Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-14
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Ssusl Report Of President HAYES to
he Chamber Of Commerce.
70 FUND THE SMALL DEBT.
m. Members Urged to Subscribe y"
,Ac Pony Bonds for This Purpose
Ucprcsentstion ut Atiant"-otner
ftussucss.


.r,e richmond Chamber OF Commerce
,,s its annual meeting last evening al
clock. There was good ATTENDANCE
.,e session was both an important ]
nj interesting one.
,fr : n. Halves. who succeeded Judge
Jorge l.. Christian as president OF 'he
gambler OF Commerce January LIST iast'
..,,,iitcd. on behalf of the Board OF Di-
.-.o-s a report OF the operations OF the
..-,,izafion for the fiscal year. He
..,se propcr reference 10 Judge Chris
..-.s valuable work. expressed his sense
A. The honor and responsibility OF sue
...1log him. and continued:
.ponlcned IN our present elegant and
.,-uo Ilous building. a credit alike TO
p, nuel!e enterprise OF the city and
oil. chamber. with a membership en-
,-.eing prominent individuals from every
..,-ation. your orga Iizatien has attained
rostion in which more than eve
I'D b. expected OF IL as the central
...,.iatlon Of the buslness-eiements of
b.. c,mmunity. Il viii probably. under
.,.-s circumstances. be expected 20 &C
..,~ii.h results beyond its reach. as its
...,..,rs In a number OF cases can only
81. f. suggest and encourage enterprises,
.r..r FOR their ultimate establishment
..f success. must depend upon the re-
'.-~-.vf efforts Of the individuals, firms,
.rf rrporatlons composing the business
subuc.
.ts medium. however. for combining
trI expressing. II needs be. OF arousing
lrl directing public sentiment and action
rfslu a. n
lectures. and the material progress AMI
...r,re OF the city. " now constitutes a
moral and Intellectual force, which. II
..e.iv used. cannot be OVerestimated In
..nc. bat 20 measure fully up to its
..n,rtant mission V is essential that all
,,cll do their part.
MEETINGS AND MEMBERSHIP.
corr regular. as well as our special.
Meetings should be generally and prompt
attended: every member actuated by
feeling OF personal responsibility should
Do MS hts individual influence into play.
So 10 great or small. and there should
% no laggards upon the pretext Of the
aau with only the one talent committed
.1 his charge. As the sphere Of useful
.es and influence OF such body may
greatly extended. not only by the con-
rhgtions. but by the enlisted interest
,f numbers. each member should endeavor
n add 10 our recruits and pro-
1850 the name OF at least one eligible
arty who has heretofore not belonged
the Chamber This point has been
te-tcd and reiterated by all Of my pre-
..,essors In office. but there never was a
limo when IL could be urged with greater
rr1pricry and force
"A recent business directory OF Rich
r1r7 contains the names OF about 1900
business concerns. From this list, COM
,oseI 81 individuals who are all bene-
4fci more or less by the work of the
-hamber we should swell our present
remccrship Of 565 TO at least 500 or 1000
active members.
our treasurer's report will best eN-
'mplfy this necessity. and unless our
Meetings. as a rule, are more largely at
sHled-Iniess our membership is very
rlterslly increased-two OF the chief OBJ
.ects ia erecting this costly ediflce Will
asla.iy fail 10 be accomplished.
THE ORGANIZATIONS WORK.
10 would neither be practicable nor
7I-liahle upon an occasion of this kind
= reicr % all matters which Rave en-
ged the attention Of your board and
solr committees during the year. Allusion
Ril therefore be made 10 only those
ea1ng events which can best illustrate
me varied and important work OF the
lrgduiz1tIou. Throughout the period
ll1-r review all the questions presented
gave been considered "a a manner which
@ was thought correctly represented the
'orsensus Of opinion in the community.
Not discouraged by tn paralyzing sus-
gsnse consequent upon the prolonged
4E.tation Of tariff and currency reform,
O. number OF other matters have been act
ID upon with CONNIE ndab.e spirit and en-
.csur.se
The growing tendency OF legislation 20
affect the business interests of the coun-
.fy renders II essential that our mer-
chants and manufacturers should be more
oc,lant than ever in looking after its
influence upon their affairs. 1t has con-
,equently been the aim Of your directory.
through your Committee on Legislation
and otherwise, To keep as well posted as
1lsgble touching measures of this char
scter offered in Congress, and to endorse
81 oppose them as was thought best for
your welfare. IL will not be necessary 10
sr.merate them. all such proceedings
-aVug been fully published in our city
rarers. but reference Is made 10 this kind
work. which Is increasing in amount
and importance. and for which the ma
rtnerv OF your organization Is most eff
le-uye and Indispensable.
THE TRAFFIC. BUREAU.
Sensible Of the necessity for constant
Uatchfmness and attention to our trans
fortatiOn facilities and freight rates, a
traffic bureau some eight months ago
was added as a department OF the Cham
Dr. under the control Of your Inland.
Trade Committee. and a skilled and ex-
f-uenced railroad man, in the person of
SIR. =. 5. Goodman. was secured as its
manager While this step involved very
,Ireiierahle outlay and much labor. the
slom Of the move has already been de-
u Irstgatcd BY the material aid afforded
Oh 49, OF our businessmen by the mana
-.r in pefplexing questions relating 10
uarsQoftation, etc. The bureau has also
occurred a satisfactory reduction on
through rates from Richmond TO the en-
tire western territory, which had been adj
Nauced IN November last, so as TO place
plt manufacturers at a material disad-
vantage In competing with Baltimore and
eastern cities. The most careful exami-
nation is now being made OF the rates In
eject from western territory to Richmond
and the south: OF rates between eastern
cities and Richmond and the South. and,
ar number OF local rates. so that al
Host the entire situation Is practically
under consideration with the view of
Pacing our businessmen upon the best
possible footing for maintaining and ex-
ending their field Of operations. The
amount 81 work involved In these under
laA4sss Is difiicuit 10 appreciate by those
t9t Immediately In touch with the bureau;
hJt much credit Is due TO your Inland
Trade Committee for it's continuous and
afluous iabors, and 10 the manager of the
bureau for his zeal and ability in handling
ne difficult and important questions
which have engaged his attention. The
results aimed at. IL attained. will be OF
lAcalculabie advantage 10 the community,
ana be most sensibiy felt by all. 10
more cnectually accomplish the objects
@, this department for the individuals
in every branch OF business in the COM
mpaty. the members OF the Chamber
and subscribers 20 the bureau. have re-
Gently been formed into trade sections or
commodity committees. Thus each sec
Ton can be more readily consulted and
called 10 the aid OF the Inland Trade
Committee and the bureau when It's IN
forests are especially involved in any
question"
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
Ar. HAYES reviewed the work OF the
Good Roads and immigration conven-
ions. fun reports OF which were printed
~ .he time; referred TO the successful
public meetings held under the auspices
N The Chamber at which addresses were
made that would have done credit 10 any