlstad their bonding limit, hut carry
| floating debt. Our. bonds sold for
% n few years ago. The last sold higher.
| 106 2-l0, three months ago.
1.-THE permanent improvements made
| from our current revenue have exceed
| ed any preceding decade. a sinking
| fund adequate to meet tho interest and
principal on our bonded Indebtedness
| has In Il tho last few years heelI CORRECTED,
| which was for n number OF years neglect
ed, Tho Intelligent, careful and progres-
sivc administration Of the citys affairs
| In tho past six years has contributed
| largely TO tho marked Increase Of real
estate values, recently shown i:$your re-
ports, due principally to the SFa sstt in-
| proyements In our finance, strett, park,
water flre, health and educational con-
dtions.
Own Electric Plant,
'"rhrough the able nsslstancn3p ut I ln ms
| nnce, electricity and water committees,
| Richmond Will soon own an electric light
| plant. The details have beGn carefully
considered, under the advice OF Mr., ~
| w. Trafford, electrical engineer. which
| " ( . g 49, Ia 1.,k,, ate,fT