Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-19
WHAT WE CAN OFFER
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACED

| ~ the outgrowth OF the consolidation
ana extensions We have the Atlantic
coast Line, the Southern Railway, an,
,he Seaboard Airline. As the results o
me Richmond fredericksburg and Poto
mac railroad opening its line TO freigh
uaihc We have access 10 the Pennsyiva
MA system. and through The Petersbur,
railroad qnording an entrance into Rich
| mona We have access TO the Norfolk ans
| western system. and the Chesapeake
| anu ONO has 80 enlarged Itself in so man,
| u'heient ways hat II now ranks will
| me greatest systems Of the country
| WIN All these channels Of railway trans
! portation right at our hands. we not onl,
| nave access 20 every part Of the country
| Dut We have the choice OF rival lines
| thus insuring, not only fair rates. bal
also prompt dispatch in delivery.
UTILIZING OUR ADVANTAGES.
with this very brief resume Of oul
| railway transportation facilities 7 thlni
| may assert that II is clearly evident tina
the second essential has also been provld
| "a Tor and | have in my own way estab
lished that the conditions necessary q
| the existence Of manufacturing are pro
vidcd for here But the vital part OF
| this question. which IL the mean where
| by 20 Increase our manufacturing es
| tabiishments. II asks T. discover the
means by which We can increase oui
manufacturing establishments. II asks
TO bc shown the avenue that leads 10 the
realms Of progress. The key TO the gate
OF that avenue lies In our private facili-
ties beyond those which | have enumera-
ted. Provide improved facilities. and you
VIII find that The manufacturing estab-
lshments already existing here viii be
the messengers and proclaim the GLAD
tidings. They will be the first to inscribe
upon the pages Of the future the dc-
sired record of development. and fortn-
nately the means wherewith TO accom-.
pish this lies within our easy grasp. II
is ours Tor the taking. / mean the pro-
per utilization Of the natural advantage
OF cur situation at the head OF deep
water navigation. and by the proper utiii-
cation. ] mean TO provide Richmond with
minimum water rates 20 the coast points
north OF us. At the present time, owing
to the coalition Of the water lines and the
rail lines all the rates we have TO these
northern points are railroad rates, ana
the ships that come up our river might
as well be phantom ships.
Il VIII cite you a case which VIII de-
monstrate how low minimum water rates
can be- and also demonstrate TO what
extent we are denied participation there
ill., The rate on tin-plate from swan
sea. Wales, TO Richmond, is - cents per
1Dj This involves transportation from
Swansea TO Liverpool. from Liverpool VIA
the Cunard Line 10 New York, ana from
New York via the Old Dominion Lane
TO RichmOnd-20 cents. The rate upon
this same tin-plate from New YORK 10
Richmond via the Old Dominion Line Is
II cents per 100. / do not FOR one moment
suppose that the Intelligence of the Ola
our
reason as TO ask Us to believe that In
the division OF this % cents they get
j. cents. no. gentlemen, If there IS a
division Of II and 3. the cents WIZ ran
20 the O!d Dominion Line-a lean through
rate. and fat local rate. CApplauseD
| suppose tina, this infection has been I'M
posed upon us as a second fulflment OF
pharaoh's dream, when the seven lean
cows ate the seven fat ones. But If IN the
drama of justice this scene Is to be per-
formed continually then, gentlemen, we
will have TO file our protests against the
cast Of characters. and henceforth we VIII
want to play the role of the lean COW.
WANT MINIMUM RATES.
Minimum water-rates TO the coast
pOints north of US would place Richmond
factories In suburban proximity, as mea-
sured by freight-rates TO the cities cf
Boston. New York. Philadelphia. ana
Baltimore While the bearing such a
condition would have on the future Of
Richmond IS prodigiously great, yet an
intelligent Idea Of this fact can be "ummed
up in a few words. il would mean that
at cost hardly exceeding a long drdyage
haul Richmond factories could place
their products at the doors Of 100000
people-more than one fifth Of the en-
tire population OF the United states, for
such Is the population Of the cities or
Boston. New York. Philadelphia. and
Baltimore. with the country Immediately
adjacent thereto depending on them for
supplies. IT is a familiar fact mat the
custom Of manufacturers selling their pro-
ducts delivered has so grown that It Is
accepted to-day almost as being general.
Delivery is now Legitimate. component
part OF the cost of Manufacture, and
any measure which will reduce hut a
trifling per cent. this element OF cost in
our access to 100000 people will so re-
fleet itself upon the Industrial life Of
Richmond that IL would require no great
effort TO see that it means progressive
development Nor would the benefits of this
minimum watcr-rate 10 the coast points
north terminate at those points; II would
be the means Of opening to the uses of
Richmond factories all the coast steamers
plying between New York and the south
ern ports. Not only would this minimum
rate accomplish IL, but those lines fire.
quently absorb a part OF the rate when
drawing from outside territory, and when
our rates are low the absorption would
consume it all, and II would mean that
Richmond via New York would have
rates to the southern ports at the same
figures as New York shippers. from their
expensive seat OF operations. The mani
fold advantages Of uniform rates TO these
northern ports are so great that the sub
ject would be required 10 be thought OF
continually to enlarge its importance. In
these minimum rates to northern ports
7 think I have found a suitable basis
upon which TO rest the superstructure OF
merit
HAVE OUR OWN BOAT
Now. how to procure these rates is
the question. | think that the step which
would most efectually lead 20 their
procurement is the establishment OF a
line OF steamships between Richmo-l
and New yorb applause. and the
rates to New York, and to Boston, Bal
timore, and Philadelphia would quickly
follow suit. Otherwise. there would be
an undue gravitation Of freishts TO New
York, "A condition which the other lines
will not permit. one steamer would be
adequate for our purposes. With one
steamer a weekly round-trip could be
made. leaving New York every Saturday,
which is the principal shpping-day.
Nor. need we be eXtravagant in the class
Of steamship TO be acquired. We would
get one not so fine as TO excite the envy
Of our nahob rivals. nor even so good as
TO invite the triumph Of conquest by the
storms Of the Atlantic; In that way, she
might float on 10 a good old age, and
then be in fine condition to sell to the
Clyde Line. daughter and applause)
If this suggestion should assume the
shape Of organized effort, II would be
hands Of our Traffic Bureau. Therefore,
any suggestions either rs TO organiza-
lion or management, would be expected
to emanate from that sources.
"In conclusion, Mr. President and gem
tlemen. let me say 10 you, that II you
will properly utilize the James the bo-
som Of that river can be made 10
yield the milk OF prosperity TO every
man, woman. and child in our COM
(Applause) Properly utilized,
the James. with the return Of prosperity
now lingering around US. you will find
hat within the organizations OF many
IF the manufacturing Institutions OF this
,ity there now exists that combination
u ability, energy, ana capital which
would expand their businesses into monu-
mental proportions. Their successes
would stand forth as beacon-llghts TO
guide the future steps OF those In search
# a centre enjoying natural advantages:
Les,. sfa,ff In eft ION