Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-06
RlCHM0ND'S WANTS.
HERE IS A PARTIAL LIST AS DE-
vELOPED AT THE BUSINESS
MEMS MEETING.
Better streef-Car Service, n New HOTEL
Decent Dcpots, More Money spent
on streets, Railroad connec-
tions, Newspapers. &C.

| OF inc tDdluDtT Ol hpAN -
Young Mems Christian Association hali
last night was not as largely attended as 1t
doubtless would have been had not the
evening been so warm.
As twas about one hundred gentlemen
and about one fourth as many ladies' Dy |
their presence evidenced their interest In
the prosperity of Richmond.
Colonel John II. Purcell, president OF /
the Chamber of Commerce, presided. On /
the stage with him were Mayor EllysoIS /
Hons John f. Massey and George J..
! Christian, first yice-presdent OF the |
James n. Dooley, and Messrs. j. ii. barton |
! and b. NJ. Quarles.
THE OBJECT.
President Purcell in calling the meeting !
to order explained its object, and said 1t is |
contemplated 10 have monthly gatherings /
OF this character. IL had been thought that /
an interchange of ideas of the busl--
| ness-men would be a good way to lead /
TO q more concentrated effort in de- |
veloping and building up the city. |
Cooperation was necessary to keep |
Richmond up with the times. The city, |
he said. has been constantly improving |
since the war. There have been few II any /
setbacks: but now is the time to move !
faster He welcomed to Richmond such
~.
who is doing so much TO beautify and build /
up our suburbs, and hoped more gentlemen
/ of enterprise will come here.
President Purcell then presented MIR. /
Barton as the first speaker.
Mr.. Bsrton's Suggestions.
One OF the first things Mr.. Barton mentioned |
as most needed in this city is big, hrs~cless /
hotel. This suggestion met with hearty sp- |
plauso. II we can gef such hotel az needed, |
said MIR. barton. thousands Of travellers Will |
stop here Iohg enough 70 see the city and when !
the advantages for Investment are made known /
| 70 them they Will spend their money here. |
such hotel as the city needs VIII
greatly enhance tho yaluo OF pro- /
| perty. Az an Illustration OF this Mr. Barton /
referred TO the building In Hot Springs, Ark, OF !
| an immense hotel, and soon properly IN the |
place had increased between 6O ana lUO per |
! cent.
Another thing which Mir. Barton mentioned |
| that Richmond is greatly In need OF are news |
| papers that will constantly boom the place. |
| The great success OF Atlanta, Duluth and such |
/ cities is due mainly 70 Tho efforts OF the press. |
/ The papers should advise the world that this IL
ito place of all others tr investment ana ihey
/ money at nome.
| Richmond has all the natural advantages TO !
| make her one OF the leading cities Of the conn- |
try and If the people and press will do their duty
! she will become what We would ike to see.
Mr.. Barton said q commercial association IS |
/ desirable thing; the bad railroad service sboulh
! be corrected more attention should be given 10
/ street improvements; the city limits sh )ul1 be
/ extended, and people should be stopped from
/ building houses which look ike dry goods boxes
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Bartons romarkS
Major James II. Dooley WAS introduced.
Major Dooley's Remarks.
IN tho FIRST placs, aid Major Dooley, there are
different classes OF subjects on which the pres
sure Of public opinion can 10 brought 10 bear
with very dincrent results. For example, " you
waut TO puld hotel pubic meetings are very
| good things, but they will neyor build a hotel
unless people are prepared to put up their
money.
public pressure can DO brought 20 bear with
great success without putting up any money.
For instance by properly directing tho pressure
/ of public opinion the Chesapea se aud ONO Rail
way Company might be- induced TO erect pas
senger depot in his city which would not 10
| alike discreditable 70 the company and an
| offence to tho public; the Richmond aud Dan
! Vile NIGH be Induced to substitute handsome
edifce for the old fre-trap that they have down
! near their bridge, and which has long Deen not
| only a discre Sit 10 the company but menace To
tho surrounding properly. IL IS true that inc
city OF Richmond is In no way responsible Tor
! these unsightly structures, but 'he travelling
I public cannot help associating the character OF
a city with the character Of its passenger depots,
and il Is due 10 the city Of Richmond that these
companies should give Us handsome accommo-
| dations in Wow OF the fact That they 1.-Two 10 a
large extent upon tho fruits Of our Industry and
| enterprise.
DUTY OF THE COUNCIL.
There "a another class OF subjects over which
! public opinion may DO bhl1 10 DO supttulcs
| allude 10 those which come within the province
| OF the City Council for legislation. These are,
of course, too numerous 10 mention, but there Is
one which is 80 important that should SPEAK OF
! IL as the foundation Of the growth, prosperity,
! and the extension o. tho city. j slude TO the
| subject OF street improvements, extensions, ana
facilities, which consider 70 be OF moro impor-
| tance 10 our growth than any other question,
| aud vet the City Council seems TO consider that
| IL Is the least important OF all the de-
| partments on which II has 20 leglslate'
/ The policy OF this city and the city gov
| ernmeut has always been 10 repress and hold
back the growth Of tho city and to surround IL
| with Chinese wall. am personally acqualnt-
| ed with many Of the growing aud prosperous
! cities Of the United states, and know OF none
| having the population AMI wealth OF the city VI
Richmond which does not cover nearly twice us
territory. In all other growing cities, especially
| in i~e North and West, The policy OF the city
government is 10 take In territories, 10 push ont
| its streets and street railroads, ana 10 induce
| the people 10 build by Offering them facilities In
the shane Of water, culyert., gas, sidewalks,
aud graded streets In this city our pohcy has
/ been never TO extend street, never 70 give
facilities which taxpayers are entitled 70 until
the houses have been actually constructed, ana
even then often 1t is years before they are ac-
commodaied.
STREET APPROPRIATIONS.
The amount appropriated for streets last year.
continued Major d )oley, was only SS,0N. Ihis
| wear the Appropriation WAS cut down 10 $4O.OJO
/ and from that $4,000 had u be deducted Tor a
special Appropriation, and for money spent last
| wear in advance Of the adoption OF the budget,
! leaving only 81, 900 10 be divided amongst six
! wards of the city, making 4,5JO for each ward,
not enough 10 keep the ole streets in repair.
The demands Tor street improvements ,so ths ms
| wear amount 10 between 100000 and $4OO,CO9,
| and they are no fancy demands bat are esii-
mates made by properly-hoidors, representa-
tves from the Council, and the CITY Engineer
for practical work nocc ssaiy 10 bo done, and Tor
lgck of which the prOperty-oWners OF this city
/ are daily suffering. This Is a matter OF vital
importance and one which has been too long
I neglected.
! Hicbmond architect told me this very day
| tha. he had need for 200 additional mechanics IN
this city 10 build houses. but they VIII not come
here because they have no appropriate houses
10 live In aad rents are too higD. People viii not
/ butld houses on mud roads, where thero y no
| water, gas, culyerts, or sidewalks, and II they
bund them there people would not come 70 i've
in them. The consequence Is mat me capithi
! which ought 70 be employed In building houses
In the city of Richmond goes into other enter
pri.es, frequently being Invested IN other cities.
! and those who would be expected 10 invest their
/ money in the purchase OF real estate hrounu
I Richmond seud II to Duluth, ST. Paul, birming-
/ ham, Minneapolis. Chicago, or 10 southwest
Virginia, thus not only ceprying US OF the oehe-
a. of the investments, but decreasing me amount
| OF our available capital for business AS a hAtu-
rsl result rents are notoriously from 70 10 ~ per
cent higher in Richmond than they are III bal
| timOre philadelphia, and other northern cities
The first question tho mechanic asks when he
/ thinks OF moving TO Richmond Is, Where can
get house lor my family, and what rent VIII
rents that he viii have 20 pay In hlcnmond. III
many cases lac is deferred from coming here,
Notwithstanding tho great advantages otherwise
offered. | say great advantages, because there
Is no city ia tho United states which oilers 10 inc
mechanic better wages, moro certain and aDun-
daut work, better schools, better market, or
moro social and political consideration.
PRAISE YOUR CITY.
There Is ono idea which in conclusion would
like TO impress especially upon our young men
don't be a croaser"; always be " Dull on
your own city. II you will go to ST. Paul. Chi
cago Birmingham, or TO any great prosperous
city In the Norln and West, from The tune You
leave the cars every man that you meet will be
ready TO tell you of the great ADVANTAGES wnicn
his city offers for business; the grehI
opportunities for investment, and the 10" prices
at which real estate may be fought In COM
parison With other cities. That Is one secret Si
their growth and success. They are al conu-
dent In their cltiej and in themselves. twas
always a "bull on Richmond. Tho hrst money
that ever made Invested, as they say ous
West, "in Richmond dirt" have peen insese
ing ia II ever since, and have never hao Sauso
10 repent OF my Judgment ! Will say 70 ali ou,
young men. II you have any money uoh sPonu
\ 10 at The gambling saloon, al tne Daf-EVVn's ~