The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-14

and Rappahannock and the Rich
mond and Chesapeake Say. between
Richmond and Ashland A fourth
road from Richmond to Seven Pines
was on the verge of discontinning
when II was taken over by the gov
eminent to afford transportation 10
their bag loading plant. What the
rate OF this road will be should the
government cease to operate the load
ing plant remains to he seen. | am
informed that two Of these roads
might have been saved If a better uu-
Outstanding had existed between the
companies operating them and the
lcapl N nnitj1D a.Fjslb they served. )
As early e. '4pfsG n~r,, sonr eseca1:
tive committee Recognized ~he seTf~t
aspect of the street car situation in
the city and advised an increase in
fares, which was approved by your
board of directors. In May the board
Of directors acted favorahly upon the
recommendation and called a meet
ing OF the cham Der to consider the
question. The chamber met on May
81. and a resolution was adopted ask
ing that an increase in street car fares
he granted, and a committee ap-
nointed to present the resolution of
the chamber TO the city council. More
than four hundred communities
throughout the United States have
found IL necessary to grant relief to
the street car companies on account
OF the greatly increased cost of main
tenance and operation.
How far are we ourselves resnon-
sibie for these conditions How
many of the members of this cham
Der took the trouble TO communicate
t-fn ft,fc ta
member OF the council? How many
OF those who were loudest in COM
plants ever approached their repre-
sentatives in the council with offers
of advice and assistance in reaching
settlement And this leads me to
ask how many of rs are really repre-
scented in the council. Out of vot-
ing population of over twenty thou
sand more than eight thousand
rarely vote.
| Don't lose sight of the fact that
those OF us who habitually fail to
vote are not represented and that
i practically speaking the men in office
represent those who participate in the
elections. II you have no representa-
tive in the council you are Sinking
your duty to Richmond end mourning
a responsibility for whatever goes
wrong that you cannot escape.
RciunoD0S Needs.
It has been the custom at this time
to mention the "prominent Needs of
of Richmond" There are go many
needs and all so prominent that It Ia
difficult to know where to begin and
where to stop, but. following the ex-
ample set by my predecessors. I shall
mention those that have been consid-
cred most pressing, calling your atten-
ton, however. to the fact that a lack
of funds has made a continuance OF
these needs unavofdab BILE. We still
have at least three toll bridges which
ought to be acquired by some fair and
equitable ARRANGEMENT and thrown
open to the public.
The work OF covering and straight
.ening Shockoe creek should he com
pleted as soon as practicable a. IL
win make available for rnanufactur-
ing sites considerable territory that
cannot be advantageously used now
and the opening of North Fifteenth
street should not be overlooked
The completion of the proposed
Riverside drive should be pushed
whenever funds are available. az il
will bring into use for building a large
area in desirable section and prove
a paying investment to the city.
For years the underwriters have
warned us OF danger on account OIL
insufficient water supply in case Of s
serious conflagration- While tn.
| amount OF money necessary to rem
| edy this will be large, we should beal
, it constantly in mind and suppl,
what is lacking at the earliest oppor
, tunity, that we may have proper pro
, lection for our property and enjo,
the lowest rates for insurance
Much has been said about better
ing the living conditions OF our col
ored population, but SO far nothins
, has been done for their relief r
. may be that something alorg this lin,
might have been accomplished but fol
. the war, but the fact remains that
large part Of our population is livini
under conditions that are a conetan
menace to health. entail financial
, loss to the employers OF labor and re
! feet seriously upon the good name o
our city. This part Of our population
/ increases with our growth, and We
, no section offers them room to ex
: pand.
. The accomplishment OF this under
, taking can be brought about through
r the influence OF this chamber. with
, out financial Loft. by cooperate,
r with representatives OF our colore.
population and with profit to the cit,
in the way of increased taxable val
ues
I suggest that We invite the colore.
people of Richmond to form som
sort of an association with who's
2 representatives we can confer fron
! time to time and with whom we ca,
+ discuss and arrange matters pecu
> liarly affecting their interests. Sucl
plan win bring about better feel
ings and enable us at all times to hav
better understanding Of their needs
!: 4 NE, SWEET HOME THE