Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-03
A preiness Proposition.

Society for the purpose OF decidihS
whether they will accept and approve
the act recently passed by the Lesisla-
tnre OF Virginia incorporating the Vir-
einia State Agricultural and Mechanical
Society. From all that con he learned
There seems to be no question that their
decision will be in the affirmative. Public
sentiment in the state. rs voiced by the
press and letters received by President
SraRKE. would seem to be largely IN
favor OF accepting the terms offered IN
the new act of Assembly.
So far so good. But the acceptance
and ratification of the act referred TO
will bc only the beginning. What steps
do orr Richmond merchants. manu'ac-
turers, and capitalists propose to take IN
the matter II they intend to do any
thing It were well that it were done
quickly. The Virginia Agricultural and
Mechanical enterprise Is a most ambl-
tious one. but by no means visionary.
Ii is a business enterprise in the strictest
sense Of the expression, and promises
most important results to Richmond and
the rest Of the State. Like other great
enterprises of its character, however, 1t
must have monetary basis in order to
make il n success. If that basis is not
forthcoming it cannot be carried through
Can Richmond afford TO see it fail ? We
think not.
The financial arrangement by which 1t
is proposed to place the Virginia State
Agricultural and Mechanical Society on
substantial footing and secure TO Rich
mond and the people of Virginia grand
exposition has been fully set forth in the
columns Of the Dispatch. President
SrARRE and those who have so faithfully
supported his efforts in behalf of the pro-
posed exposition are not begging. They
offer to the businessmen Of Richmond
an investment. 1t would seem that the
money they propose to raise, and which
it is necessary to raise, will be amply
secured. But even should the in
vestmeut not pay directly, who can
doubt that it would pay indirectly ?
There is not a city in the United States
better situated for holding an exposition
than Richmond-no State in the Union
that contains more that could be advan-
tageously advertised by an exposition
than does Virginia. Our climate, his
torical associations, and railroad connec-
tions render it certain that a display
such as is proposed would attract visitors
from all over the country This alone
would be the means of disbursing thou
Bands upon thousands of dollars in our
midst. Yet that is only one, and We
might say. a minor consideration. The
exposition would be educatiive; q
means Of advertising Richmond and Viz
ginia, and OF inducing a most desirable
class of immigrants. There would pro
badly be mechanical exhibits from every
State in the Union, many of which would
suggest to the Virginia farmer and the
residents Of small Virginia towns the
way to utilize and render profitable raw
material that is now considered valueless
Experience has shown that exposition'
are the mothers Of small industries
The establishment OF small industrie;
in the country means thrifty villages
surrounded by prosperous farming com
munities, and these III turn are the feed
ers and builders.up Of large cities. LIE
our Richmond capitalists, mechanics
and manufacturers ponder this matter
TO the end that they may show
the enterprise and liberality The
interests OF Richmond demand. They
have all to gain and nothing to lose by
making the exposition an accomplished
fact This is fully sttested by the expe
rience OF Atlanta and other cities
in which expositions have been held. i
is safe TO say that tho Atlanta exposition
has done more since its Inauguration Il
bring Georgia to the notice OF capitalists
induce immigration, and develop that
States resources than ali other agencie:
combined. That the whole of Virginia,
and Richmond especially, would bt
vastly benefited by the new society is not
only recognized by some Of the mos
clear.headed and practical men within
the State, but is conceded b,
what may be termed rivals OF Rich
mond. Recently one of the Baltimore
papers called the attention OF the mer
chants and manufacturers Of that city t.
the Virginia Agricultural and Mechani
cal Society project and held it up as {
movement worthy of the emulation o
the Monumental City. Richmond car
be what our enterprise chooses TO MAKE
1t, and the new society points the direc
ton that enterprise would best take il
order that We may becomea great manu-
featuring, commercial, and distributing
centre. not only for Virginia, but TO
large sections OF sister southern States