Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-13
SHE Is TOO BASHFUL.
A RicHMoNpER FROM CHOICE Dis
cussEs ADVERTISING.
A Former Cleveland Man Who Thinks
Our City the Best He Has Ever
seen-Enterprises Suggested.

Mr.. BENJAMIN L. Smith. who Is known TO
many Richmond people. having been
liberal contributor to Lee-Camp Soldiers
Home when resident of another State,
has recently moved here with his family
from Cleveland. o. This gentleman Is the
representative of large Cincinnati estao.
lishrnent and has brought n number Oh
skilled mechanics and artists with him.
In conversing with Dispatch reporter
yesterday Mr.. Smith said that the cl,pste
here was the best in the world. Why,
he remarked. II have been in every city
of any size and on every navigablo river on
this continent and have never seen any
like it. When / first spoke OK coming 70
Richmond my workmen wanted TO stay
behind, but prevailed on them 70 accoiu-
pany me, and now they are SO wen sa.ls-
fed that / could not drive them away even
if wanted to.
SHOULD NOT BE DAsHFUL.
"Of course" continued Mr. smith, a
newcomer like myself is ayerse TO taiking
too much about what the.city ought 10 90;
But / tell YOU plainly what Richmond
wants is TO advertise herself to the world.
"In the North and West. among those
people who have never been here. the I'M
preston prevails that Richmond, va, Is
dead city. worn out years ago. LII some o,
these people could come to Richmond and
see what vast manufacturing and other en-
terprises are being carried on mere they
would be wonderfully amazed.
The Richmond merchants snouiu cru y
together and get condensed history OF
the CITY and its resources printed. one OF
these should be put on every incoming sno
outgoing train to let tie people know what
is going on here. In short time adver-
tisements enough to make II set-sustain-
ing could be easily procured.
" Another good way to advertise Is on the
back of envelopes. Have few lines on
them about Richmond's advantages ana
climate. OF course 1t would be no use
for one or two people to do TINS, out u an
the business-houses in the city would 90
so it would be an immense advertisements
Now, myself send out one hundred let-
ters a day. There are plenty of Others
who send out more than this, so the result
would surely be satisfactory.
ONLY LOOK NEEDED.
"If we could only get some of our
northern and western capitalists come down
here TO take look at the city am sure
they would locate here.
There are plenty of good openings here
| for manufacturing enterprises. nave
already spoken to several parties IN regard
| IN the establishment of pin and sewing
machine factories. The outlook for such
| is great. A cracker-factory on large scale
would pay handsomely with such an I'm;
mense back country to draw on, When
say on a large scale mean one tnat c9ulo
work up 400 or GOO barrels of -four a day
| I have a friend in this business IN Bay
| CITY. Michigan, place much smaller tha1
| Richmond, who uses 175 barrels per day.
NAILS AND SCREWS.
"There is a good thing ahead for th'
person or company that will start another
| nail factory. AS for screws, there ar
! millions in them" l have brother-lh-iaV
| in Illinois who is the general manager Q
one of the largest sorew-factories IN TN
| country, You cannot 60 in hardwar'
store anywhere but that you will see tn
| goods his company makes. Suppose screw
were made here. The home article woul'
| have the preference. and the amount saye'
| i'm freight alone would be immense. MI
| brother-in-law and his family are cominI
| TO visit me shortly, and | shall certainl,
use my influence TO get him to locate her
and 90 into the screw business"
A APRAcTcAL MAN.
In conclusion, Mr.. Smith stated tina
| while his means were not unlimited II
would be willing TO put money IN any
the schemes he had mentioned:
He alluded TO the fact that he had bee
invited to Join and had applied for admis
sion to the Chamber of Commerce.,
incidentally MIR. Smith showed the. Dt'
match man a printed pamphlet containln
the names OF members, committees, an
rules of the Cleveland Board OF Trade
composed of the most substantial citizen
of that metropolis, among them the Rockt
fellers. of Standard-Ol fame. Mr.. smith
name was among those OF the founders .
the board aud on several OF the most III
portant committees.