The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-14
TALK ANNEXATION
AND Do NOTHING
JOINT MEETING OF BOARD AND
COMMITTEE RESULTS IN NO
ACTION.
TO WAIT FOR REPORT
TENTATIVE ORDINANCE FOR PLANS
GOES OVER BECAUSE THE
AMOUNT or ApPR0PRTA-
TToN NOT KNOWN.

After "A discussion which appar-
entity lacked enthusiasm and definite
purpose, the joint meeting of the ad-
ministratiye board and the commit
tee on public buildings, properties and
utilities, which had been called in con-
ference to consider means Of improv-
ing the city and laying plans for fu-
ture development by annexation adj
journed last night without accom-
pitshing anything, and tabled a reso-
luton to have passed an ordinance
appropriating $1,000, or some larger
amount, to defray the expenses of
making surveys of and approximating
the cost of laying plans for the posi-
BILE annexation of territory within
radius of two miles of the present
corporate lines until after the report
of the committee on annexation is
made.
4 tentative ordinance had been
drawn by City Attorney Pollard at the
request of Il. G. Folkes. and was pre-
scented to the conference 1t con-
templated plans for city improve
ments, such as of buildings. parks,
streets, sewerage systems and other
municipal utilities in the proposed ex-
tended territory, and called for an APP
"a oRA itttictA va SbyUpp ~ btAldE All
the resulting expense. Commissioner
Mccarthy at once objected that the
appropriation was far too small, and.
suggested that it had better be made
$20, 900. Mr. Foikes explained the
tenor of the administrative boards
desire to extend the city limits and to
take in new territory, which was
daily becoming more necessary, and
suggested that a survey Of all the ter
rtory within a radius of two miles
OF the city be made so that the city
could be uniformly extended. Under
the proposition property holders could
not make Improvements unless they
were in accordance with a general
plan adopted by the city.
Commissioner Beck said that this
would have to be done by an act of
legislature, which would give the city
the right to make surveys OF and
plot the proposed new territory and.
II necessary, to condemn property.
Legislature Can Act.
city Attorney Pollard was asked If
this would lie within the power of the
legislature and whether it would be
constitutional, He said that ii would
lie within the power OF the legisla-
ture to enact such law, and cited in
stances in which 1T had been done
1T would certainly lie within the gem
erai police power, which is continual
~ being upheld by the courts.
mere was unanimity of opinion
tnat the work would require a ire
mendous outlay of money, and it was
the general sense OF most of the
members of the conference that to
undertake such an expenditure be-
lore 1t was known whether the legis-
| iature would look favorably on the
matter of giving the city such power
would be unsafe. Councilman Pol
lock suggested that instead of a survey
| being made it would be well enough
to so before the legislature with the
| promise that propertyholders who
might be annexed would be treated
squarely in dealing with the city, and
that the plan be generally explained
10 the legislature. 1t would be time
enough then, if the Legislature acted
faVorably, to go ahead with the ex-
penditure.
City Engineer Boiling was asked if
ne could make an approximate esti-
mate OF such a survey as had been
planned. He replied that, with all the
details mentioned in the proposed or
qinance. 1t would cost $4,000. But
I he said that general survey could be
made by compilation of plots of out
| lying territory already in the city
! engineers office.
HAS NO Power.
| 1t was generally agreed that the
conference had no power in the pre-
misses to take any action. 1t could
/ only make suggestions and use it's in
/ iiuence for the extension of the city
and for general improvements. Then
1 there was the question as to how the
matter would he viewed by the prop
4 ertyholders whom it was contemplated
/ to take into the city, though several
members suggested that most of the
! outlying propertyhoIders would well
| come he proposal to come into the
! city and enjoy its conveniences.
/ After further discussion, which
I was more or less aimless, MIR.
Mitchell moved that the matter be
1 tabled until after the committee on
annexation had reported on the pres
ent territory which it is proposed TO
I bring within the city confines The
motion was carried, and the con-
a 49,. F. q