Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-22
RICHMOND'S NEEDS.
TEE susyxcr DISCUSSED IN AN IN
rEREsrrEG PAPER.
nsnert Made to the Board Of Directors
Of the Chamber Of Com
meree, &C, 90.

directors Of the Chamber OF commerce
,he Committee on Manufactures, con-
,;stins of Messrs. Ashton Stsrke, N.
u. nsrrrove, W. NJ. Archer, j. j..
Montague, and d. d. Chalkley, pre-
sented the following paper prepared
nv Mr.. Starke). and it having been read,
The Board directed that it be printed In
pamphlet form, and resolved that the
chamber itself should be called into ses-
sion on the second Thursday in Septsm-
Der to consider 1t:
TO the President and Board Of Direc-
tors Of the Chamber Of Commerce !:
Since no subject has been referred to
your Committee on Manufactures for
many months past We beg leave to pre-
sent this paper, not so much with the
hope Of offering a single suggestion new
10 members Of the Chamber as to lay
before you collectively some thoughts
out Of which, perchance, something
may be wrought looking to the material
interests Of our city.
IL we do not mistake expressions
heard upon this floor since the begin
ming Of the years work upon which we
bsye recently entered, there exists on
the part Of this Chamber disposition
to exert itself as never. before, perhaps,
in the history Of the organization. This
Chamber should be the garrison for
the defence Of Richmond's trade; the
guardian Of her industries; the god.
father Of her resources.
In this Chamber plans may be formed
and hints may be thrown out Of great
benefit to the entire State, so that her
mountain-sides may be busted in the
development Of hidden wealth, her
rivers made to TEEN with ships Of com
merce, and her skies luminous with the
glow Of stack and furnace.
Were we asked to put in q single
sentence that which seems the future
hope Of our State from . commercial
standpoint, our reply would be, Viz
einia must be prominently manufac-
turing State. This, and this alone, can
redeem her this will density her popu-
la,ion and relieve her to some extent
. from the disastrous competition Of the
<rrain.fields Of the West, in opening
home market for exceptional and per-
hhable crops.
Richmond is a city Of magnificent
possibilities. Its genial climate, its
geographical location, its water-power,
the conservatism Of its laboring classes,
its accessibility TO all parts Of the
State, the States Of the South, and by
deep water to the world the high
toned character of her citizens in COM
merce and trade, the liberal and ele-
waited views of her people on all ques-
tions Of religion and politics, present
her in q most favorable light, and the
question naturally arises, Is there any
thing lackingI
Aswas truly said at our last meeting
by the chairman Of the Committee on
Arbitration-an expression which, we
believe, found an echo in the mind OF
each one then present" we lack CO.
operation.n Yea, the defect is in the
want Of proper concentration and ma
nipulstion Of both capital and labor.
Men are not willing to make ventures or
incur risks Of unsuccessful competition
with the North and West. Virginians
distrus. their own energies, and have
never learned what there is at their own
doors nor appreciated the genius Of the
saying that "a living dog is better than
q dead lion."
In the Dispatch Of July 18th our at
tention was attracted to a statement as
sertiDg thst purchasers north Of us are
procuring granite from the State of
Georgia. We have since been told by
one OF our leading and most responsible
citizens that an architect, an acquaint-
ance Of his from a western city,
stated to him q short whlle since
that he had made four unsnc-
cessful trips to Richmond to purchase
granite, and that the lowest figure he
could get was greater than the builders
were to realize for the stone laid in the
walls. May there not be something
here worthy Of our investigation? Ii
there is demand for our granite, and that
there is We well know, should mex
baustible beds be lying unworkedS
On the other hand, ought not our
quarries to be crowded with busy men
blasting, chiselling, shipping, defying
competition from any quarter in price,
as we are so sbundantly able to do In
quality, Of stone?
Again, We have cause to fear that as
commercial class we are not sufficiently
awakened to the fact that our work can
not all be done from centre outwardly,
but we have, too, q vital interest in the
development Of whatever resources
there may be in the country around,
which, il brought to light, would induce
capital hitherward, and that il is part
of our care as merchants Of Richmond 10
be vigilsnt and active in letting the
world know the extent and value Of
vbat our section contains.
II the great mari deposits along the
Pamunkey, James, and Other OF our
rivers can be made an article OF trade
to lertilige the lands of the country,
does it not behOove us to induce capital
TO appreciate this fact, and thus start
enterprises in those sections which will
give back full pay for our pains9
II the mica. kaolin, feldspar, and
flint deposits in Amelia, Powhstan,
and other counties hold untold wealth,
ought not Richmond to be active in
holding the picture up to capitals
II, as we are told, there is copper
beneath the soil Of Charlotte county,
and unprospected slate deposits in
Buckingham, and asbestos and red OK
ide of IRON in Goochland, and iron N
Louisa, may We not help to make 1t
known 10 the worldf
II, as We have reason to know, there
is the material in large quantities within
q radius Of twenty-five miles OF this
city for the manufacture Of many OF
the most-largely-used paints, sand Tor
The finer as well as the cosrser glasses,
clay for hne brick, and roots and herbs
which enter most largely into the manu-
fscture Of patent and other medicines.
dyes, &C., and the owners and tillers OF
cur lands are not awake to the fact,