Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-19

sWtring Tor the tobacco Interest. can
say that We are not AFRAID OF any dis
trict in Kentucky. North Carolina. or
South Carolina. so far as carriers are con-
cerned
STOOD THE sTORM.
Second. as TO banking capital. Rich
mond has been the only city In the to-
bacco district that has stood the storm.
Not banking house OF any kind has sur
rendered. whereas, II you look back 10
the great State OF Kentucky, you will
find that the banks there went out Of
existence like snow under a July sun
Look at our opponents In the States just
South OF US. and many OF the banking In
stitutions In that locality met with the
same fate. Now the point with US is not
what we have done We claim that we
have passed through this awful panic
and have made a gain. No other market
has done II. Now. what Is best 10 further
Increase our prosperity? our idea IL that
another year the prop rty-owners OF the
city OF Richmond should come to our sup
port. They have more at stake than any
others in Richmond and n the property
holders win come forward and assist In
raising a fund-our trade viii furnish one
half. | will guarantee-of S20.O0o, to be
used in excursions. IN paying the press
for some work they have already done
for us. and get little more out Of them.
will venture to say that IN less than
three years from to-day we will not only
come In third, but first. You have the live
men here. the capital. and the men 10
DO the work. and ell you want is n little
money 10 go into the excursion business.
and a few hras9-bands. together with
plenty OF printers ink" Npplause)
Mr.. CRY on Coal DepOsltS.
Mr.. Ware Is. Gay was next presented by
President Halves. and discussed the fuel
question In a very clear and compre-
hensiye manner. Mr.. Gay spoke OF the
possibilities OF such meetings as these
said the results aimed at were only to
be accomplished by every man commit
ting himself heartily TO the work to be
done and then doing his part, and con-
tinued
Richmond has comparatively within
her corporate limits, and within fifteen
miles OF tidewater an inexhaustible deposit
OF coal suitable for domestic and manu-
featuring purposes, and when we realize
that coal is one Of the most impor-
tant factors In material progress, we
can see what unsurpassed advantages
Richmond can offer industrial establish
ments and their employees with the
cheapest fuel Of any city on tidewater
power is beyond estimation, when il Is
remembered that four tons Of coal are
equal to twenty years of manual labor,
or an average lifetime of hard work;
and, as an eminent writer has expressed
IL. 100000 tons Of coal are equivalent, by
production OF steam and mechanical force.
to 10000 able-bodied men labor!ng twenty
years.
SUCCESS CAME FROM MINING.
1T is also not without significance that
Englands development and progress as
nation dates from her first mining ope-
rations I'm the twelfth century, and the
Increase OF output Of her coal-mines has
ever since measured her growth and
power, intellectually, as well as IN ma
terial things.
THE same can be said Of the United
States, and to the Richmond cOal-hed
and to Richmond as a shipping port be-
longs the honor Of being the first producer
and shipper of American coal, and pre-
viCus TO and during the Revolutionary
war iron was made at the Westham forge
from Richmond coal What gigantic
strides have been made since then. and
wondrous changes taken place. Since
the beginning Of the nineteenth century
the United States has made unrivalled
strides among the nations OF the globe.
and in 1893 its output Of coal amounted
TO about 100000 tons, valued at over
$300,co000. being about one third OF the
total coal production Of the world. (Ap-
plause) This includes subsequent results
not easily described coal being the main
spring OF nearly all the iron-works. fac
tories. railroads. and. In fact. almost
the entire Industrial field. II this is true
in the broad sense Is il not true locally.
ana with this immense deposit Of good
cooking coal so near us can't We induce
Industrial enterprises to locate within our
borders-and where can they obtain other
advantages equal TO such as Richmond
can offer?
WHAT Is IN STORE.
1.-THE coming twenty-five years" Mr.
Gay continued. will probably witness as
startling changes as the past quarter
century, and numerous establishments In
New England, and also in Old England
viii be seeking new locations where coal
and other raw materials can be brought
into favorable conjunction, and where
transportation IS at a minimum. Above
US along the James river we have en-
eXhaustible limestone. as we'll as iron-ore
and hundreds Of square miles Of unex-
plored mineral possibilities. all down
grade transportation TO tidewater at
Richmond, and also valuable minerals in
North Carolina within practicable dis
lance OF us. The James river affords
at minimum cost Of transportation such
foreign ores and raw material as might
be required to better facilitate produc-
ton, and also insures lowest transporta-
ton to and from the great markets Of
the world.
But coal and coke and ore and lime
stone and tidewater are not all We can
offer. We can supply near by most OF
the other requirements necessary, for we
have fire and other clays. insuring, with
proper development of these industries,
cheap brick for furnace and construction
purposes; also, granite for everlasting
foundations. Lumber We can give them
by rail and water deliveries at favorable
prices. \ climate unsurpassed. indus
trial sites, and a country all about us
insuring a supply. at moderate prices.
of all the vegetables fruits. and other
necessaries Of life to be wished for by a
prosperous community" Oour applause)
Mr.. Munce Discusses Legislation.
Mr.. John S. Munce. who spoke upon
the legislation Of Virginia, as IT bears
upon her manufactures and mercantile
establishments. was received with APP
plause. lie said:
II take it for granted that this con-
ference is intended 10 have practical
ends, and that we are all DESTROYS to
see Richmond's commercial advantages
utilized 10 the fullest extent Others, /
feel. can treat better than ! on its manu-
featuring advantages. and these are so
great that the question has arisen in
my mind, Why is it they have not been
utilized to a greater extent. on think
Ing over this point II occurred to me
that we not only have advantages. but
In some points are at disadvantage. as
with other places. and as
practical men We should look these in
the face and see whether or not they can
be remedied or removed.
1.-TWO OF these have always impressed
ne as serious preventives 10 the de-
gelopment OF business. and especially dis
new capital and enterprise seek
ng TO locate here. The rrst is our sys-
.em OF taxation, which system ! claim
s calculated to discourage the increase
,r development of business. Merchants
md manufacturers are taxed on their
purchases by the State, and in addition
he city levies a tax on capital Now
mark, whether capital IS turned over
)nce or fifty times makes no difference
% the State or whether each turnover
means a profit OF 30 per cent or per
,ent., the State leyies on every turnover
10th Of per cent. This, / claim. is
infair TO businesses that are run on
luick turnover and small profits; II
makes them bear a larger proportion Of
axes than they ought. while slow bust
lesses turned over on large profits escape
90 lightly: and l further claim
hat IL will be found that the bust
lesses in which the turnover is quick