The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-08
THE vIRGTNIAN.

after theke enoai places have been cut
that we may, see the full results.
Eat the present session OF Congress
the Committee on Rivers and Har-
bors recommended the appropriation
OF s%f60,U00 8 James river, and the
bill has passed the House of Repre-
sehtatives. The city authorities and
representatives OF the Chamber OF
Commerce have taken up the matter
with the Senator'S from Virginia and
the Representatives from this district,
ms IL Is believed that The ufeu
VIII be Increased. or that there viii
be a yearly appropriation until the
work shall have been completed.
Wfarvcs Needed.
The council should at once make
an appropriation fur building
wharves and sheds on the river front
owned by the city. the value of
water transportation In competitiu
with the railways Is not p~roperl .s-
timated by the public. There APP
pears to be but little competition at
present between the railways and the
steam vessels navigating our river.
There should be an active competition
for freight Il and from richmond,
and not until this Is brought about
VIII ouE IAtICtf1ulS bt ADlp 10 conn
pete with other cities on equal terms.
BY the building OF these wharycs
such competition will be invited. and
II or other capitalists may be
induced to start another line of
freight carriers between Richmond
and other ports.
For many years the long-suffering
people OF Fulton have petitioned and
patiently waited for protection to
their property from ~inundation, and
for a means of communication with
other parts of the city in times of
flood. They have seen business places
along Lester street deserted, houses
fall in decay and property depreciate
in value, but the promised relief has
been afforded. The council should
at once elevate, ~straishten and inn
prove Lester street according to the
plans of the city engineer, even II
some less pressing measure must be
deferred"
Views on Consolidation. -.
After recommending the employ
ment of a Typographical engineer to
III conjunction WIfh the city en-
gineer in mapping out a systematic
Improvement of Joseph Bryan Park,
Mayor Richardson concludes his mes
sage with a discussion OF the propo-
sition to consolidate Richmond and
Manchester. In urging the consum-
nation of this project. he says N
part:
THE union of the two cities Is
desirable for many reasons, and ii
should be made on terms of mutual
benefits.
Almost contemporaneous In their
existence, and separated only by a
river spanned by bridges, which af-
ford easy communication, they nave
grown up together with u~ngenerous
rivalry, The people are 50 closely
connected by ties of blood and In
terest that they are practically one
community. Richmond has oatstrip-
ped her sister city in the race for
material prosperity, hut she acknowl-
edges her obligations TO the thrifty
and industrious people of Manchester
for their contributions to ner sue
cess.
The people of Manchester have a
civic pride. which will make the sur
render of the name n autonomy
of their city a sacrifice, but many of
them appreciate the advantages
which will accrue from the union,
and are willing to make the sacri-
flee.
THE advantages 10 Richmond Will
he the acquisition at more than one
square mile Of territory well suited
for residential, commercial and man
ufacturing purposes, and the addi-
ton to her population of nearly b.
600 desirable citizens, with all the
prestige and advantages such an in
crease will triHg.
The people of Manchester will
become citizens of the capital city
of the Commonwealth city in
whose history. glory and greatness
they will have equal representation
in the city council. increased fHrttt-
ties for INSTRUMENTATION, and ad-
ditional agencies for the protection of
life and property. The laws viii be
executed and public affairs admins
tered by Judges and officers of their
own choice. and they will receive for
the improvement of the city two or
three straeR more money than has