The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-05
RICHMOND To GET
COMBINED CENSUS
Chamber of Commerce Ar
ranges Matters With Dr.
rector Durand
UNION OF CITIES
MEANS GREAT DEAL
Promote Business Confidence on
Both Sides of River and
Help Community in
Other Ways.

Material increase In population and
q consequent increase In taxable real
estate values agsregating close to 3d.
100000 are among the penetts which
VIII accrue to Richmond as a result
OF consolidation with Manchester.
1t also means general uplift of
confidence on both sides OF the river,
as Business Manager Dabney, of the
Richmond Chamber of Commerce, put
it Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Dabney was much eiated over
the victory OF the consoiidationists at
the polls IN Manchester Monday. ana
did not nlince words in predicting
greater prosperity on every hand.
VIII Aanchesters population be
counted in the Richmond census for
1902" he was asked.
1T most assurediy Will" was the
confident answer
Il have already arranged that mat
ter with Director Durand at Wash
ington." added Mr.. Dabney. and 1
feel sure that Richmond with its sub
urbs will show a population OF fully
$50, 1000"
Census Supervisor Mont onrnittal.
Census Supervisor Moore, for the
Richmond district. said that he did
not care to venture an opinion on
the question whether Manchester s
population would be counted with
that OF Richmond In the census
i referred that question to Direc-
tor Durand," he explained, and then
he took 1t up with Mr.. Dabney."
This question, which has given rise
to considerable speculation and dis
cussion. IN the outgrowth OF the fact
that consolidation becomes effective
April is. the very day the taking of
the Federal census begins.
The population of Richmond prop
er Is expected to show considerably
more than 100000 in the census fig-
ures. Manchester. or Washington
ward. as il will be known after the
formalities incident to the merging Of
the two communities are concluded,
is expected 70 show al least ls,HVe.
! Manchester wsil bring to Richmond
several million dollars worth OF bus
mess enterprises. 1t Is estimated.
Looking for Investment.
Already many Riehfnonders are
looking tward Manchester with a view
! OF investing in real estate. believing
/ that prospects for excellent returns
are exceedingly bright in that partic-
ulAr quarter.
! On the other hand. 1t is believed
! that many persons Ia Manchester. In
| sptred with greater confidence by tn.
! merging OF the two communities, Will
show a greater disposition than for
merry to turn their money loose. as
the saying goes, and even invade
t tIchmond In search of fertile invest
ment fields.
AS a result of the merger, Manches-
ter's tax rate will be redutsd IRON.
$3.50 to sI.40 per cent. anu that Is
no small Consideration TO property
owners on the other side OF the river.
Richmond will spend close TO a mil
hon dollars in iuinilment OF It's
pledges in connection with the mer-
ger, but there are few who doubt
that the expenditure or 30 much
snoney will be a bad investment. IA
though IL is declared in some quar-
ters that Richmond WAS too liberal in
I It's concessions 10 Manchester.
Fixing the Bridges
! The sum of $4,000 Will be spent
| In putting Mayo Bridge in shape Tor
rattle between the two communities
| and no less than $4,000 Is to Be
| expended on work on the Free
Bride. Bonds for this purpose viii,
be issued, 1t is stated, as soon as ex-
pedient after Washington ward Is an
nexed and has proper representation
! In the Richmond council.
| Under the charter of Richmond.
each ward in the city is entitled To
| tive councilmen and three aldermen.
/ This means that the annexing OF
Manchester will run the number OF
city councilmen up to forty and alder
men TO twenty-five, which Is the limit
prescrihed by law.
Additional representation from
Manchester will make II necessary for
both bodies of the Richmond cour
i ell TO change their rules, according to
I President Peters. of the lower branch,
who pointed out Tuesday that the
present rules specifically Axes the
membership of committees accord
Ing to representation from the seven
wards in the city proper.
However" said President Peters
1.-The rules can be changed very
| readily to suit the ne 'wstate OF at
fairs. The common council will prob
ably take the initiative In this mat
ter when it holds it's first meeting II
i May and then 1t Will be UP to ths
board of abdomen to take action on
what we do In the matter. AS FOL
the Manchester representatives, they
will be selected by our two bodies
Just as when vacancies occur with
i US. This will also very likely be done
when We meet next month.
Mr.. Pollard All Smiles.
4 Chairman Pollard. OF the joint
councilmanic committee Of Richmond
i which had the consolidation matter
in hand, was all smiles Tuesday morn
ing as he enjoyed a glass Of coca
/ cola with several friends, who con-
graduated him on lending such q
i willing hand in putting consolida-
ton through.
II am still 81 the opinion" he said
that We will have to take some steps
to make our city government more
operative than at present, now thai
i consolidation II assured. We could