The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-28
alElAI|0h DECREE
(Contanued from F1rrt paso).


UucA road assistance as will cause the
& idea of an appeal to be abandoned.
& In Masterful Manner.
The courtroom at Henrtco was
crowded yesterday morning when.
shortly after 10 O'Clock Judge Camp
bell, after a final reading Of the seven
teen sypewr:ttsn sheets covered with
his~ opinion and decree. took his place
on.the bench and began reading. The
Interest In the reading of the paper
was intense and deep impression was
made upon the lawyers and citizens
by the masterfui manner in which he
problem had been handled by the
court.
The defining Of the citys lines by
fudge Campbell followed closely that
> of the boundary for greater Richmond
3 prepared by the city. and the outcome
s of the case is "a distinct victory for
tie city The few changes made in
the proposed outline of the larger city
4 were TO large degree immaterial, and
the city is pleased with the results of
the hearing Of the case.
Attorneys representing she various
Interests also expressed their satisfac-
tior at the court findings. Only the
representative of Henrico county APP
pear displeased and their trouhle
q comes through The FACT that the curt
felt II could OF require the city 10 pay
10 Henraco county S2G0, GOO for main
tenance of roads urged TN county
counsels closing arguments
The complete text Of Judge Camp
bells opinion, and Of the annexation
decree, follows.
Courts Opinion.
In this case the court for more than
three weeks has heard all OF the EVIL
dence introduced by All Of the parties
to this controversy and has listened
with a great deal Of interest to the
arguments of counsel. and is satisfied
that by reaSon Of the forceful presen-
tation of the different interests that Z
has been greatly benefited in arriving
at decision in this case.
From the evidence adduced the
court Is satisfied that II is necessary
that Richmond should be allowed 10
annex naw TERRITORY From the evil
dence and from a frequent inspection
Of the territory of Richmond dur
ing these proceedings the court Is
convinced that for all Of the reasons
assigned in the ordinances asking for
annexation that annexation should he
allowed but the court. from the ply
sieal inspection. In satisfied that Rich
nond will not need in the near future
all OF the territory asked for within
the proposed limits The court las
considered this feature as carefully as
II coGl8. having q due regard To the
loss TO be sustained ny the counties
II is needless fer the court 20 com
ment upon the situation in Chester
field county. AS both parties 10 the
controversy are satisfied with the lines
Of annexation set forth in the decree.
AZ TO renrico county. a different
state OF affairs exists Tho attorneys
for the county Of Henrico have In
sisted from The beginning Of this pro
ceedlng that Rs hmond'R demands,
upon Henrico county are extrayagant,
and If may he permitted to say SO,
the attorneys representing Henrico
county have very ably presented their
side of the case. The court is not
able to agree with either the city or
the county OF Henrico,
About Ginter Park
II In earnestly insisted by the coun-
~ that Gjnter Park. beautiful
suburb, should be allowed to remain
In the county and that territory ada
cent and contiguous thereto should
also be excluded. The court believes
that 10 large extent the wish OF the
territory annexed should be consider
ed. As the court understands the POSI-
ton OF Ginter Park and the surround
ing territory. II does wish To become a
portion Of the city Of Richmond.
In the opinion of the court 1t is GER
tatniy eexpedient for the city of Rich
mond that this territory should be
annexed.
II liz seriously contended that sec
tions. such as the land lying between
Sherwood Park and Bellevue and
Chanttlly and Colonial Place, should
not be annexed because they are viz
tuaily rnbuilt upon and not needed.
inasmuch as there Is considerable
vacant territory between these sec
lions and the present city limits. a
great deal Of this territory has been
sold Off In town lots. virtually all OF II
has sidewalks and streets laid off and
il In It's present condition. absolute
ly unfit for agricultural purposes, II
Is In a beautiful section. In in the d.
would be natural and is. IS said
above, unflt for other purposes than
building
In addition to the reasons set out
r. II, the orc,t-ltsrTces. Mr., Dillon and 2sth
Cyc both give ss reasons for annexa-
ton the fact that property has been
put upon the market in lots and has
been 90 managed as not to be biz
for use f0l agricultural purposes as
a very potent reason why the same
should be brought into the city.
In taking the lines act out In the
decree the court has. as far as pos
sible. avoided taking in any agriCui-
tural lands except whore II was
necessary to do so 10 have the terri
tory in compact form. Because Of
he fact that the revenues of Henrlco
county will be seriously affected. and
particularly owing to the condition in
which cevtsl n magisterial districts Of
the county would he left. the court
has excluded all property which il
does not deem necessary for the use
Of the CITY in the near future
Heutico Left sta 900 900.
II is true that th!s annexation Will
take nearly one-half Of the taxable
values Of the county, OF Henrico and
will leave in d crippled condition II
least two magisterial districts as at
present constituted II Will also very
seriously affect one school district ar
"a. present constituted But under
the lines of annexation as set forth in
the decree. HenrlCo county Will have
a taxable salue Of something over
$14.00e,0o0. ana while the court re-
n gre.s that SO much Of its taxable
values had TO be taken away from IT,
this still leaves the county perhaps
the ffth wealthiest IN ,he Common
wealth. The county IL, of course,
aware Of the fact that by a proper
yyr n chg