Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-15

Chamber OF Commerce was held yesterday
evening. at which the report Of the president
was presented, as follows:
RICHMOND. June, 1889
To the Chamber Of Commerce:
Gontlemen.-At tho close Of the twenty-1rst
year Of tho existence Of the Chamber IL Is a
pleasant duty for the president to report that
tho city and this organization are thriving as
never before.
Such are the intimate relations between the
two that every advance made by the Chamber is
followed bya corresponding prosperity In Rich
mond, and Il + not possible for the city 20 grow
I'm trade, in wealth. and In population without
renewing and increasing It's support OF the
Chamber.
Il has been a year OF marked progress In
Richmond, and has witnessed the realization OK
many hopes long deferred, and has seen set on
foot many new and encouraging plans.
Our people are beginning 10 appreciate truly
tho Significance and the value Of that thing
which Is called public spirit" and which for
the most part consists OF willingness 70 assist
enterprises which. while promising no immedi-
nte good 10 those called upon 10 further them,
are designed 20 be beneficial 10 the community
as a whole, and which teaches In practical way
the truth OF the old but never-t0-be-despised
adsge that " in union there Is strength
Richmond Is coming To the front In all the es-
sentials that give assurance OF solid success and
is moving with organized effort 10 achieve what
individual enterprise could neyor accomplish.
Tho year past Is cOnspiciOusly memorable In
the citys record for the great expansion In Dusi-
ness. Increase Of values OF real estate, and
large additions made 10 our population. Rich
mond and Manchester aud their immediate
suburbs now have nearly 10000 Inhabitants, and
we are almost up 10 that line which,
once passed, experience shows, puts a
city on the highway 10 commercial greatness
IL we accept the Judgment OF visitors We have n
beautiful city; still IL Is possible 10 improve
Il, aud in my belief no step in that direction
uTI.a ffna frNn Mt nf n
building inspector. | dare say that no city in
this country Of our size is without such an onl-
GER and recommend 20 you 20 petition the City
Council TO pass an ordinance creating that of1ice
and prescribing the duties thereof.
This inspector should grant building permits,
supervise the construction OF houses $50 far as
the public IS interestedl, and see that the plans
afford, as far as possible. security against 1re
and other accidents. he should also DO require a
10 keep accounts Of the amount OF work done in
tho city so that at the end Of each year tho pub
lie shall be informed OF the expansion OF tho
building interest: for 10 II will be found the key
10 the progress Of the city.
As excellcnily Illustrative OF the property OF
the city may refer TO the fact that among our
mechanic and laborlpg classes there is scarcely
an unemployed man TO be found, and tho reports
from all the branches OF trade are good, except
ing those affected by the agitation OF the To-
hacco-tax-a thing that will be periodical and
unavoidable as long as the Federal Government
continues 10 tax this staple.
We nave mere III SUCCESSFUL operation tus
longest electrc-railWay line in the world, and
franchises have teen granted another electric
company, which will connect Richmond and
Manchester, and me hOrsc-car line Is improving
aud extending it facilities, snd / cannot doubt
will keen aDace with the new life Of the town. We
are erecting city hall that will be the glory OF
this generation and the admiration OF pOsterlty.
and may reasonably hope that In day not now
80 very remote the state will build, OF tho same
James-riyer granite. a Capitol In keeping with
bar and snUpriUr the
structure Richmond Is erecting.
Win Richmonders 1883 Is TO he specially sig
nalized by the Virginia Exposition. Our people
have awakened 10 the necessity OF showing to
the world theproducts Of our fields, forests. and
workshops, and Of attracting TO tho state repre-
sentstiyes Of that large class who, dissatisfied
with tho rigors OF western winters and tired OF
competing with Objectionable populations. are
turning their eyes for homes towards the milder
climate and preferable society OF Virginia.
This great exhibition, 70 full OF promise, Is
under the leadership OF Dir. Ashton starke
(presidenp and Captain Henry c. Jones tdirec-
tOr-ccneraD, both OF whom are h0nored mem
bers If this Chamber.
II will be tho duty, as ] know II will he the
pleasure, Of tho Chamber 10 do all that II posi-
bly, eau TO contribute 20 tie success OF the enter
prise The good il will do will be felt for many
years 10 come, but II IL did nothing more than
teach our people how to "pull together" IL
would be worth all tho trouble and oil the money
that Is TO be expended up0nii.
Inc virginia Mtfbhulco lubuluhH II un tuitt-
prise deserving the encouragement OF all our
citizens. IL Is educating at night our young
mechanics and others whom untifnely necessity
forced 10 stop school and earn living. he
good done by insiructiDg these youths aud
thereby placing them on higher plane Of life
cannot 30 Overesflnated. These boys should
have q building adequate 20 their wants; one in
which specimens OF the mechanic arts can be
on constant exhibition, and II you can help 10
attain this object you will do great public good.
The Chamber aud board have had during the
year II meetings, aud the committees OF tho
bO ly have performed much useful work, sOmc OF
which did not come before the board or Chamber
meetings except in general way The report
OF the secre .ry, accompanying this outlines the
proceedings Of tho whole organization. and will
show that q great deal OF useful labor for the
community has been performed
The Chamber and the board havo been unre-
mitting in their attention 10 tho interests OF
James river, aud while they have not always and
from all persons received the help that should
have been freely accorded them, they neYerthe-
less feel that their labOrs have not been In vain.
To the Hon. George ID. Wise, 10 Colonel i. g.
Rufln, To G. =. +. BurgWyn, ESQ. and 70 Major
y. A. Wexford our thanks are due tor special
services rendered. Mr.. Wise secured from the
House an item in tho bin for i225,O0O, but the
Senate threatens b reduce the amount. We
shall OF course use our best Efforts to avert that
disaster. IN any event, We are likely 10 receive
far more appreciatye ecOgnition this year than
usual. II Congress viii treat james river Justly,
not to say literally, We may look for the early re-
turn Of the shipping which the want Of deeper
water at Richmond caused 70 Do diverted to other
ports.
| recommend that We do not omit our banquet
this fall. | think IL essential TO our prosperity
that Il be hold regularly every year. 50 that tho
whole membership OF tho Chamber shall be
brought into contact for exchange OF opinion and
cultivation Of acquaintance.
The death Of Mr.. Blsnkenship. by accident,
which occurred on the 18th OF March, was ono Of
the most distressing events OF tho yenr The board
has already placed on record It's estimate OF tho
life OF this valuable citizen Ho was member Of
this Chamber from its organization, and its
president for Eve years, and II IS impossible that
his work here should be forgotten.
And now, gentlemen, IL becomes my duty to
render 10 you the trust which, through your
kindness. have held for the past tHo years. 10
is OF great advantage 70 institutions OF this kind
that its officers should not hold on too long.
Thanking you for the support and considera-
tion you have always accorded mo In this posi-
ton, am yours very truly.
GEORGE a. AISsLIE, President
The report OF the secretary was then read,
reviewing in detail the work OF the Chamber
during the year.
The report of the treasurer showed BAL
ance cf $500 to the credit OF the Chamber.
All the reports were received and ordered
TO be recorded.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The Chamber-Mr. s. III. Hawes pre-
Sidng-then reelected all the old officers, as
follows: President, George A. Ainslie;
First Vice-President, Richard A. Dunlop;
Second YicePresident, George L. Christian;
Secretary, w. ID. Chesterman; Treasurer,
John ii. Montague.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
A committee consisting OF Messrs. A. II.
Christian, Jr., A. ID. Blair, and William
Hall was appointed to report names for
directors, and upon. their recommends
tiOn the following were elected: John
S. Elicit, +. T. Glasgow, +. F. VIII
liams, F. S. Myers, 6. d. Crenshaw, Henry
Bodeker, George d. Thaxton, G. +. j..
Burgwyn, S. Ii. Hawes, .. l.. Cottrel. NJ.
Bessbere. W. ii. Weisiger, w. Minor
Woodward, X. S. Bosher, and L. Y. Leigh,
Jr.
The following new members oil the
were elected: John Wright Il Co.
and Curtis & Parker.
Several communications were read and re-
TERED.
Verdict Against the Railroad.