The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-03
Manchester Citizens to Give Great Majority
LOGICAL REASONS
FOR CONSOLIDATION
Manchester Committee Sets Forth in
Benefits to Be Derived by Southside G.
Union With Richmond inal Plea to Pl

The first white men to take up their
| abode in what lis now Manchester came
up the James River about twenty years
after the settlement at Jamestown. 1917
| nearly 800 years ago. Contrast the
| present condition Of Richmond, settled
/ soon after: look carefully around and
| consider all points of municipal growth
and facilities resident in each of the
two cities enjoys. One the type of pro-
gress. the other piodding YEARLY along.
miles and miles behind. And then
| think carefully Of the great benefits
| TO be derived by consolidation with
| Richmond. with tho municipality itself,
and with the might business organ
Iizations which force the life blood
/ through It; OF having tho benefit of
the trained and discerning men of the
| Chamber of Commerce, the Business
| Mems Club, the Travellers Protective
Associations in upbulding what are
no wwaste places in our midst--all
united in the development OF Greater
Richmond, of which we shall with
pride be an integral part.
Consolidation is the spirit and Ire
OF the age-it has made America tho
foremost power on the face of tho
Garth. THE consolidation OF Richmond
and Manchester. the merging nf the
| two cities lis foregore conclusions;
II should have taken place so long
| ago as to force one TO search the
! pares of history to ascertain when
| IL had been accomplished. Under con-
solidation the warehouse and factory
will be at our doors, and opportunity
] will be afforded all to live in such
close reach OF same that 1T VIII
no longer be necessary to take up an
hour each day (for which-wc arc not
Il ar1n 70 on
workffi we will no longer have to pay
| the burden of street railway fares; II
| will be easier aud quicker to walk
10 work than to wait for a car.
Certain of Its Legality.
The Consolidation Committee OF tho
Manchester Council deserves the com
mAndation and thanks of every res
ident of the city for the thoughtful
and painstaking attention given to,
and the great benefits which Will oe
derived from. the adoption of the or
dinance which they prepared, the
legality and binding effect of which
lis not duestioned--a street corner Is
no place to question the legality of a
contrnct--as is shown by the utter
failure OF any one to present to the
court. when sitting for the express
purpose of passing upon ii. single
reason why the ordinance was mol
legal, binding and enforceable.
This fact Is further substantiated
by the opinion of leading lawyers. and
that of the unbiased special counsel
Hon. Richard B. Davis. the equal of
any member of the legal fraternity
OF the Old Dominion.
Certainly no better argument can be
made concerning the financial ability
of Richmond to carry out the cost OF
consolidation, estimated to be less
than s1,OOo,OoO in five years, than to
state its regular appropriation this
years exceeds s2.50O,o0o. and that Its
bonds are regarded as good invest
: ment by the powerful banking and
/ bond companies of New York. Boston
e and Chicago.
That the work was we'll done Is
borne out by the fact that the CON
solidation ordinance touches every
question affecting the people, and the
: multitude of advantages flowing
, therefrom is plainly evident.
Summary.
\ The Hastings Court of Manchester
with al Its present powers. is re-
tanned; and as a people we will con-
tinue to derive every benefit which
Il flows from same. The sawdust of to-
II day will go, and in its p1ace-comfort-
able seats; our records will be kept
in fireproof cases.
II Tnxea-The tax rate of Manchester
is sl.5O per $500, and property for
i years has been valued for more than
I it would bring: to this rate add in
creased cost OF living on account of
| license taxes, and poor municipal
facilities. Richmond's rate is $40:
i very few license taxes, and municipal
advantages of the first order.
u Bridges-The Free Bridge put In
I good repair. the Mayo Bridge rebuilt
!: and made free to all except railway
and elephone-telegraph companies.
i Strects-The spending of 80 per cent.
of all money "collectible by the city
of Manchester" upon "pavcments. curb
J; ing, guttering and roadbed improve
ment' of our streets.
;. If property owners request or 1t is
deemed wise. the city paves sidewalks
and alleys, charging only actual cost
I OF work
i Sexers-Present terra Gotta pipes
i are totally Inadequate to carry off
] drainage, and temporary and will have
to be replaced when all connections
are made. Consolidation gives security
that under 1T no charge will BIO made
until they are made ample to do this.
and in addition. carry off the surface
| water which to-day tears up our
| streets. Some streets In Manchester
have no sewers--all pay the tax rate.
Observation-Disclosures charges more for
water than Richmond. Pipes arc very
small. and the entire water department.
twould have to be relaid to furnish ade-
4 quate supply for the city II fully built
up the storage tank holds supply
OF few hours; Rchmonds storage
4 supply will last for weeks.
Gas--The gas wo4now got cannot he
1fpScd cook I'M ~ 3NiS very aypen-
sive for lighting, Coal gas VIII give
us fuel cheaper than wood or coal,
and lights cheaper and better than
/ Kerosene oil. K
building Code OF Richmond--This Is
a prorec1on to every owner building
q structure. At no expense to him it
provides competent person to pass
on the plans and also inspectors to
soc that his plans are carried out.
| Practical builders state 1t is benefit
rather than cost to an owner.
The Police Department will be made
more efficient, How is 1t possible for
/ the present number OF men to patrol