The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-15
CHAMBER OF COMM ERCE
TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING
or THAT BODY.

and the City Both Flourishing |alu-
able Recommendation Election OF Off
GERS aud Hoard Of Directors.
The twenty-hrst annual meeting OF the
Chamber of Commerce wa held In the
rooms of that body yesterday evening
| President Ainslie in the chair The
meeting was largely attended, and after
calling it TO order the
PRESIDENTS REPORT
was read as follows:
RICHMOND, June, 1883.
10 hs CAGnber Of Commerce
Gentlemen,-At the close Of the twenty
frs, year OF the existence OF the Chamber
ii is pleasant duty for the presid nt TO
report that The city and this organization
are thriving as never before.
Such are the intimate relations be-
tween the two that every advance made
by lbe Chamber Is followed by a cores
pondiug prosperity in Richmond, and
ii is not possible for the city 10 grow in
trade, in wealth, and in population with
ont renewing and increasing its support
of the Chamber.
il has been year Of marked progress
in Richmond, and has witnessed the Ieali
zation Of many hopes long deferred, and
has seen set on foot many new and en-
cJuraging plans.
Our people are beginning To appreciate
truly the significance and The value Of
that thing which i called "public spirit" ,"
and which for the most part consists OF d
Willingness 10 assist enterprises which,
while promising no immediate good 10
those called upon to further them are de
signed 10 be beneficial 10 The community
As whole, and which teaches in u prac-
tical way the truth Of the old but never
to be despised adage that "in union there
is strength
Richmond is coming 10 the front in all
the essentials that give assurance Of solid
success, and is moving with organized
effort 10 achieve what individual enter
prise could never accomplish.
THE CIrY's BUSINESS.
The year past is conspicuously mem
Orable in the cily's record for the great
expansion in business, increase of values
Of real estate, and large additions made %
our population. Richmond and Man
chester and their immediate suburbs nOw
have nearly 100000 inhabitants, and we
are almost up to that line which, once
passed, experience shows, puts city on
the highway 10 commercial greatness II
we accept ihe judgment Of visitors we
have a beautiful city; still II is possible
to improve il, and in my belief no step in
that direction could be so effective as the
appointment of building inspector
dare say that no city in this country Of
our size is without such an officer, and |
recommend 10 you 10 petition the City
Council 20 pass an ordinance creating
that office and prescribing the duties
thereof
This inspector should grant building
permits, supervise the construction OF
houses $50 far as the public is interested),
and Sc. that the plans afford, as far as
possible, security against fire and other
accidents. lie should also lie required
to keep accounts Of the amount Of work
done in the city, 50 that al the end Of
each year the public shall be informed OF
the expansion of the building interest
for in it will he found the key 10 the
progress OF the city
As excellenlly illustrative OF the pros
peri,y of the city may refer to the fact
that among our mechanic and labOring
classes there is scarcely an unemployed
man to be found, and the reports from
all the branches Of trade are good, except
ing those affected by the agitation Of the
tobacco taxa thing that will be periodi-
cal and unavoidable a. long as the Fed
eral Government continues TO tax this
staple
THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
We have here in successful operation
the longest electric railway line in the
world. and franchises have been granted
another electric company, which will con
meet Richmond and Manchester, aud the
horse-csr line is improving and extend
ing its facilities, and | cannot doubt will
keep apace with the new life OF the town
We are erecting a City Hail that will be
the glory of This generation and the
admiration Of pOsieriiy, and may
reasonably hope that in day not now so
very remote the State will build, Of the
same James-river granite, Capitol in
keeping with her historic renOwn, and
superior even to the structure Richmond
is erecting
TIE EXPOSITION.
With Richm0nders 1855 is to be spe-
cially sigpalized by the Virginia Exposi
ton. Our people have awakened TO the
necessity of showing to the world the
products Of our fields, forests, and work
shops, and of attracting 10 the State
OF that large class, who,
dissatisfied with the rigors Of Western
winters and tired of competing with OBJ !
lectionable populations, are turning !
heir eyes for homes towards the mider |
climate and preferable society Of Vir
yina.
This great exhibition, SO full of prom |
se, is under the leadership of Mr. Ashton |
5tarke (presidenD and Captain Henry c !
Tones director -generaD, both of whom |
are honored members of this Chamber
1t will be the duty, as | know it will /
DC the pleasure, of The Chamber to do all
hat it possibly csn 10 contribute 10 the !
uccess of the enterprise. The good it |
will do will be felt for many years to |
.ome. but il il did nothing more than |
each our people how 10 pull together
/ would he worth all the trouble and all /
he money that is 10 be expended upon ii.
THE VIRGINIA MEcANIcs' INSTITUTE
s All enterprise deserving the encourage