The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-25

s.sr -, i Il
In the Masonic Temple last night
the voters of the Third Ward, Man
chester, had their inning and brought
out perhaps the largest and most en-
thusiastic crowd not only from that
section, but from all parts OF the city.
that has been got together since the
active consolidation campaign was be-
gun some weeks ago. All the regular
seats in the large lodge room were
taken and many chairs We're placed in
the centre of the hall. AS 1t was. not
nearly all of the crowd could be lseat-
ed and many were forced to stand.
Interest was so great, however, that
hardly half u dozen left the hall until
after Chairman Dunford declared the
meeting adjourned. good while after
10 O'clock.
solid for consolidation.
Because of the large number of per-
sons from other parts OF the town
who attended the meeting out of
sheer enthusiasm, 1t was hard to ESTE
mate just how many voters of the
Third Ward actually took part in t.
Those fully acquainted with the situa
ton said that there were more than
fifty Of them and the most cold
FLOODED spectator could easily tell
that they We're all hot for consolida-
ton. 1t Is conceded that tho Third
Ward is the weakest spot in Manches-
ter for two reasons. First. the num-
Der of non-committal persons is great
er there, and then it is said to poll a
larger colored vote than all OF the
other wards put together.
While there Is reason to believe that
1, ,oj0 ~ IN M 70 he
In favor of consolidation, as yet the
workers have not been able to get a
line on 1t and have SO far not included
it in their estimate of the final re-
turns.
!;asults OF the activity OF the Con-
solidation Club organized a few weeks
ago are most apparent in MI parts OF
The town. Headquarters have, been cs-
tanlislied IN the busiest part of Hull
Street In charge Of hnnttnS business
men who are eager TO talk annexation
with any one who drops In. The club
has purchased number of buttons
with which every advocate of con-
solidation Is tagged. New members
are always given several which they
are asked to distribute among their
friends after having brought them
around to the right way of thinking.
One of the most conspicuous sights rs
one reaches the South end Of the
Free Bridge is huge sign with the
coat of arms Of Richmond and a pic
ture of Washington side by side. sur
rounded by persuasive phrases In
large type. telling every one why Man
chester should become Washington
Nhrd.
Delegate D. i. Toney was the first
speaker last night. lie waded into
the question, showing first that while
many other cities of the state had in
creased in population and Importance
from year to year., Manchester had
stood still Hcfthought the reason was
that the people Of his native city had
lived too much to themselves.
There was much laughter and ap-
Iplause when he stated that he had
known the time when the Manchester
Council had been harderS.t to approach
than the Senate OF the United States.
Mr.. Toney urged them to- lay aside per-
sonAl feelings and vote for q thing
t,that he believed to be for the great
good of all the people.
Alderman Robert L. Patram, repre-
senting the Third Ward !. in opening his
speech said that as far as he could
see. Manchester was now worse off
than 1t ever had been. "The Free
Bridge" he said, lis thorn in my
side. and Manchester is wholly and
solely responsible for It,. NIanch ester
can raise at most s17S.000, while 1t
Will take $500, 900 for new structure.
Consolidation Will give 1t to u.s.. He
spoke of the water supply, which, he
Esaid.Ewa a good one as far as II went,
but asserted that If the plant closed
down from a. NJ. to 10 p. NJ. only
two liours' supply would be left, Be-
tween these hours also, he said, the
$firo department could not throw III a
stream more than fifteen feet from tha
ground. Fl 81 asked II it would not be
better to accept the adequate fire
protection" offered by the terms Of
lconsolidatio ion. f
NJ Ricimond Not Bankrupt.
Councilman Carter G. Jones, a mem.
Der or the Consolidation Committee,
read a letter from City Attorney II.
r. Pollard explaining lat the re-
quest OF certain menlb ers iof the club.
parts " the ordinance which had been
questioned by the Observation-Disclosures.
He gave his opinion, as before, that
the contract between he two cities
was binding ana could 8be en- forced
even II Richmond saw Al to break
sLdlln WHICH Il6 ueCtett6u, : 4ulll$ ~ oSos
dent, abe would not do Gases wera
cited where similar ordinances had
been enforced by ] egal v pros edure. Vi In
answer to the statement that Rich
lmond H was practically n bankrupt, i fig
ures We're produced which. Judging
from the applause 9. We're salts factory
TO the crowd. Mr.. Dunford read a al
letter from Mayor RI chard son briefly
covering the anne fact IS. Ii ~.
n. Brief speeches We're d ri % mad q A BY
Alderman j Ohm Moore, Councilman T.