The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-13


Tho annual address of President Purceh
before the members Of the Chamber OF oon'-
,nerce on Thursday evening-on when occs-
s;on he WINS reelected TO the position wnicn
no hss filed with such distinguished aoiii'y
and energy--has received an unusual oegieo
~ attention. compliment which the address,
very Justly deserves.
The picture presented in this address is one
which is highly gratifying to every citizen OF
Richmond. IL is very creditable 70 the
activity and enterprise OF the city that the
trade for the past year should have oeen a.
President Purcell stated, the largest ana
most satisfactory in our annals" in spite OF
the fact that during part of this time there
has been prevailing very marked fnanciai
stringency. :,
That Richmond should have even retained
its full volume Of trade under circumstances
so decidedly adverse is an excellent indication
of the very substantial footing upon which
our commercial affairs stand and the sound
judgment and conservative spirit with which
they are managed. II is quite fair TO pre-
sumo that when the stringency now observed
in the money market has passed away.
stringency which is likely to relax at once as
soon as the expectation of gold shall cease. an
era of remarkable prosperity will set IN ana
Richmond will see an expansion of It's trade
which has hitherto been unprecedented.
One of the most convincing signs or the
hopefrlness and confidence entertained by
our people in the future of the city Is the hlgh
degree of interest which is being taken In the
work of the Chamber Of Commerce. The
membership of the Chamber, while not as
large AZ it should be and as it will be, has yet
grown very notably in consequence OF the
increasing appreciation of the objects Tor
which il was-srganized. IN appreciation due
not only TO the more active commercial spirit
prevailing in the community, but also to the
exceptional ability with which the affairs OF
the Chamber are being conducted.
An examination Of the list Of membership
reveals that it contains very large proper
ton of the names which give Richmond its
high standing in the commercial world, and
which are a guarantee that the reputation
which the city has already won will be rapid
ly advanced upon the same lines of CONNER
cial development that has been going on in
the past.
1t is the duty of every man in the COM
munity who feels warm interest II It's
growth in wealth and population to become
a member of the Chamber of Commerce and
to promote its usefulness and prosperity by
every means in his power. Such an address
as that of President Purcell will convince the
most incrsdulous and the most lndlherent
that the work which the Chamber is doing IS
of inestimable value and Importance. and that
every instinct of local patriotism, every sug-
eestion of private selfshness, if there were no
higher considerations, demands that 1t shall be
encouraged. sustained and assisted.
The erection of the new building to serve as
permanent quarters for the Chamber will be a
most gratifying step in advance. We trust
that the remarks of President Purcell with re-
ference 10 payments of subscriptions deferred
or avoided will receive the prompt attention
which they deserve. There should be no OBJ
structions to surmOunt, nodrawbacks 10 over
come in pushing the work to conclusion.
When completed, the new structure will be an
ornament 10 the city, and will have most i'm
portant influence in advancing the prosperity
of Richmond by the increased interest which
it will arouse in the work of the Chamber It.
self