Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-11
For the Dlspatch.l

To the Editors Of all Newspapers and 70
the Manufacturers of Every Kind in the
State of Virginia.
RICHMOND, VA. March Q, 1856.
In the year 1876 Congress passed an
act imposing upon the Bureau Of Sta
tistics of the United States Treasury
Department the duty of preparing a
"Report on the Internal Commerce OF
the Country From time to time. and
of late years annually, reports of great
interest and value have been made and
published by order Of Congress, but
thew have been confined almost entirely
10 the States and cities Of the North,
Northwest, Southwest, Central West,
and the Pacific Slope. The present
national administration, it seems, has
decided to give the southern States &" a
fair showing" for the first time in this
regard.
Colonel William f. Switzler, the pre-
sent enlightened chief Of that bureau,
has selected as the subject Of his forth
coming report The Commercial. In
dustrial, and Transportation interests
Of the Southern States For the State
of Virginia the Secretary of the Trea.
sury has authorized and directed my
appointment, under the designation Of
" an expert of the United States Trea-
sury Department" to collect and pre-
pare the information in regard to Viz
ginia to be embodied in the general re-
port. As did not seek this appoint
ment, but have accepted it after mature
consideration, desire to prepare a re-
port that will be creditable to myself,
satisfactory to the Department, and
above all, that will be just TO Virginia
and promote her future prosperity by
the dissemination of reliable inlorma-
ton, under the sanction and approval of
the United States Government, amongst
people beyond her borders who may
be seeking for homes or for place to
invest capital safely and prOtitably.
The first branch Of my duties en-
braces a sketch of the inception, growth,
and development Of the canal and rail-
way systems of the State, their length,
cost. &C.; also, a brief sketch Of tho
means and routes Of transportation
prior to the Inauguration Of the railway
system, and the particular efforts OF
men of note for the development or I'M
provement Of the means of transporta-
ton in the State, and to show what
marked changes have taken place in the
internal commerce Of the state, or that
of other States, through Virginia, as a
result of the development Of the rail-
way system.
am also to describe all the rail-
roads in the State. their length, charac-
teristics, and various connections by
water or rail with the principal mar
kets or cities Of the seaboard or inte-
rior of the country; their traffic, IN
coming and outgoing; and the changes
between 1850 and lsoj. And as Incl
dental to all this. to ascertain. as far as
possible, what is brought into the State
for consumption and where from, and
what is sent out for sale and where to,
by means of the railways and their
connections also, to ascertain and re-
port what determinations or ditlerentia.
lions in freight charges are made by the
several roads and why, and what COM
plants, if any. are made against dis
ordinations and the reasons for them,
and what legislation has grown out Of
these questions.
In short, the field of inquiry in re.
gard to transportation is very large,
and ! am happy to say mat, so far as
have been able to confer with high
railroad officials, have been proffered
the most cordial assistance in obtaining
the fullest information on all these
points and many others too tedious tC
mention in this appeal for help.
IN addition to these important maui.
ries, that I can answer, no doubt, fully
with the aid Of the railway companies
the Chief OF the Bureau directs me t
obtain, in the most authentic way can
data for as many years as practicable
showing the locality and progress O.
manufactures of all kinds in the State
that have grown into considerable mag.
nitude, giving the value of the product
for series of years, if possible. | re
cognize the importance of this branch
Of my work, and the impoSSibilty o.
performing it satisfactorily or with
any benefit to our people unles
manufacturers will come to my aid
have only till the last of Nav T.
complete my report. 1t is physically
impossible to visit all manufacturers
but it is possible if an intelligent and
liberal press will help me to reach them
through its columns to get a report
from every factory, mill, forge, shop.
and furnace in the State and | no v
appeal, through the press, land hope
that every paper in the State will enter
into the spirit Of this thing and pub
lish and call attention to this adj
dress,) to every manufacturer, no
matter Of what article, to prepare
and send to me by mail during this
month--March-or at latest by April
18th, brief statement of phat he man
ufactures how much capital be uses ;
how many laborers he employs, distin-
gushing colors and sexes working for
him, and state about the daily or an
nual wages paid, and the value of the
goods produced, and whether consumed
in or sent out Of the State. Twill arrange,