Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-01

IN the ensuing year winch VIII lur'het
make known our advantages and at
fractions TO an extent that no other
method would accomplish. From the en-
tire south and many of the largest cities
of the North In June next veterans and
visitors will attend the sixth annual
reunion Of the United Conf ,derate Vet
erans, and from the inspiring notice or
the chairman of the Executive Com
mittee of the United Confederate vet
erans recently published. we can imagine
what an assemblage will be present
on that interesting occasion. In May
the Southern Wholesale Grocers' Asso-
citation will hold its annual meeting,
which representative businessmen from
over sixty sister cities OF the South and
Southwest will attend. and in March
next the American Association OF Gen
eral Passenger Agents, representing
transportation companies in every di-
rection. will meet here. The prospect
even of some of these occasions has
already given additions impulse to inn
provements, such as " Auditorium at
the Exposition Grounds. and the street
railway of the traction company. on
| Broad street. extending from its ex-
treme western end to the Exposition
| Grounds. In addition 10 these improve
ments. new telephone company Is IN
prospect. with rates at about hait OF
those now ruling and IL promises
| lonS-distance telephone connection. pla-
cling the city i'm communication with the
vast system of telephone wires already
| constructed to northern and western
| cities. In all of these improvements and
questions the Chamber has, OF course,
| felt the most lively interest, and. when
| ever appropriate taken an active part
! It has also had under consideration
| other important movements, some or
which have been literally noticed by the
press Of the city. others not yet being
| In a state of progress ready for publ
, cation
| DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC QUESTIONS.
| The new departure OF the Board OF
| Directors In having meetings for the
| public discussion OF questions relating to
| the welfare and materill advancement OF
| the city IS believed 10 be pregnant with
the best results: In arousing public spirit
AID recognition of the duties of cit-
zenship. and in enlightening and excl
ting public sentiment. and. as a recent
speaker cogently added. public energy.
upon matters of public concern. The
first of these meetings had its attention
addressed to the development Of our
manufacturing interests There was the
profoundet interest manifested, and the
several addresses We're referred TO the
appropriate committees. and some OF
them have received constant and vigilant
attention. But i'm connection with this
question, | desire to reiterate the inn
portance of some action upon a matter
which. i'm SIS present shape, Is a stand
ing rcprOach 10 our enterprise az a manu-
fac,uring centre-namely. the failure to
develop fully the water-power Of Rich
mond. In line with the great interest
professed in the development of our
manufactures. the Chamber has consider
ed the subject extensively. advised with
parties competent TO make valuable sug-
gestions. and has lengthy list of en-
terprises considered feasible here But
beyond bringing them to the attention
of the public. furnishing information TO
prospective investors. and presenting our
general facilities and advantages. the or
ganzation has no power or function
whatever by which to promote the object
in view and is i'm the embarrassing posi-
ton of having TO state, whenever water
power is the subject of inquiry. that
there is over twice as much of this power
available and running TO waste as is now
i'm use. but that the necessary steps have
not been taken TO develop il.
The trouble Is that we are waiting for
| outside enterprise to accomplish this i'm
| provement. But. If it Is really the wish
| TO promote manufactures. we who are
most vitally interested should, at least.
! pave the way for their establishment by
getting this important factor In shape
! 10 attract industries. as other places
have done. Next TO. or upon par with.
the facilities for receiving raw mate
rial and distributing its finished products.
| this is the most essential element of a
| nhNgisaI character In ba Of
our development as a manufacturing CEN
ire. and il seems To be drifting to some
! imperfect solution or TO a chronic condi-
tion of "desuetude," Despite frequent
| references TO its Importance.
SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOP
MENT
| In a recent inquiry received by the
| Chamber-viz, How can southern indus
| trial development be best promoted
the answer was unheslratingly given,
by an intelligent determination on the
part OF the southern people to develop
! their own industries" and. after elabo-
rating this view to some extent, the
reply went on 10 say:
This phase of the question of south
ern development is one which now seems
well worthy of careful consideration.
Most OF our railroads. steamboats,, street
| railways, express companies. telegraph
and telephone companies, insurance COM
| panies, as well as a large amount of
| capital employed in other enterprises,
| are already owned and controlled by non
| residents. or the revenue received by
| these institutions annually a vast amount
| Is withdrawn from this section to large
oney-centres elsewhere, until its people
hardly think of undertaking any enter
| prise of magnitude without making IL
| contingent upon outside help. Is this
! practice TO continue from year to year,
until the increment of the country is
10 great extent entirely aIienated? IL
Is, happily. not so with many of the
| banks. tobacco factories, and commercial
enterprises, and need nor be so I'm the
| future development of the Industrial en-
terprises II our people have ;nat faith In
their heralded resources 20 which they
| would have the outside world converted"
! cannot close without making what
| consider fair and logical application
20 the Chamber of what has been re-
/ Gently said in one OF its meetings touch
| ing the obligations of citizenship in the
matter OF securing good government.
| Similarly IL is the interest OF all business
! men. capitalists, property-owners. and
good citizens to Join the Chamber. They
should give ii and its praiseworthy OBJ
| iects the support of their means and in
| fuence-at least. TO the extent of be-
coming it's members and attending its
| meetings.
| Atlanta is often held up TO US as an
| example. and. by comparison. reproach.
| but. while / believe In Richmond and
its people as against Atlanta or any
/ other city. we are somewhat lacking
.(probably from an Individuality and IN
dependence which has its full value
In other directions) in that cooperative
spirit which accomplishes so much in
MANY Of the enterprises OF the present