The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-13
EXPERT MAY PLAN
. FOR C|TY'S GROWTH
Councilmcn Want Prompt Report
on Annexation OF
Territory.
MEETS HIGH RENT PROBLEM
City Now Ten Years Behind on
Caring for Future, Assert
Several Members.
MEETS HIGH RENT PROBLEM

THE special committee on annexation,
hold It's first meeting tonight at 1880
O'Clock for tho purpose of orsaniza
ton and TO map out it's plan of action.
The committee consists OF Alderman
Joseph Il. Powers Ordway Fuller and
w. i. Gilman. and Councilman Morgan
r. Mills, w. y. Butler. Carter C. Jones
ana Jacob U,nIauf. Mr.. Powers. as au-
thor of the resolution. will be made
chairman OF the committee.
n large number or petitions look
ing to the annexation of separate SUI
burbs in different directions have been
referred to this committee. The sent.
mcnt in the Council is believed to fav-
or general annexation within
straight lines. rather than n pioccmcal
dicllcring with each individual suburb,
which would impose OH the committee
u practically endless task. Although
so far as open expression of opinion
goes all members of the Council arc
in favor of annexation, there ia evil
IDENTIFY some opposition. as was shown
in the action of the BOARD of Alder
men in eliminating the appropria ton
of $500 for the expenses of the special
committee. That special maps, sur
veys. population estimates and other
information will have to be compiled is
conceded, and the members of the spe-
ciai committee think they have hardly
the time to give to such detail work.
Present Xig-zaR Lines.
CriticisinE the annexation OF 1906 AZ
II piccemcal affair. where Jagged and
zig gag lines were arranged to meet
all sorts of conditions, and where prac-
ticaliy every interest that desired to
escape paying city taxes was left out.
one member of the committee has suG-
rcstcd tho employment OF an expert
engineer from some other city to make
n survey and map showing the populat-
ed territory and territory in line OF
probable growth that should be with
ia the city limits. Such an expert. II
is felt, should have no local acqulin:-
ance and be without local bias. lie
should be capable ot making comprc.
nensive survey OF the territory adjoin-
ing the city. enumeiating the p.'.;ent
houses and estimating the population
to be annexed, and confer with the City
Engineer as to drainage problems ar
fectinS the new territory.
ON the basis of such information /,
is held that a plan could be presented
for the consideration of the commit
tee fixing approximately straight lines
putting before the committee not only
an estimate of the present population
but the room for future growth, tho
present assessed valuations, and the
cost of such urgent improvements as
would be required Immediately upon
annexation, such as trunk sewers and
main thoroughfares.
Test Vote Ir Favorable.
A test vote Of sentiment ON the an
neXation problem occurred in the Board
OF Public Interests last night. I'm
pressed with the need for public i'm
provements in the older part of the city
Mr.. Tucker proposed a resolution re-
commenting TO The Council that con
sideration of annexation be deferred
Every other member opposed the reso-
lution and il was lost, having but one
affirmative vote. Members OF the board
We're Of the opinion that Richmond is
already ten years behind in the matter
OF annexation; that the high rent prob
lem Will not be solved until there Ia n
comprehensive enlargement OF the
city's boundaries, not only to take in
built-up communities now seeking ad.
mission, hut also TO annex land for
home building, and that there never
will come Il time when the old or cen
trial section of the city viii be finish.
ed" or when plans will not he mdci
consideration for internal improve
mentS
Chairman Powers has expressed q
doubt whether without outside expert
aid in compiling statistics, the anneXa-
ton committee can complete It's work
and present a report III time for inal
action by this Council. which expires q
year from next August.
Should Act Promptly.
ii is regarded as of great Importance
that the annexation he consummatcd
before the close OF 1914, so that i'm the
assessment of property in the spring
of 1915. the city may get the benefit OF
such increases in value as may accrue
AS the annexation OF Manchester took
place after the assessment Of 1910 had
been begun. the city is not now getting
anything like a fair tax return on the
value she has created on the South
side, and the Improvements of South
Richmond which are based on u per
centage of revenues from that section
are proportionately reduced. Court
proceedings in which the city FINAL.
won delayed the last general anneXa-
ton until December 6, 1906. and as a
result it was not until the 1910 assess
ment that people in the territory ther
annexed began to pay taxes based OF
the actual or salable value of their
property.