The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-21
A SPLENDID CITY BUDGET.

Providing for the appropriation of more money
than ever for the improvement of streets IN
Richmond. making liberal funds available
for the upbuilding of the citys school system.
and manifestiug most generous disposition to-
ward the annexed territory, now known as
Washington Ward, the budget prepared by the
Committee on Finance Of Council is progress,
sive measure. which merits the endorsement OF
the entire citizenship of the municipality
In size the budget is the biggest i'll the history
OF the capital city This is indicative of the
phenomenal growth of vtrginias capital There
are few cities the size of Richmond whose
nance Committee can plan expenditures
totang s$o6l, sG767 for a single year. Yet
this has been done By the capital city exche.
quer-keepers and each penny appropriated is in
sight, s3.00e,9@5 being this schedule of estimated
receipts for 1911. and So 96267, the balance on
band from 1910.
Most Individually there will be some COM
plant about the budget on the part of indiyidu,
ais who put section or ward above the commu-
nifty as a whole but taken in its entirety the
budget is commendable document, which right
thinking citizens must approve. and voice pride
in their satisfaction.
The budget is as much a credit to the Commit
tee Finance the city. 1t shows earnest
thought, deep consideration, farsightedness
painstaking care in disbursement of the city's
finances civic pride ana keen appreciation OF
the municipalities needs and growth, hercu
lean task confronted the disbursers and they
have met 1t ably.
The streets and schools of the municipality
have been given first place in the budget
as they should have been. and the re-
suit of the appropriations provided for can
not but be satisfactory to residents in
all quarters of the municipality. On the
streets of the city proper and Washington Ward
s239,o0 will be expended during the next
year. This includes the street work al
ready contracted for across the river. M
appropriation made for smooth paving Thu
committee deeming it wiser and best to provide
for proper sewerage systems, water mains ant
grading, so as to get the streets ready for thu
asphalt to in after years. and obvate thu
necessity oil repeatedly rearing up Tue sheel sur
Lace The liberal appropriation for street werl
viii remove a great percentage of mire from
what has been termed the mud belt anC
give the city a street system of which resi-
dents will be proud rather than ashamed In thu
matter of Washington Ward the street appropri
!. .stien amply redeems one Of the pledges made
during the campaign for annexation of that ter
rtory and the feelings OF the antiannexatien
ists--if there be such now-must be in mea
sure assuaged.
While the school appropriation Is oonsidera
bly, less than The amount requested by the Sehos
Board. which 100000, a few moments
thought will convince that il is ample and com
mensarate with the needs of the present year
The Finance Committee appropriated s254.175 fo
the building of new schools and the improve
ment OF others. the watchdogs of the treasur!
taking the view that this was all the work tina
could be done in twelve months. Provision wal
made for the drawing of plans and specification.
" of two white and one eeleEed schools, Thu
total cost TO be 100000. When these buiding
have been completed, money viii be appropri
ated for the erection of others, The Commute,
on Finance believes in applying homeopathic
treatment to the schools. while the School Boarc
leans toward allopathy AS a whole the treat
ment Of the schools is progressive and in line
with the growth OF the city and demands of par
ents and the school authorities.
There are two items in the budget worthy Of
special commendable reference They are the
appropriations of $4,000 and $4,000, respective
H. for the construction of steel and concrete
bridge over Gillies Greek. thus affording relief
to the fiood-plagued residents OF Fulton. and the
extension OF the new light system on Broad
street to EIba Station. The demand for both has
been general and the drafters Of the budget
showed in writing these items into the bulge,
that they are mindful Of the best interests and
advancement of the city. and the wishes and
needs Of its people
LET ORDER BIZ MAINTAINED.