The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-08-24
- TO THE MERCHANTS SOL

II II T. e "A y > ~ r
81 RICHMOND The writer of this has
not the remotest interest in what he suggests ex
cept that which he feels as acitlzen OF Richmond,
anxious for her welfare. He Is not engaged IN
business of any description, and has 10 property
that could be enhanced in value by the success of
Richmond has now attained to such imr ortance
in commercial point of view as TO render 1t de-
srable that some concentrated system should be
formed, as in other cities. where merchants may
congregate at specitled hours. and by general In
tercbs1ge of views enter into business transact
tions without having to call on one and another at
their respective counting rooms to make sales and
purchasesstock and exchange negotations,trei ht
engagements charters OF vessels, &c., &C. which
might be arranged, with a great saving OF time,
labor and of harrassng uncertainty, II the parties
had fixed point and liked hour at which ali
could meet for an Interchange OF their respective
objects and operations.
The bu' ers and sellers of tohacco have already
found the ADVANTAGE of special Exchange for
their dealings and there is no dou BIT that the COM
and -four would real lze as great a convenience IN
their departments. by having central place OF
meeting where samples could be exhibited ana
the competition of the market concentrated at
one point and at a liked hour, instead OF each
vendor having to run with his samples to the va
rlous dealers the BASIN, the street or the Dock
and perhaps not finding the dealers at home, or
even after seeing them once, having to call a SEQ
ond time to accept an offer, II no higher had been
made. ,
MANY minor ones, which one party may have
order to purchase. and another to sell, without
knowledge of each others wishes or any means
of discovering them. except by the most laoorIons
the newspaper, which would give more publicity
to a mans business than is desirable. and rouse
the attention of others to discover the object IN
view.
Large auction sales are now made at points
mote from the centre of business, which, by an
exhibition of samples, might be made at central
one.
bills of exchange may be combined with the other
objects already enumerated. including the tobacco
nay p, has has Of % s Ss ~
hearing that the most eligible spot IN the city Tor
the objects suggested, is now about to be occupied
for stores AMI OtlceS, after removing the dilapl-
dated edifce that now occupies the ground |
mean the warehouse on Shockoe Slip Just vacated
by the Messrs. Gwathmey In front OF this piece of
ground is the widest uplnoumbered open space to
be found in all tho business portion OF the oity,
and arr and which cannot be INSTRUCTED. The sit
uaton central, and nearly all the dealers IN pro-
duce have their ofces In that immediate vicinity
as have many of the most extensive wholesale
grocers, and also the millers and ship brokers.
/ do not venture to suggest at this time that the
property shall be purchased, and an Exchange
with the owners of the site for the erection Of
building of which a very large portion OF the first
for grain, -four and all objects except tobacco, and
the second floor be fitted up and appropriated ex-
clusively to the tobacco trade
If the merchants of Richmond are inclined to
follow the example OF other commercial cities II
appears to me that they may make the experiment
at little cost by onntractlng with the owners OF
poses indicated, and If an Exchange cannot be
sustained after fair trial, then the expense will
he uncomfortable. But we know the Tobacco
Exchange s q success. and the best site tor 1t is
here indicated, and whoever n ay occupy 1t as the
manager viii secure the trade. AS TO grain and
cali the attention of the Richmond Board of
jeet of this communication, and that without loss
OF time. N-N'