The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-08-24
TUESDAY. AUGUST "a. 1909.
EXTENSION OF CITY,s LIMITS

TUESDAY. AUGUST "a, lSVS.
EXTENSION OF CITY'S LIMITS
Formerly in order for a city TO ex-
tend its city limits it was necessary
to get an act Of the Legislature for
that purpose, but such is not the
law now.
The law provides: That where
ever it is deemed desirable by any
city to annex any territory 10 such
city its Council shall declare by an
ordinance, which shall be passed by
a recorded affirmative vote Of ma
jority of all the members elected 10
the Council. that it desires TO annex
said territory. etc" See Sec. lola
Code of Virginia. The statute pro-
vides that a map Of the proposed
territory to be annexed shall be
made. Notice shall be given to the
attorney for the Commonwealth and
board of supervisors of the county
from which the proposed territory
shall be taken. The statute then
provides how the matter shall be
heard. determined and decided by
the court. etc. So that any out
lying territory which any city de
sires to be annexed in order to ex-
tend the corporate limits can now be
done by the court. indeed it must be
done by the courts. the Legislature
as formerly having no jurisdiction
of the matter.
For several years there has been a
general desire that the corporate
limits of this city should be extend
ed. The property within the dis
trict to be annexed will be increased
in value and the people viii have
certain police protection. water sup
ply and sewerage. which they have
not now.
Next year the census will be taken
and if the extension desired is 10 be
had the Council should take up the
matter at once. Our population
will thereby be increased and our
taxable values be added to. Some
equitable arrangement if desired
could be made by ordinance as to
the taxation TO be borne by the
property which is annexed. Other
cities are moving in the matter Of
extending their corporate limits and
increasing their population.
This matter should be taken up
and acted on by the City Council al
once. for if it is TO be done action
should be had and concluded before
the United States census is COM
menced. We give the law and there
Is a general demand for extension Of
the city limits.
If the new tariff bill will bring
about a reduction Of prices of man.
ufactured articles. as its advocates
claim it will, the consumer ought TO
have his inning in the near future.
for a while at least, since recent gov
eminent reports credit this year with
the production Of the largest crops
ever harvested in this country.
The New York Journal of Com
merce summarizes the report as
follows:
First-A 5000, 600. OOO-bushel corn
crop, which has never been exceeded
and has only been closely approached
namely. by the 1927 .4l6. 0OO-bushel
crop of 1906.
Second-A total wheat yield ex-
ceeding 100000, 900 bushels. This has
only twice been exceeded. namely.
by the 1906 harvest of lbs, OOO. 600
and by the 1901 harvest of 74S, 600
600.
Third-An oats crop Of !. OPP .OOO. :
600 bushels, which has never been
equaled.
The crop analysis here shows that
more grain than ever before grew to
maturity in a single year in the
United States already has been har-
vested or is rapidly approaching
maturity. Never, except once, has
there been more wheat; never before
has there been so much marketable
corn or so much oats. And never be-
fore have three bumper crops come
together in the same year. Never
has such a huge task confronted the
railroads as the moving of this stu
penduous harvest to market, and
never have the roads been better
prepared for their work.
We have no faith in the contention
that the new tariff bill will afford the
consumer any relief, but in the event
that prices do go down, who will get
the credit for the relief, bountifu
providence or the Republican party,