The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-20
'R|CHMOND'S NEEDS
ARE POINTED OUT
Superintendent Chandler Wants
More Money for Building
School Houses.
SHOULD BUY FAIRGROUNDS
Streets Should Be Determined
On Before Annexation Is
Continued, Says Speaker.

Richmond's needs and delinquencies
in the matter of public improvements
were pointed out in series OF
speeches at the second of the business
mems lunches at the Business Mems
Club yesterday afternoon. Schools,
parks roads, sewers, libraries and
bridges were all discussed with an
acuteness and accuracy as 10 fact
which showed that Richmond business
men are alive to the economic needs
OF the city.
A plea for more liberal expenditure
for schools was made by Superinten
dent j. a. c. Chandler, who stated that
1t would take 100000 to bring public
educa tional facilities in Richmond up
to standard. One new building is need
ed in the West End. he said, and Two
new ones in the East End for white
children. while the facilities for col
ored children are decidedly deficient.
The colored people, he pointed out, are
congested in old Jackson Ward and
there 100 children are attending school
in four rooms.
school System Inadequate.
The City Council has been generous
enough, he said. for the last five years,
having expended ss50.0o0 during that
time but the school system is far from
adequate because Of the parsimony
with which it was supported for the
preceding twenty years. He stated
y
same siz expend at least one-thfrd Of
their tax returns for the maintenance
and Improvement of their public
schools. and If Richmond schools were
similarly supported, there would be no
cause of complaint
He also urged that the city purchase
vacant lots for the establishment of
parks and Fairgrounds, before ever
increa sing real estate values make 1t
almost impossible to obtain the land
for that purpose, where il is most
needed
The necessity for extending the city
streets at the earliest possible time, in
order to insure uniform and slightly
development. WAS emphasized by Col
onel a. :. Buford. lie SAID that there
should be some provision by which the
streets might be extended before out
lying sections We're annexed. lie also
favored an amendment OF the State
Constitution. by which part OF the cost
OF street Improvement could be charged
TO owners Of abuttnE property, and
excessive bond issues avoided
City's Other Needs.
G. Harvey Clarke brought up the
need for q good public library in Rich
mond, stating that many Northern
cities a fraction the size Of Richmond
have splendid Libraries, which are in
constant use.
Thomas p. Bryan spoke of the need
OF opening up either Fourteenth or Eff
teenth Street in order to relieve the
congestion Of traffic and make access
20 the proposed new bridge possible.
The dang erous condition of having
Shockoe Creek as an open sewer
through the centre OF the city was
pointed ont BY Major T.. r. Christian.
There was practically full attend
ance upon the meeting. nifty business
men having been invited. The com
mittee in charge was composed OF w.
u. Adams, chairman; j. I. Palmatory
and Is. w. Wilson. Those present were
u. Carr Boschen. W. H. Brown. A. \.
Eooth, w. d. Browning. r. Nee. Bul-
dington. i. s. Buford. Jr.. w. f. Blu
ford, J. G Bristow. VI. j Caplcs, Charles
) Clark. j. Preston Carson, II. l.. Cain,
q. Harvey Clarke. George Il. Crtw-
ford, &. +. CABOT Arthur f. Chapman,
y s Cary, Leon Clarke, William {.
Camp, j. w Craig. Jr.. A. j. Cavs-
naugh, r. NJ. Darlington, y. j. Crafts.
W. J. Carncal Jr, X. w. Darlington,
I. Archibald Cary, IJr. ]. \. G. Chand-
ler Walter q. Crenshaw. W. -. Crcn-
shaw. r. :. Christian. l.. T. Christian.
Thomas Christian, r. G. Christian. II. T..
Bryan, Alvin VI. smith, Amos NJ. Cover,
II. W Rountrce. IL. T. ,lc-1son, O. J
sands W. T. Reed. w. $ T.. Mayo.
j. w Curry. }. g. Pollard. r. e Piper.