Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-05
vide work for others. and to make that
work comparatively easy.
DAY OF MENTAL ACTIVITY.

4
| II Is necessary 10 cater 10 large trade. or
TO what is commonly known as the bet
/ ter class OF trade. With that class OK
| trade the extent OF our dealings are fixed
| by the actual competition. and the margin
| Of profit upon which we can make con-
| cessions TO meet this competition. n most
! important element In determining our
| ability 10 meet competition Is the cost or
| reaching this trade. An element 50 per-
meating as freight-rates cannot receive at
| our hands too serious consideration. The
| inevitable law Is that the trade gravitates
| 20 the source Of cheapest supply. The law
| Of nature that sends growth or develop
| ment along the line OF least resistance Is
| applicable here, and customers not only
scrutinize your price. but also take into
| consideration the cost OF carriage from
| your market TO his place OF business,
| and this consideration may often make
or mar your chances for sale. 1t is. no
| doubt, the experience OF all Of rs present
| that favorable freight rates are as es-
| sential 10 the health OF the body COM
meroial as good hygiene is 70 the body
| human.
| OBJECT OF THE BUREAU.
ITO bring about this healthy trade con-
| dtlon. and 10 preserve and foster the
| growth of our commerce are the
| objects which are to call into existence
this traffic bureau. and the support for
| which you are asked. Everywhere the
observation of enterprises shows that
the question Of freight rates has grown
IN Importance in proportion TO the aggre-
| cations Of capital. until to-day they have
assumed such vast Importance, have
| grown so complex in their nature. ana
are susceptible Of having damaging Tea
! lures so obscurely hidden within it's maze
of figures that It has become quite I'M
| possible with the man Of business 10 mas
| ter It's various problems. To enable US
TO understand the bearing and importance
| II these questions. let US take brief
retrospective view Of what has occurred
since the use and Introduction Of steam.
| This marks a period in the history Of the
| business Of the world. II wrought a
| change in Drices and in the cost OF pro-
duction which in turn increased the
| amount of consumption This caused
| greater demand for transportation ana
| in answer 20 this demand began the
| growth Of railroads. They sprung up over
| the country. at first local in their man
| agement. rs well as In their extent. but
| the spirlt Of concentration or cooperation
| reached them too Then absorption COM
| mcnced. and the creation of the great
| railway systems. such. for instance. as
the Vanderbilt system of roads. the Penn
| syvanie, the Atchlson and Topeka, ana
| more recently the Southern Railway COM
| pany. Consider the force massed behind
these great organizations. Every force
| Is determined and limited by the force
which opposes II. How feeble. then, must
be the plant of any individual asking
for a change or relief.
ONLY SOURCE Of RELIEF.
"Co-operation is the only source OF re-
| lief. II must be the effort OF the COM
| munity. and this effort can only be made
| by organization. Not a measure TO excite
| antagonism, but, on the contrary 70 cui-
| tivate the most friendly relations. and
! the end should be to win the gCeotest
| measure Of respect from every transpor-
| tation company. No request should be
! preferred unless based upon relative jus
tee. We should ask and endeavor to
| obtain from the railroads every advantage
| conceded to the most favored. We should
seek 10 be equal 10 the best In our IA
| cilities and bettes than the balance. Lag
CARDS will be the sufferers. l., us es-
| cape that blight Besides. these benefits
| 10 be derived from such bureau. Z VIII
| bring the Chamber into more active re-
| latlonship with its members; will make
| Il a refuge for protection. and this tails
man. urotectcn, Will breed popularity
In conclusion, It is safe to assure you
| that nc item Of expense will reflect itself
SO largely or so well in the balance
| sheets Of the businessmen Of this COM
| munity as the contribution which they
are asked TO make for the support OF ms
| bureau"
Will DO THEIR SHARE.
I-por :Le conclusion Of Mr.. Millhiscr's .
| remarks Nrr l.. c. Younger, president OF
! the W'hC,ogaIe GrOcers' Association, an
! nounccG bat the grocers were prepared
to contribute to the support OF the bureau
Q 80 per aanum, the amount apportloned
to that class Of trade
Mr.. Travers said that he was satisiled
the fertilizer men would 10 the same
and other branches Of trade, IL was stated
| would also contribute the amounts "p-
| portiOned u them.
| The rouort of the Committee on Plans
was then unanimously adopted. and the
| secretary Of the Chamber was instructed
| 10 mail to each Canvas sing Commltter
to-day full directions. and request them
10 be prepared 70 report from their r.
spectiye branches OF business to an ad-
fourned meeting at the same place anu
hour next Tuesday, September llih.
THE y. & W. EXTENSION.
The secretary read a communication
from Mr.. Joseph Walerstein embodynS
the resolution adopted by the special JOINT
Council Committee asking the co-opsra-
| tfon Of the business exchanges III the
! Councils effort to get the Norlok anu
| Western Railroad Company to extehd 10
! line 10 Richmond. AMI Mr.. TiaVets OF
fer,d the following resolutlonS, "hIch'
| after n brief address by Mr.. Nd!er9le"b
| were adopted:
Whereas in pursuance Of the action re
contlv taken hy the Common Council OF
the citv of Richmond, with a view OF IN
ducin, the Norfolk and Western railroad
to extend it's tracks 10 this city, a spe-
cial Joint committee Of the city Council
has requested the cooperation OF the s.Fe-
ral commercial Organizations OF lich-
mond; and
whereas. the Richmond Chamber of
Commerce has for years felt the proi0und-
est interest in a closer and more dlrect
connection with the territory trayersed
by the Norfolk and Western raiiroau'
therefore be it
Resolved. That this Chamber. repre-
santing every branch Of trade ana manu-
facture OF the city. most heartily APP
proves OF this NOV ment on the part Vi
our municipal authorities 70 induce vi,
Norfolk and Western railroad 70 eXteha
its line 70 Richmond. and feels confident
that the constant and material growth OF
the business Of Richmond, one OF th1
largest commercial and manufactures
centres Of the South. should be an assu-
rance that 1t can and will afford most
valuable traffic to the Norfolk ana west
ern railroad. should the authorities oi
that road determine TO extend us own
tracks to Richmond
Resolved, That this Chamber stahus
ready to cordially and actively cooperate
with the special joint committee OF th7
Common Council and Board OF AideI tileH
and the committees to b. appointed by tne
other commercial organizations or klch-
mond. and pledges its best efforts IN thS
direction OF obtaining for the Norfolk ana
Western railroad the most adVahtaseouS
facilities for entering the city ana loc"''"s
here It's tracks. dep1ts. shops, &c
THE TRADE OF CHARLESTON.
Notwithstanding Serious Cal alamiues 'h'
Old Town Has Held Her Own.