The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-04
ANNEXATION WILL
Be SIOEREO.
City Council Believed to Favor
Generous Policy of
Extension.
WANT FAIR GROUNDS IN CITY
Question Whether Specific Sec
tons or General Territory
Shall Be Added.

The first serious consideration of the
proposition Of a general annexation
OF territory at the hands Of the city
authorities will be on Friday night Of
this week, when the Council Commit
tee on Ordinance. Charter and Reform
will hold a public hearing on the SUBJ
ject. Papers relating to the annexa-
ton of Highland Park. Barton Heights
and territory west Of the city are
pending before the committee
The Council is believed to favor a
generous policy of annexation. and.
when the matter has been thoroughly
threshed out, 1t seems reasonable to
expect that q new line will have been
drawn entirely around the city. taking
in all Immediately adjacent population.
The immediate matter to be deter
mined by the committee Is whether
1t will take up each OF the pending
papers and deal with the various su-
burbs separately. or whether q gen.
eral plan including them all will be
prepared.
Must Have sDeciAe Coatr.ct.
In either case the Committee on Or
dinances. Charter and Reform will
probably recommend to the Council
the appointment Of special commit
tee to negotiate with the citizens OF
the sections to be annexed, to draw
up a definite contract in regard to
public improvements guaranteed to-
the new section in the event that 1t
Immediately assumes the city tax rate.
This was the method pursued In the
Manchester annexation In 1910. the
contract with the former city of Man
chester guaranteeing certain SPECIFIC
improvements. such a. the new bridge.
and in addition that a fixed proportion
of the taxes from the section an
nexed should during the first five
years be expended in street improve
ments. Already the city has gone far
beyond the requirements Of that an
nexation agreement. having provided
by bond issue for a system of sew
erage, for connecting South Richmond
with the city water supply, making
public park. A second bridge. not
contemplated in the annexation agree
ment, will soon be erected. according
to present plans OF members Of the
Council.
City Aids Outlying Section.
The policy recently laid down By
the Council Water Committee In 70.
fusing to grant the use OF city water
to Highland Park and Swansboro will.
it is believed, give the city an ad-
vantage in negotiations over the terms
of annexation. Heretofore the city
has furnished city water in many in
stances; has allowed connections with
city sewers: has sent its fire and po-
lice departments and its emergency
into nearby sections, thus
giving without compensation to those
living near the city many OF the ele-
ments Of protection for which Rich
mond taxpayers are assessed.
Another phase of the annexation
situation which will be strongly urged
is the sanitation and policing OF sew
eral outlying sections. the population
and taxable values of which might not
Justify otherwise their annexation
Richmond has spent more than $1,000
coo in a system of drainage during
the past three years. only to have
a fringe all around the city where
the population has no sewerage, wa
ter from questionable sources. and no
Systematic inspection OF sanitary pro-
visions.
Want Fair Grounds In City.
Several members Of the Council have
stated that in any general annexation
thew would insist that the State Fair
Grounds be included In order that the
authority Of the city police might not
be questioned in preserving order IN
the grounds The property belongs TO
the city. and, while city police nave
aIways been on duty In the grounds
their arrests have to be turned over
to county officers to be taken before
county MAGISTRATES. 1t has been freely
said during PAST fairs that the o"un-
tvs fee system has been q most Sc.
rious handicap in the enforcement OF
order within the grounds.