Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-05
TOHAVE THEBUREAU
BusInsss.Men Heartily Endorse the Idea
Of Having a Traf1c Manager.
ADOPTED BY THE CHAMBER.
Great Interest Manifested and Committees
TO Set to worK to Get the Money
The Plan In Detail

The Richmond Chamber or Commerce
held a general meeting last evening at
O'Clock to receive and act upon the report
Of the special committee appointed to
devise ways and means for establishing
a traffic bureau, under the auspices OF the
Chamber
Hon. George L. Christian, after ex-
planning the object OF the meeting said
he felt gratified at the large ATTENDANCE
which was Indicative OF the interest felt
in this most important movement. The
purpose Of the bureau was not, as some
might suppose. TO antagoniZe the trans
portation companies. but TO have an
officer in the Chamber whose sole duty
it should be to keep always on the alert
in matters relating 10 transportation, IN
touch with both the businessmen ana
the common carriers, and whose duty 1t
would be to adjust differences, and 10
remove difficulties which now often eN-
isted from a lack of information on the
part of the carriers, as 10 the needs and
conditions Of the business interests IN
the community Ever since the subject
had been broached, the president con-
tlnued. the Chamber had given all the
announcement 10 the movement il couI;.
Such bureaus were no longer matters oi
experiment; they had been tried in other
cities and found cmnentiy useful, ana
there was no more opportune time for
establishing one in Richmond than the
present We were now not only starting
out upon new era Of prosperity. but the
great Southern Railway Company had
just been organized, which should give
US increased facilities for southern busi-
ness.
WANTED ALL INTERESTED.
Mr.. A. H. Christian. Jr.. chairman Of tn
select committee. being then called upon,
stated that he had requested this general
meeting OF the Chamber not only to sub
nit a report Of what had been accom-
plshed by his committee, but to secure
the hearty cooperation Of every branch
OF business I'm the city, 50 as TO make
the bureau an eminent success lie said
IL was not necessary for him TO enlarge
upon the Importance Of the movement, as
papers had been sent out with the notice
Of the meeting, explaining the functions
Of such bureau. The history Of the
movement up 10 this time would. how
ever show how Il was regarded by all
who had given the subject careful conside-
ration. The Wholesale Grocers' Associa-
ton had first. by adopting 4 report Of
special committee appointed by II. given
its unanimous approval TO the proposition
to have such a bureau The Chamber had
then referred the subject TO its Inland
Trade Committee, which committee, hav-
inc considered the subject in all its bear
ings at several meetings endorsed the re-
port Of the Grocers' Association, and re-
commended its adoption by the Chamber.
The Chamber had then unanimously ap-
proved the proposition and had appointed
a special committee 10 devise ways and
means for establishing a bureau. This
special committee having appointed sub
Committee on Plans and adopted the report
Of the subcommittee. thought the matter
one Of such general interest that meeting
of the Chamber should be called for the
purpose Of receiving this report. IN con-
clusion. Mr. Christiln sei9 -..t there WA
no question Of greater Importance before
the businessmen Of the community, and
that he felt no doubt Of the issue. IL
then called upon Mr.. :. ". Travers. a
membe" Of the subcommittee on Plans,
10 make his report.
SUB-COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Mr. Trayers. in presenting the sub-com-
mittees report. which is signed by him
self, Chairman John s. Munce, and Mr.,
NJ. a. Chambers. gave an explanation Of
the careful manner in which the c0nclu-
sions reached had been arrived at. The
paper read by Mr. Travers says:
Upon the equitable hypothesis that
the bureau ehouli he sustained by sub
scriptions proportioned 10 the interests 20
3e promoted and protected, either di-
rectly or Indirectly. they examined the
annual statistics Of the various trades
and manufactures doing business at or
near Richmond. They ascertalned that
after eliminating a number OF the mis-
celaneJus mechanical trades and indus
tries. from which no appreciate support
could be derived, there remained the i'm
portaut branches of business, which, II
contributing the small sum Of 81 for
every $1,000 OF business annually done
by them tor l-lo0 Of / per cent? would
produce a sum more than adequate for
the purposes of the bureau. For instance.
thy find that the aggregate Of tho'e
figures arr:
Sales Of principal manufactures. % $40 900
Sales Of principal dealcrs........ 3l.5Joe)