The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-26
MAKE STRONG PLEA
FOR ANNEXATION
Business People Unite in Urging
That Corporate Lines Be
Extended.
SUBURBS WANT TO COME IN
Former Opponents of Annexation
Appear Again-Want Ten
More Square Miles.

Annexation OF territory to tho city
along liberal lines was advocated be-
fore special committee of the City
Council last night. committees from the
Chamber OF Commerce and Business
Mems Club asking that the city not
only take steps to catch up with the
march of progress. but that some ade-
quatc provision be made for future
growth along we'll defined and proper
lines. Representatives OF every large
suburb around the city appeared. ask
Ing admission. Opposition came from
ID. l. Pulliam. who led the fight
against the consolidation of Richmond
and Manchester: from A. Bierne Blair
who. az former member OF the Board
OF Aldermen during the annexation
fight In 1906, at which time me shoe
string lines which now gIrdle the city
were drawn. and from one resident of
Floyd Avenue and one from F'airmount.
VINO desired certain street improve
ments in their immediate vicinity. The
committee heard the argument on both
sides until late hour, adjourning 10
meet at the call o fthe chairman. when
certain data IN regard to the suburbs
has been compiled.
Chamber Urges Prompt Action.
John C. Easley, as chairman OF the
annexation committee OF tho Cham
Der OF Commerce, expressed the atti-
tude of that body toward liberal ex-
tension. pointing out the waste and
duplication of having a half dozen
municipalities in one community. Con-
ditions were very different, he said
from the time when general annexa-
ton was before proposed. The city
had not In 1905 taken on the new life
that has characterized It for the past
g.. l..
had come from every standpoint to
plan for future substantial growth
Business Manager Dabney, OF the
Chamber OF Commerce.. who. while a
member OF the Board OF Aldermen In
1906. fought for liberal extension Of
the corporate limits. serving as a mem
Der OF the special committee on an
nexation at that time. presented a
carefully prepared statement outlining
the views OF the Chamber OF Commerce
and the reasons why II favored gen
ersl annexation
Dnbney I'lnns Greater City.
Richmond. he commended. should con-
troll the opening and grading OF streets
beyond present development. Failure
TO accomplish this in time. he said, had
resulted In serious disadvantage to the
growth and beauty OF the city, and
had cost many thousands of dollars
that might have been avoided had the
city's Engineering Department had
control of the territory. IT was OBJ
vious also, he argued, from health
standpoint. that the City Health De-
partmeht should be able to control and
regulate sanitary conditions. But from
the standpoint of the chamber the prl-
mary reason for extension was 10 pro-
vide homes for working people. Rich
mond must compete with other manu-
featuring centres in seeking industries.
n m rail- Af
cinnati plant manufacturing gas me-
ters which had looked over Richmond
as site for a factory. This firm
brought four of its foremen to Rich
mond. and on their advice rejected
this location. as its working men could
not obtain homes here at reasonable
rental
Homes for Working Men.
II a liberal policy were pursued in
annexation cooperative companies
could readily be formed to build homes
OF the character most needed within
me reacn or all. and SO scattered as
TO be contiguous to the various fac
tory centres. Delay in acquiring lib
eral area would seriously .retard
growth and almost preclude new in
dustries. The chamber recommended
extension for n half-mile eastward. a
mile and three quarters 10 the south.
and for two miles north and west in
creasing the city's area by about ten
square miles. In his experience those
seeking locations for factories prefer
lower insurance with fire and police
protection and city water and sewer
age. with full city taxes. to any form
OF tax exemption that could be offered
After having studied the statistics of
all cities In this country Of anywhere
near Richmond's size. he had found
that Paterson and Reading were the
only two having smaller area than
Richmond.
Income Almost Doubled.
Since the annexation said Mr. Dab
ney, the city's annual income has in
creased Sl,00o.000. Up to 1906 we had
I'VE and one-half square miles, and il
TOOK us nifty years to develop il from
dirt roads and ravines. We took i'm
four and one-half square miles in 1906.
and some people wonder why the city
hasn't completed improvements In that
section in seven years The progress
has been all that could reasonably have
been expected. The procedure for an
neXation is much simpler than for the
consolidation of cities. The law wisely
protects both the county and the people
annexed. Let the outlying sections
come in and trust us. They will find
that we can eXpend their income in inn
provements right among them moro
economically than they can. and that
they will have in every sense square
deal"
business Mems Club Fnvors II.
Henry w. Rountree presented resolu-
tons adopted by the Business Mems
Club favoring immediate annexation on
broad lines. James Lewis Anderson
urged the economy of taking in terri
tory In advance OF building and to pre-
vent forther local bond issues at high
rates for Improvements. more or less
temporary, and that the city would
have to do all over again. The city he
thought, ought TO be the arbitcr OF its
own making. The advent of the motor
and electric car had made 1t natural for
cities to spread out.
Woodson Waddey told how Richmond
had steadily lost place from the TWEEN
ty-fifth to the forty seventh in the list
of cities OF this country. climbing back
by means OF annexation In the 1910
census to the thirty ninth place The
population he said. was the only rating
which sticks In the minds of people.
and city is graded by that, regardless
OF its bank statement. or other evil
dences of prosperity. Annexation was
bound to come, and the longer delayed
the more eXpeusiye wopId ornyo