The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-07
ARE OPPOSED TO
ANNEXATION PLAN
Members of Council Who Cham
pioned Mills Ordinance the
Chief Witnesses,
WANTED NARROW LINES
WANTED NARROW
Messrs. Turpin, Mills, Zimmer-
mann, Mann, Grimes and
Others On Stand.

Members of the Richmond City Council,
who voted for the first annexation ordln-
ance proposed, which provided for much
narrower line of expansion than those
contemplated by the measure finally
adopted, We're the principal witnesses for
Henrico county in the annexation pro-
ceedinss being heard by Judge C. E.
Nicol. ut yesterdays session of the Cir
cult Court. Councilman Morgan r. Mills.
after whom the ordinance making the
lines more contracted than in the corn
promise ordinance that Is being fought
by Henrico is named, vas the principal
witness for the county. and following him
came Others who believed with him that
Richmond should not take In all OF the
territory proposed until such time as
the necessity arose for the annexing of
the same.
Members of the Council were the prin-
cipal witnesses and they sufficed to en-
tertuin the court and spectators for the
seven hours consumed yesterday in the
hearing OF evidence on the merits of the
case. Now and then Witness surprised
the Henricp attorney 10y his Testimony,
bst as & u aoie the ttnei of tfse agiaersss,
of the day was to show that the Mills
ordinance-which was vetoed by Mayor
McCarthy--was the logical one. and tool,
In all the territory that would or could
be improved by the city under its present
sources OF revenue
Mr.. Turpin Opposes.
Mr.. w. NJ Turpin. president of the
Board of Aldermen, led the array of evI.
dence against the city's extending her
limits and proved 10 be about as 'livc
q wire as htd heen introduced thus far.
He declared 1t was his belief that an
nexation was a fad; that Richmond was
not densely populated and that the sta
tisticlans who said this were in the
wrong Mr.. Turpln said he staked his
opinion against the opinion of the presi-
dent and the members of the Board Of
Health AS to the sanitary condition of
the city, for he believed that Richmond
was not an unhealthy place because of
any alleged congested condition
Mr.. Morgan r. Mills. member of the
Common Council and the author Of nm
annexation ordinance referred to as the
Mills ordinance" said he did rot think
the city should extend its limits In the
extreme western portion, because the
territory should remain In the county and
allow manufacturing plants to locate
there without having to pay city taxes.
The difference In acreage between the
Mills ordinance and the ordinance adopt
ed. Mr.. Mills said, was about 900 acres
Mr.. Mills said the city had necessary de-
mands made upon II that she could not
'''NTN->'
street and water departments Yearly
demands had been made for money for
repairs ut the lower pump-house, and
the city was not able to meet those de-
m:tnds. He said he did not see any rea-
son for talking In Fulton Hin. His rea-
son FOR not wnnting to extend the city
limits in this direction was that the ter
rltory contained many unsightly houses
that could not be made better by Rich
mond.
Cross examined by City Attorney Pol
lard. Mr. Mills said he was not In q
position to state what amount OF bonds
Richmond could issue at this time.
He could answer only In general terms.
He believed that moro than s3.G0o.0NO could
be expended in necessary improvements in
Richmond, The settling basin was not
going to furnish clear water sufficient.
thouht Mr.. Mills. The city needed better
police protection by twenty-five per cent.
he declared.
Mr.. Blair's Vote.
Alderman A. Beirne Blair, who voted for
the Mills plan of expansion said his main
object in leaving out of the city limits
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