The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-09
GET IT SOMEHOW.

The Tir0Sataa bel ewes that 90 per cent of the
people Of Richmond favor street improvement.
Ii believes that this 30 per cent will support the
city council and the administrative board in pro-
viding the necessary funds for the needed i'm
Droyements and in the proper distribution of
those funds. 1t believes that this 80 per cent
wants cleaner and better streets, whether this
contamination require an increased income or
not
Richmond needs a stronger and more efficient
street cleaning force; 1t needs sidewalks and
pavements In various parts Of the city; 1t needs
grading and other improvements of streets, hol-
lows and guIieys in certain sections. What Rich
mend needs Richmond can pay for and Richmond
viii have.
The question to be decided is one of detail.
must be had and it only remains now to devise
the best means of getting them,
Two methods Of securing the necessary funds
have been suggested, and both are being con.
sidered On one hand it is contended that the
tax rate DC increased. while others favor one
million dollar bond issue. Advocates of both
have advanced arguments in favor of the par
ticular plan favored and the finance committee
nd the administrative board is studying the
relative value of the two plans. They desire
all the light on the subject possible, and the one
considered the better will be adopted. Just nov
The Eirgiainn has no choice of methods. 1t be-
Hevcs that one or the other should be adopted
at the earliest possible moment, and 1T throws
open its columns TO suggestions from citizens Of
Richmond. IT invites them to make known their
views through this newspaper as a medium.
Those having the solution of the problem as
their duty will welcome suggestions we believe,
tons now are worth any number of objections
later Constructive criticism now will benefit the
city, while destructive criticism LAYER serves only
to relieve the feelings of the critic.
In favor of the bond issue the argument has
been advanced that the money will be available
at earlier date and In larger sums The
sooner the money is in hand it is contended, the
sooner the work can be begun aud the more
rapidly it can be pushed to conclusion More
over. bond issue will save the necessity of in
creasing the tax rate and losing to Richmond
one of its best advertisements namely, low tax
rate. That rate is lower in Richmond than in
any city OF comparative size and population IN
the country, according to figures prepared by
w. T. Dabney. business manager of the chamber
Of commerce. and this fact serves as an attractive
advertisement for the city. Everything else be
ing equal. business comes where the tax rate is
lowest
On the other hand. it is contended that the
market for bonds ia glutted aud that ii will be
s3sf .sEtt
The issuance of two-year tax certificates, 1t is
pointed out, win bring the city $4,000 In two
years, II the tax rate be increased two and half
mills the dollar, This increase moreover,
viii not affect such advertisement as the city
now secures from the fact of its low tax rate
because that rate will still be lower than in most
cities of the size of Richmond, and great deal
lower than the rate obtaining in Atlanta, the
city's nearest Southern rival for commercial SUI
premacy.
In brief, these are the arguments so far ad.
vanced by advocates of one or the other of the
two means of securing the funds for the i'm
proyements admitted to be necessary and upon
the making of which both factions are united
AS already stated, The Vtrginion believes this
question win be settled satisfactorily, and only
Insists here upon careful study OF the question
and wishes only to warn against the possibility
Of nothing being done because agreement cannot
be reached to how it should be done 1t wishes
to urge advocates of one method not to become
so welded to their idol that they will prefer no
action at all ii that method cannot be adopted.
There is danger of this, and it should be re-
remembered that the vast majority of the peo-
pic of Richmond want street Improvement They
want it at any reasonable cost. and though they
may be divided on the question of the best
means of securing the money for this purpose.
they are united in their desire for action by
some means.