The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-13
CITY AFFAIRS.
TIE caAMBER oFcoMMERcE.

TIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Condition OF Business Here -Our Factories
and Shops-Gas supply--Union Oepot-New
Botel-Scwer Cleaning.
The annual meeting OF the Chamber Of
Commerce was held at their rooms yester-
day evening. Walter Bowie. ESQ.,, was
called 10 the chair. and the president pre-.
sented his report as follows:
CHAMBKR OF CoMNERcr,,
RICHMOND, VA, June 12, 1884. \
Gentlemcn,-On this seventeenth anniversary Of
the Chamber OF Commerce have little 10 report
OF The past years operations that can nov interest
you. 70 many II fas been long period OF cease
less anxiety and careful watching. and 10 not
few In cur community Of sad disaster. Various
causes have led up 70 q condition or positive
siagnation In trade, which, for sing liquidation
throughout the land, must bring In Its near
future sctivit, and prosperity to all legitimate
Tue growing crops are reported as unusually
good from almost all sections OF the enited
Of Europe are threatened with serious denciencv
in nearly or all OF their food productions. With
We may hope for large money gain which viii
70 far 10 repair the losses Of the past two years
he prices Sosh articles nom
must assure large profit on the crops OF 1884.
The trade OF Richmond has been steadily In
srcasing and new territory explored and annexed
manufacturers have had their full share OF the
rent business, and while the output may have been
less than In the previous year. we are correct In The
assertion that lttle II anv, Of trade has gone
to other cities. The plants Of all Richmond mills
and factories have been kep, up TO full standard.
and,in some very large additions. and improve
ments have been added.
New enterprises are contemplated In both Rich
mOnd and cSr sister city. Ano!her year win add
10 our citizens. The railroads are giving proper
rates and quick movement to all freight handled
TO and from this city, and the officers and en-
ployees of the different roads are prompt and
courteous In giving such information and assist-
anee that will increase or benefit your trade.
The work on the Keysvile and Necklenburg eI-
tention of the Danvil,e railroad is nearly COM
pleted. The Virginia and North Carolina railroad
Is well under way, and lis completion assured At
no distant time.
am sorry TO report the improvement Of the
James river is not being made as rapidly as the
great importance of the work to the country de-
msnds; but as all the river and harbor improve
ments have been neglected by The Federal Govern
ment for the past two years, we have no special
cause for complaint, but may congratulate our
selves on the growing interest in this great work,
which is developing not only In our own. but I'm
sister States west of The bill which passed the
Forty-seventh Congress to deepen James river TO
twenty-five feet al low tide, but for lack Of time
was not acted on by the Senate, has been reported
10 the Forty-eighth Congress, and will no doubt
become law.
The passage of this bill assures the improve
ment and IN few wears ships OF 1000 tons bur-
den win load ut your wharyes, and force the west
ern grain and provisions that now go by the round
about way Of Ba timOre TO tue cheaper and quicker
routes of the valleys of the Kanawha and James
rivers.
paid to the improvement of the streets aud 10 such
correction of the abuses In the gas department
that will, II Is hoped give cheaper and better iu.
minatiDg gas TO consumers
The DOlicy OF the city water department in its
efforts to prevent what is called wasting water is to
be deplored. Win The powerful pumps now
owned by the city, and a fair river, II seems the
part of wisdom to encourage families TO free use
of water in their houses and on their lots. IL du-
ring the past spring The city fre,Iydrants had
been opened TO thoroughly cleanse The city sewers,
the community might have been spared much OF
u e distressing sickness that we have suffered.
The supreme need of great hotel furnished and
equipped TO meet the wants OF the pleasure-seeser
and the invalid hinders the advancement Of Rich.
mond. Thousands pass through the city yearly
who would be glad to stop over II they could ee o,
towns Of half our population In eastern States.
This Is a matter that cannot longer be delayed
without serious damage to our city and II behooyes
buildings, 10 give this new hotel question your
most careful and serious thoughts.
Our railroad depots do not furnish travellers de-
cent accommodations In ordinary bad weather,
and some depots scarcely afford shelter from cold
and rain when comfort Is most needed.
IL must be your duty TO remedy this great want,
and to so use your influence with the railroad
managers as TO compel them to give such accom-
modations a. the travelling public are Justly ent-
applies to every railroad entering Richmond.
Some have better passenger accommodations than
Others hut all are positively bad.
This Chamber has wors ed car fully and earnest
ly to protect and promote the interests OF all en-
yaged In trade and manufacturing In Richmond.
IL desires ald should have In Its membership
every businessman instead of less than one hun
dred, who devote themselves to the necessary but
not always pleasant duty OF guarding and ad-
vancing our g1eat commercial ana manufacturing
The financial condition of the Chamber Is
healthy, with a good balance IN the hands OF the
Thanking you all for the able and cheerful as.
sistance have had In the past year,l am, &C., &C.,
X. Il. BLANK ANSHIP, President.
The report was adopted.
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ELECTED.
The following officers and directors were
elected for the ems ling year: President, r.
f. Blankenship; First Vice-President,
Thomas Potts; Second Vice-President, p.
w. Grubbs; Treasurer, John IL. Mon
taoue. Directors II. A. Dunlop, Charles
NJ. Branch, r. w. Powers, Charles ID. Hill,
George L. Stacy, George Gibson, Jr., +.
O. Melting, George a. Ainslie, John ).
Elicit. Judge George l.. Christicn, George
r. Cannon, Gustayus Millhiser, f. ID. Hill,
James III. Blair, Robert S. Bosrer. Luke
Harvey.
CLEANSING OF SEWERS.
On motion, it was ordered that the secre-
tarv communicate to the Board OF Health
that part of the presidents report with
reference to the cleansing OF the city sew
ers bv use OF city water with the request
that they. ii advisable, urge the adoption
OF that plan for seasons when the sewers
are not thoroughly washed out by rains.
II is understood that the pumping capacity
of the city is amply sufficient to allow this
30 ba