The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-04-21
CONSOLIDATION
is NOW A FACT
Long Desired Consolidation Cele-
brated This Afternoon by JOY
full Proceedings and Mayor
Maurice Turns Key Over to
Mayor Richardson.

The final step in the consolidation
/ of Manchester with Richmond took
place about 10:45 o'clock Friday MORN
ing, when Judge Frank p. Christian.
of Lynchburg, sitting in a special ses-
sion of the Corporation Court of the
old city across the James as substi-
tute for Judge Ernest H. Wells, de-
clared the election of Monday, April
| 4th, valid and decided the election for
consolidation in favor of the union of
the cities of Manchester and Rich
mond.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the evidence
and the certificate of the court was
/ presented to him and few. minutes
| after this the decree of consolidation
was read. abolishing all institutions
and affairs of the city of Manchester
/ and declaring her people fellow-citi-
zens by their own will, joined to and
affiliated with the people of the city
| OF Richmond.
The decree was entered in due legal
| form-the business manager of The
Journal certifying that the ordinance
/ mad been given the proper publica-
ton in The Journal--the only paper in
| which il was publish d-and that The
Journal had the required circulation
in the old town. After this formality
the court adjourned.
No Contest.
There was not dissentient voice or
one objection raised during the whole
proceedings nor was any expected
che unceasing zeal Of scores of ardent
workers for the consolidation cause
had too carefully precluded this.
| Everything moved along with as
great facility and smoothness as was
anticipated even by the most enthu-
siastiC
After this nothing remained to he
transacted except the moving Of the
great procession and mammoth dele
| cation that precedos the head of the
| municipality TO Richmond TO deliver
/ To Mayor Richardson. of the city Of
! Richmond. the key OF Manchester and
formally deliver the city into his
| charge.
Great Procession.
| Rather strange To say the delega-
| uon was not scheduled TO leave Man
chester before 2:3O O'Clock Friday af-
ternoon.
The plan provided forty or more
| large motor cars TO draw up before
| the courthouse and take aboard the
! human freight numbering above $50.
| The proco SSion to be headed by the
mounted police of Richmond To he
| followed 10y Richmond's bicycle police.
The whole 10 move to the corporate
| limits OF the erstwhile city of Man
chester and from there to proceed
/ directly over the Free Bridge up Ninth
| Street 10 the City Hall. and line up
before the Capitol Street entrance for
| ceremonies of surrendering the key
and affairs of Manchester. Most of the
public offices of Richmond Will close
| today and little municipal business
| will be carried on.
| Mayor Richardson will receive the
key-a beautiful floral design-on be-
presented by Mayor Maurice on behalf
| of the city of Manchester Both
Mayors will make appropriate ad-
dresses. and many other speakers
| prominent on both sides of the river
Will make short speeches.
All of the Richmond Councilmen of
| both branches will be present at the
event, which will be one of the most
momentous in the annals of either city
CHESTER itSt II is vitality concerned and
most prominently a participant and
6ene fieiary in the golden harvest in
| Greater Richmond, the Eldorado and
the guardian angel OF prosperity of
the South" as it has been so frequently
alluded to on the other side OF the
! river by enthusiasts for consolidation
during. the fever heat of the recent
With the signing of the order by
Judge Christian formally making the
two cities one, the Corporation Court
became Hastings Court No. 2, of
Richmond.
The pen with which the annexa-
ton order was signed was surrender
ed to Councilman L. r. Brown, who,
IN his capacity as chairman of the
Manchester Consolidation Commit
tee, served faithfully and efficiently
as member of the committee.
The close of Manchester's regime
as separate municipality was mark
ed by a rush to City Treasurer j. w
Bronaugh's office, where the various
city employees were paid off for
period ending at noon today. Hence
forth the city officials and employees
of Washington Ward will draw their
pay from the City Hall.
The various committees of the Man
chester City Council held final meet
ings last night and ordered all bills
which had been approved 70 be paid.
The City Assembly also met. After
the sessions of the Assembly and the
several branches of the Council, the
Board Of Aldermen met and con
CURED in the final proceedings.
The parade, one Of the largest mu-
nlcipal affairs of its kind in recent
years. traversed the following route:
street to Porter. up Porter to COwardin
Avenue, out CoWardin Avenue to Hun
down HUI TO Seventh, out Seventh to
the Free Bridge, to Ninth, north on
Ninth Street to Capitol Street, east on
Capitol Street to the City Hall.
The police of Manchester augmented
by Chief of Police Louis Werner and
ten of his mounted men, besides a num-
Der of bicycle men, led the procession
The mounted men were in charge of
Sergeant Sowell. and the bicycle men
were commanded by r. l.. Bryant
Henry COhn First on Job.
superintendent of Streets Henry Cohn
first on the job in Richmond's new ac-
quisition Immediately following the
sfen OF the TdT m mi kin the two
u, Superintendent Cohn and his men,
together with the requisite machines.
washington Ward 'i and Cleaned the he
streets In time for the parade.