The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-30
NORTHSIOE WANTS
TO Be ADMITTED.
Citizens Hold Meeting in Barton
Heights School and Discuss
Annexation.
DISTRICT HAS 5000 PEOPLE
Plan General Appeal to City
Council to Back Up Sepa-
rate Petitions.
DISTRICT HAS 5000 PEOPLE

Twenty-seven citizens. representing
Barton Heights. Highland Park and
other suburban districts north OF
Richmond, who met last night In the
assembly room Of the Barton Heights
school building. put themselves on
record as favoring the incorporation
within the city limits Of the territories
for which they stood. and appointed
a committee to draft q general petit
ton to the City Council asking for
annexation
The plan OF the movement Is for
each community to make It's own APP
plication to the city and frame tts con-
tract separately. and to this end Bar.
ton Heights and Highland Park have
already filed petitions. but the desire Is
to supplement the individual requests
by a general appeal on behalf Of the
whole territory. since the residents
want II all incorporated with Rich
mond at the same time.
The district in question II included
by the Brook Road on the west as
far north as the Brookland Turnpike.
which forms the northern boundary
until the corporate limits Of Highland
Park are reached. and the proposed
line then makes a circuit 30 as to
take In all Of that municipality. COM
ing back to Richmond along the Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railway tracks.
About 5000 people are residents OF
the territory so mapped out
Need Water Supply.
The general desire for Incorporation
OF these districts has been apparent
for some time. and the arguments in
favor Of the step have been brought
out in various meetings. 1t was point
ed out last night that the lack OF an
AID 70 Of hs
conditions which makes incorporation
desirable IL not necessary. Not only
will connection with the city mains
give the residents OF the section all
sumption and fire fighting. but II will
also insure a pure supply free from
infection and remove danger OF cpl
denies.
Another advantage that incorpora-
ton will bring will be a steady main
tenance OF streets and lights. The
point was made by several speakers
which have developed the district can
not be expected to keep up the streets
and light them after their interests
have been sold out. The only recourse
which the citizens will then have will
be the formation Of citizens associa-
tions or separate towns. unless annex
alton takes place.
Mayor Ragland. Of Barton Heights.
and DR.. R W. Miller. OF the Barton
Heights Town Council. told the meet
ing that their corporation had about
reached it's limit 30 far as taxation
for these purposes was concerned.
since the tax rate was already as
high as II could be placed. and the
citizens refused to grant a special as
sessment.
The question Of taxation was one OF
the drawbacks to annexation In the
eyes Of most Of the speakers. They
feared that the city would raise their
taxes and assessments above the
amount at VIII CHI they now stand.
Various other advantages were dis
cussed, such as the general increase
in property values of the annexed DIS
trict, and added prosperity OF the en-
tire city, in which most OF the resi-
dents In the territory seeking annexa-
ton do business.
The fact was brought out that the
Chamber OF Commerce has on FOOT
general plan for annexation OF outly-
ing territory. and some OF those pres
ent favored waiting until the chamber
should have acted. When the motion
TO appoint a committee was finally
passed. this question was undecided-
F. NJ Mcclure was elected perma-
nent chairman Of the meeting and J.
n McComb, secretary. Mr.. Mcclure
said that he would announce the
names Of the special committee later
Among those who spoke In favor OF
annexation were Julien Gum. DR.. r.
". Miller. Mayor Rag'and. OF Barton
Heights, and J. A. Redd