The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-05
New Ordinance Provides for
Only Three Wards and
Fewer Members.
WILL GET GOOD SUPPORT
Goes to Lower Branch To-Mor-
row Night, With City
Attorneys Approval.

Reducing tho number Of wards az
the city from eight to three. and tho
number Of members Of tho Common
Council from forty to fifteen. and OF
the Board of Aldermen from twenty
four to nine. Councilman Clyde Rat
cliffc. OF Lee Ward, will offer in tho
Common Council tomorrow night an
ordinance drawn by City Attorney Pol
lard diminishing the number OF wards
and redistricting the city on the basis
OF approximately equal population
Tho preamble to the ordinance sets
forth that from the recent United
states census it appears that the popu-
lation OF tho present eight wards varies
greatly, therefore not giving as nearly
as may be equal representation, tho
census OF the city by wards showing
as follows: Clay Ward, 1850; Henry
Ward, 14.esS; Jefferson Ward. 1916;
Lee Ward. 1921: Madison Ward. Ia
o3o Marshall Ward. 1901. Monroe
Ward. 14.565; Washington Ward, 1880
Not Equal Representation.
so lar from giving equal representa-
.ion or within 5000 or each other as
required by State law. It seems that
Clay Ward has moro than double the
population of Washington Ward, and
that there arc other inequalities, max
ing 1T practically mandatory that tho
Council shall redistrict the city. III
:aot. tho Code of Virginia, section
i"15C, provides tl.at mandanlus may
lie 10 any citizen to compel the per
formance of such d ,ty II the Council
fails after each United States census
to reapportion the representation
among the wards OF the city or to
change the boundaries OF the wards SO
as TO give as far as practicable equal
representation. No ward under such
reapportionment is to exceed any other
by as many as 5000 Inhabitants
Tho preamble further ctates that In
the opinion Of the Council it Is ex-
pedient not only to change tho ward
boundaries, but also to diminish tho
number OF wards. IT therefore provides
for the establishment OF three wards
with the following boundaries:
Proposed Ward boundaries.
Ward No. Ito include all the ter
rltory within the corporate limits on
the north side of James River lying
east and south OF 4 line beginning on
the northern boundary of James River
at the Ninth Street Free Bridge. in
the centre line OF Ninth Street and con
tnuing IN northerly direction
along Ninth street TO the north
ern bank OF shockoe Creek. thence
along Shockoe Creele to tho corporata
limits at the northern end OF seventh
Street,
Ward No. ITO include all the ter
ritory OF the city OF Richmond lying
on the south side of the James River,
formerly the city of Manchester, all
Islands In James River and that nor
ton of the territory OF tho city on the
northern side OF James River lying
west and north OF the line OF Wayd NO
/. ana east and south OF the following
me: Beginning at a. point OH the
northern margin OF James River at a
point where the western line Of the
HOLLYWOOD Cemetery Companys land
reaches said river. thence eustwardly
along the northern shore OF James
River to point OH said margin IN
line with the centre limo Of Belvidere
Streets; thence along the centre line
OF Belvidere Street TO the point Of III
tersect on Of Madison Street: thence
II rthwardly along the centre line Of
Madison Street 20 Clay Street; thence
eastwardly along the centre line OF
thence ncrthwardly along the centre
line of Prentis Street to Leigh
Street; thence westwardIy along
Leigh Street to St Peter Street, and
northwardly along ST. Peter Street to
the corporate limits.
Ward No. 3--To include, all the ter
rltory within the corporate limits of
~ S't5 yih8 o1' tHE loIlH SIDE OIL
the James River and north aid west
OF the line above mentioned, forming
the northern and western boun
dairy OF Ward No
Revise Registration.
The proposed ordinance further re-
quests the Judge of the Hastings Court
to appoint three commissioners to arr
range and revise the registration
books OF tho city so as to place each
registered voter Oh the proper pre-
einct and ward registration book, and
avoid the necessity of rereSistration
of such voters on account of lie
change Of ward lines.
Terms OF COuncilmen.
1t Is provided that rfothing in the
ordinance shall be construed to af-
feet the terms OF the present members
elected and qualified as mem bers of