The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-08
THE FORCE BILL.
Some Inside History Of That Carcass Of
lnfamx.

Mr.. Thomas z. Grasty, the chief corre-
spondent OF the Baltimore Manufacturers
Record, who has been so influential with
his pen In the development OF Virginia's re.
sources. spent last night in Richmond, and
while here gave some inside facts about the
late Force bill. He said: About two
months ago Mr.. w. L. Rice, the leader IN
Southern investments at Boston, had occa-
sion 10 visit W ashngton. At his request
went with him. Having formerly been
noted New England Republican he was
warmly received by Speaker Reed in bis
private room. Reed had lost sight OF the
fact that Rice had placed several millions
Of dollars in Southern properties, and so ne
took him into his confidence. said Reed;
''See here, Rice, something must be done
to stop this exodus Of capital from New
England. The South threatens TO paralize
our industrial prosperity. This Election
bill will call halt on Southern investment,
and that's why am urging ii so strenuous
W. Mr.. Rice confdentially reported this
conversation TO my friend, Harry st. George
Tucker, OF the StauntOn, Va, district, ana
not only 20 him, but 10 number OF N0ith-
orn and Eastern representative and Sena-
tors.
"Atthat very moment II happened that the
very men on whom Reed most relied In the
senate TO strangle the South were so heavily
Interested in Southern properties that 10
man they repudiated allegiance TO party
and bethOught them OF the losses that would
have 70 be pOcketed in case the odi0us
Force lbill should be passed. we spent
the entire day at the capitol, during when
Mr.. Rice (whO is a man OF Irresistible
magnetism, great iorceiulness and tremend-
Gus presence) got chance TO speak a prl-
yate w0rd-a word to the pockets OF various
controlling spirits in the Senate. The re-
suit was the shelving Of this Force BILL
THAT the bill would be brought up again
and passed after the election no one then
doubted; and therefore it was considered
only temporary postp0nement. This re-
cent tidal wave, however, which the sub
stantial people OF the republic have set III
motion, will make Mr.. Rice's preliminary
work permanent.
"There is no boom in Virginia. IL is true
that at such points as Buchanan apparent
ly high prices were paid for lots; but out
side pears forget that a multiplicity oil
pay-rOlls, such as is guaranteed at Goshen,
for instance, viii make lots worth lusi
what the extra cost OF substantial buildings
plus the original cost Of lots will pay inter
est on. To illustrate: Let us take S3,Wl
corner lot. Put 5000 building on 1t, ant
experience shows that in all good prosper
Gus towns with pay-rOlls, such as are guar
anteed at Goshen, such an investment VII
fetch in rents at Ieast 10 per cent. net II
rents.
"Mr. Edward Atkinson, Of Boston, th'
leading statistician of America, has con
clusively proven that the output OF iron, ant
of iron and steel products, must increase
twenty per cent. per annum for the mex
fifty years TO keep pace with the demand
Where is the proper situs of this increased
|
other Southern states next. Mr.. Atkinson
saws this i'm express terms. All OF whlcl
means a hundred new towns in the Vale,
of Virginia and in the Piedmont iron dis
trict within five years.
mo, there is no boom in Virginia. 1t II
simply normal development. Tie cOuntr.
needs more industries, and Virginia IS Tn
situs for such industries. The cheapes
place for pig-irOn and steel is the cheapes
place for scores of industries using lrOi
and steel provided the climate be heathfu
and transportation facilities be LIBERAL.
: managed.
II claim that the wiping out OF the 'Radl
GALS as YOU Nirginians call them, VIII
have for it's effect the location of all the new
industries at points where production II
cheapest. This means the addition OF hun
dreds of thousands OF wage-w0rkers TO tI'
population of Virginia, for Virginia is tn
cheapest place for making merchantabl
commodities produced from iron and tim
Der.
but after all that have said, l fear tina
have failed TO make the main point plain
! SO soon as the Mckinley bill was passe'
thousands of manufacturers set TO work L
Increase the capacity OF their plants. Man
of these plants il was intended to locate il
( PENNSYLVANIA and other Northern States
= That was part Of the pr0gramme-to max
! the profits 10 manufacturers so great tina
: they could locate their plants in Alask
, and still make money. Now they are 81
far advanced in their schemes for enlarge
lment of and addition TO plants that the
-, Ican't recede. Since a doubt has bee
= thrown on the perpetuity of Mckinley
: high tariff, they must needs look out for l.
cations close to raw material. That mean
Virginia and the South. And here is foo
7 for thought 10 all who think.
= "Let me give a bit of history about Til
TINES. Less than year ago ! came bac
TO Virginia from long trip into Alabam
and Texas. On my return l found at LyncL
burg letter from my chief, MIR. Richard II
EdmOnds, the editor Of the Manufacturers
Record, directing me in my travels in Vi
ginia never to miss an opportunity To get
copy of the Richmond TIMES. For sal
he, THE TIMES has more news OF interes
: TO investors and manufacturers than all tn
, other daily papers in Virginia put e
gether' Since then | have never failed I
get The TIMES whenever it was prOcurablC
| have been one Of its constant reader
, from that day to this. Its editorials an
kilograms have proven suggestive OF sc0r
! or more Of articles which have subsequent
, ly been quoted from sea 10 sea-"