The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-03
SUBURBAN TOWNS
FIGHT ANNEXATION
Claim to Have Better Utilities
Now Than City Could
Provide.
POINT to- SHOCKOE CREEK
Held Up as Example of City's
Inability to Make Internal
improvements.
POINT to- sHoCKoE CREEK

case on tho GROUNDS thRt oil parties
interested had not been Invited. and
that 1t would cause rcapportionmcnt
in Henrlco County. and that It would
temporarily disfranchisc voters I'm GER
tain districts 1t Is proposed TO annex.
Judge a. a. Campbell started the an
ncXation hearing fairly on Its way In
the Henrico Circuit Court yesterday
morning.
Judge Campbell took up every point
In the demurrers separately, and dis
posed of them In order. Exceptions
were noted by the attorneys for the
opposition, and then the same Attor
ncys presented to tho court lengthy
opening statements as to their posi-
ton in either opposing annexation out
right or laying plans for an agreement
which would meet with tho approval
of the several suburbs the city wishes
to annex.
City Engineer C. T.. Boiling went on
the stand ut the afternoon session as
the first witness to be examined. He
simply described the tentative lines as
they had been drawn by the Councils
Committee OH Annexation. and was still
on tho stand when court adjourned
at o'clock so that the attorneys could
attend the meeting OF the Richmond
Bar Association to take action on the
death of Maurice a. Powers.
ATTORNEYS WATCH
EACH TECHNICAL POINT
Except for occasional flashes of re-
partce. the days proceedings were dull
and tedious and even some OF the at
torneys nodded in their seats as others
droned out long statements In oppo-
sitlon to the whole proceeding. Live
licr Tits and verbal passages may be
expected. however, when tho taking of
testimony is begun. Attorneys on both
sidcs-and their name Is legion-are
alert to every point and to every tech
mic tinfy nd Ic He. llN-
licved that the hearing Will consume
ut least two weeks. and may even take
Il month. That appeals in some OF tho
cases will be taken Is a foregone con-
clusion. and II may he year before
annexation OF any territory becomes II
fact.
In taking up the claim OF attorneys
for the opposition that annexation
would disturb the political rights o:
voters taken in by annexation and de-
stroy the senatorial apportionment OF
licnrico County. Judge Campbell said
that he failed to see how annexation
would nullify any constitutional rights.
since the franchise could be exercised
III territory annexed as II Is In the
county. Neither did lie believe that
anncXa ton would have the effect of
causing reapportionment In the
county. and even il there were such
result it would not be sufficient
bar. on the plea that annexation
would deprive the county Of repre-
scntation in the State Senate. the court
held that this privilege would not be
affected, that Senator Wendenburg
would he able to serve out his term.
All other questions incident 10 annex
alton. Judge Campbell said, would be
settled automatically. lie held that all
the requirements AZ TO notification had
been complied with.
City Attorney Pollard then moved
that the court proceed with the hear
ing. hut he was Interrupted by Com
monwcalths Attorney sutton. of Hen
rico County, who said that the opDo-
sition wished to make Introductory
statements
OPPOSING COUNSEL
MAKE STATEMENTS
In his own statement Mr. Sutton said
that the city was not financially able
To take care of and improve any more
territory. He illustrated with Shockoe
Creek. u horrible example, hc said. OF
lAchmond'S failure to care for the city's
sewerage system. lie stated, too, that
all the suburban towns II IL proposed
TO annex had efficient self-governments
and educational systems, which would
In nowisc be Improved by being taken
i. Ia Richmond. He was followed by
Commemorative Attorney Haskins
liCbson, of Chesterfield County, who
offered like objections. and who at
tempted 10 SHOW that much OF the
]
geographically suited for annexation.
Attorney Royal T. Cabcll, represent
I ing Gintcr Park, which has a popu-
lltion of about loo people, follow
ing the others cue, added that tine
residents OF Gintcr Park had no desire
/ whatever OF coming into Richmond:
that they were perfectly satisfied with
their own government and with their
I own educational facilities, and that
Richmond would be unable 10 afford
/ there any Improvement which they did
/ not already have. He. too. pointed to
/ Shockoe Creek rs an illustration of
! Richmond's dcreliction in the matter
/ OF proper sewerage. lie stated rather
/ enphatically that tho city's chief de-
| sire to CnneS Gintcr Park was to Sc
cure the taxable values of the suburb.
/ which reach the sum of s2.500o00 lie
/ sail that lie could prove his assertion
( by members OF the City Council them
selves
Attorney G. Z. White, representing
/ Uirhl1D1 Park. said that the only ap-
/ proach 10 Highland Park from Rich
mond would he by long bridges, for
which no plans had been made. and
/ that the citizens of the township were
+ opposed to annexation unless 1t al
: fordcd them some benefits they have
not now.
THAN RICHMOND
/ Highland Park, he said, has efficient
/ light and gas systems and fourteen
! miles of streets, three fourths of which
arc paved with granolithic. larger
/ proportion OF paved streets than Rich
mond has. Stll. lie said. no didn't
/ ;h!nk 1t could be considered i'll to
/ designate any one as n citizen OF Rich
mond. and Attorney G. V. Meredith
sprans up To- shake hands with him
on The remark Everybody. including
/ the court. laughed.
! Attorney John Cutchins, appearing
for North Richmond. stated that this
suburb would not object to anneXa-
/ lion il 1t were on fair and reasonable
terms.
/ MI Ilobson submitted n map show
/ ins that one objection OF Chesterfield
/ County was against taking in tho ter
riiory west Of Hecdy Creek. lie said.
| however. that II Richmond would give