The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-05
THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1890.
COMMERCIAL MEETING.

The announcement has been made that
there will be meeting this evening IN tne
hall of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of the business men of Richmond 10
rake into consideration the best methods OF
advancing its industrial interests. III is TO
he bopcd that this meeting will be larger!
attended. for the subject TO be brought up
for discussion is the most important 'n"'
can engage the attention OF our citzens as
n body. Ii is a subject which cannot be APP
proached too often or debated too carefully.
How can the prosperity OF this city be IN
creasedy That Ia the main question, and ii
will require both experience and wisdom to
answer 1t properly.
TuR TIMES recently expressed the opin-
ion. and it thinks the ground for the opinion
was lust. that the progress which this. city
was making in wealth and population was
eminenilykatisfactory ifregarded exclusive
" from the standpoint Of what city can
accomplish by the efforts Of its own citizens
without material assistance from without
In this light, Richmond can compare very
fayorably with any city of the same size II
any part Of the Union. AS it stands to-day
IL is a glorious monument TO the industrial
energy of its inhabitants, but all that ii is
is practically due to the labors Of these in
habitants. II is in this respect, that tn
city is open 10 criticism and condemnation
IL has received too few accessions OF wealth
and population from other communities
especially the communities of the North ant
West. This is the most serious defect il
the industrial character Of the city, and i
calls for change in that policy which hat
prevailed immemorially in Richmond, of re
lying almost entirely upon the enterprise
and capital Of its own citizens.
nWhat is most needed here is the enter
prise and capital OF citizens from Other
hour is, how can such citizens be induced
10 move TO this city. Originate such an in
fux, and the problem as to the best method
of promoting the industrial interests o.
Richmond will be at once solved. A mum
Der Of suggestions have been made as tC
how the wealth and population of other
communities can be diverted in this di.
rection, but these suggestions are not gen.
orally Of practical character. In an in'
terview with prominent business man o
this city, who removed here from the South
reported in recent number OF
The TIMES, attention was called to
the method which has been adopted
in Memphis and Louisville TO advertise
abroad the advantages which those cities
have TO offer. This consists of n CONNER
cial association TO which every citizen is
elegible, the object of the association being
generally to take charge OF 'every affair Of
public interest looking to the development
Of the wealth, population, beauty and in
dustrial growth Of the city in which it il
situated, and particularly to the holding O
conventions, entertainment Of visiting cap
il lists, journalists, manufacturers and II
organization and location Of industrial en-
terprises." In both Memphis and Louis
Vile there are also Chambers Of Commerce
but the scope Of their usefulness does moi
conflict with that Of the commercial asso
Citations.
THE TIMES would suggest that the speak
ers who are to appear before the CONNER
cial meeting tonight dwell at some length
on the advisability ofadopting some genera
plan Of the character named. One thins
is assured, the city Of Richmond will fal
into the most shortsighted course Of actor
IL 1t shall rely upon individual enterprise
alone TO draw hither wealth and population
from other communities. Either the pres
ent Chamber of Commerce will have TO b.
reorganized, and its powers enlarged, o
some such scheme as that adopted in Mem
phis and Louisville, will have to be intro
duced into Richmond TO promote the in
terests Of the city. Already the boast ha
been made by Roanoke that il will have
population Of one hundred and fifty thous
and before Richmond, and if it continues 4
grow as il has done by an ever increasing
: influx Of Northern wealth. and population
the boast may be realized. Why should no
Richmond he receiving the same addition
from the same quarter! This is question
which the meeting tonight will be ex
pected 10 answer 10 the satisfaction Of all