Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-24

MIR. =. +. GREENWOOD.
Zone Of the Principal Speakers)
vent II. and. Furthermore, the views
would express are briefly set forth IN
the communication. and, therefore, VIII
occupy but little of your time.
SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISES.
Skipping over my explanation Of ex-
pected absence, / will read on 10 say
that perhaps it is not out of place for
me, as president Of the Richmond Loco
motive-Works, that happily has not lost
any personal identity and has become,
you might say, the property ana basis
in part, Of the wealth of this community
to say q few words on the subject III
hand especially so as i'm this interest OF
the community lies. in my judgment, the
certain and already largely-attained sue
cess Of our great southern enterprise, loi
Virginia will not claim II alone. LAVISH,
as ever, she has demonstrated that an
and any enterprise is in reach OF the
South If we be brave first ana theh
earnest honest, and industrious. 1nat
the citizens OF Richmond are interested
and take pride in the Richmond Loco
motive-Works. or any of its enterprises
is actual cooperation and concert OF ac-
tion. 1t girds the loins Of endeavor
And manufacturing is worthy of en-
couragement Few who have not inves-
tigated IL appreciate the meaning of the
utilization of basic materials. The pro-
portionatd disbursement for wages is
enormous, and wages go directly into lhe
arteries Of trade. 1t is hypodermic in It's
action-its effect is instantaneous. Ten
thousand dollars paid out on Saturday
night, before il reaches the banks during
the week following, has performed prOdl-
gies, and each industry Is, therefore, po-
tent for good, and as their numbers IN
crease so will Richmond prosper.
Taking hap-hazard our last eXpendi-
ture of 100000, L find it distributed as
uy IV,oM0' sl5 600 90
City purchases .......... ......... il'V0 ~ w. w.
Beyond our borders ............... 4l,VO w
Now. | grudge every dime spent out
| side of Virginia, for, following 1t PACK
| to the iron and coal of which we nave
an abundance, you may say the ehtlre
100000 disbursement Is Tor wages. Inc
purchases from abroad are not conceh-
trated or wholly from the large estaD-
hshments. They represent innumerasDIe
small articles that could be manufac-
tured here. 1t is not unusual Tor our
monthly settlements TO require over one
hundred checks, mere than han peihB
for sums under $lOO; in other words, We
patroniZe that number of industries eacn
month. large majority Of which could
flourish here. as already stated.
And now at this interesting meeting
must tell what l know, and that means
confining myself TO and telling only Oh
the Locomotive-W Works, and for this pray
excuse me.
rs THE COMMUNITY WITH YOU?"
Some years ago, say ten, / had invited
a gentleman here to take charge or the
works, and carried him through the es-
tablishment. When pleased at the eV-
dent qualification that its extent ana
equipment gave | asked his opinion. lie
answered i'm effect the half had not been
told. He said he had only one thing TO
ask us the community with youE LOT
in varied experience he had never seen
success of an enterprise without that
and that manufacturing had been aDan-
doned absolutely in some cities for the
lack of this support. L confess 10 tie
deepest concern at that time upon ms
making the query. and got out OF II
lamely but truthfully by saying that the
people were not Informed. But the TACT
was, the sentiment Of our people was
pot, as l saw II, encouraging TO the en-
terprise and IL took my entire stock OF
courage of conviction TO Withstand II.
Perhaps 1t was best, for the kindly, l
might say selfish, interest for the com
munity, as a community as a iact, is
more interested i'm the success Of an en-
terprise than any protector can possibly
be, and the encouraging words that are
now said are, by contrast, most gratlIy-
ing. l can now defy any croaker. cannot
make bricks without straw; l cannot
avoid panics and other business Vlclssl-
tudes, but with the community on our
side. / can put up as good hght LOT
existence as any establishment in the
United States ana could do almost no
thing without you.
VERDICT OF EXPERIENCE.
The fact that every man in Richmond
claims now and everywhere that we can
build locomotives in Richmond means
nothing more nor less than the success,
or rather the survival, Of the works:
say survival, for If the present owners
show ill-judgment in the management OF
its affairs then others of you will run H.
and IT'S heavy pay-rOlls viii continue 10
fructify 10 the benefit of every man IN
This community; and after all, ii does
NOT mean that you, gentlemen, should
endorse an enterprise; 1t means that you
should not discourage IL. And, again, III
is no wonder that this community should
he careful; no wonder If IL was even nlS-
gardly. nor should 1t be charged win
lack OF public spirit, for, with its dread
eXy4rienceS, any people less Nlrlle Woulu
be I'm despair, while we have only learned
caution Familiar with the fiscal history
of Richmond since 1868, IL is no surprise
that money 50 hard earned should pe
Guarded iealously. Its very scarcity pre-
SSenfed normal conditions 1t made it so
that instead of there being in our lexicon
no such word as fail" IL was the most
prominent of all the words in the dlc-
tionary. An enterprise that ala not sue
ceed at once and at the outset was
failure. There was no money TO en-,
courage IL to try, try again. we had
made no big money on corner lots' We
had amassed no large fortunes; II pc
hOOVed us 10 lOOh TWICE dl every uSii"'
before spending, and many times before
embarking ii in an enterprise. And was
mis- state of things wholly the result or
the war? No. IL was not' II was the
result of the present then and now pres
ent and continuing and hostile national
Iepislation Repeating what / said last
1vinter before the Banking and Currency
Committee of Congress. the survival OF
Richmond under the present currency
isws was a marvel. and familiar with
- facts as already stated, / believe IL
he laws had been just we would nave
had to-day population of 25O.OOO people,
roanufacturing and encouraging manu-
sactures and our land would smile with
nlenty, and the Chamber or commerce
az the city Of Richmond cannot roster
Industries more certainly than Dy Sc
curing currency reform. What l nave
said about interest In enterprises Is; IN
sha nature of things, however needful,
yet at best sentimental, put the securing
- currency reform is practical
A SPLENDID FUTURE.
A, nresent we are not allowed TO do as
20 vgould with our own, and, quotlhs
again from my Banking and currency
ceiloouy. | told them that was not com
nlaining OF the little We had, but that
We were estopped from utihzlng H. anu
so, gentlemen, your in,erest III eHse tso.r
prises you already display insuIe ,aIs sngaa
s,iccess by securing proper currency le6Is-
Istion' II will do more for our pros
nerity than everything else we copld 90
CONCLUDED ON EIGHTH PAaE)