The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-29

stop Crying Hard Times. which Is Nor
Imaginary Than Real.

Mr. Powers spoke as follows:
Mr. President ana Gentlemen:
am AT n loss TO understand why
should have been selected TO discuss so
broad and far-reaching "a subject as this,
unless your committee thought mat mas
much as / had been engaged continuously
in business life fer nearly halt century
I'm Richmond. the city OF my adoplioh
that my experience and opselN"lio"7
might suggest some practical thoushla'
which would prove helpful In the develop
rnent e our commercial interests. Nolui-
lions are constantly shiiunS' thdt WHICH
works out successful this year may prove
Il complete failure next Methods Which
were successful ten years ago are anu
uuatcd now. just as the most prOsltaslt
methods OF to-day Will be Outgr'Mh carry
i'm the coming century, ana the i've ihei-
chant Tust keep abreast OF the ulntS,
ever ADAPTING his business TO the demands
OF an eAacting public. Some nave thought
that RiChmOud's growth has been SLOW.
~ this he true. IL may he also sdld tnat
IL has been sure and steady, ana mat
the foundation of her prosperity mas Deth
laid ass solid as the granite on Whlcn shc
is built. / have fulth IN kichmohd lu
ture. / have seen her stand the shock
of a devastating war. her fortunes swept
away I'm a day. her homes burned 10 the
ground. her factories destroyed; her ran
roads torn to pieces. without capital VIII
ont credit and have seen her, Phoenix
like. arise from ner ashes. her people
encountered ana UlNoINutl dhi't maui
even more determined 10 rebuild their CITY
and regain their fortunes by The very
difficulties which confronted them. nave
watched with laudable PRIDE her SttauE
growth in banking capital, I'm beautlIul
public buildings, in Well-cQulppcd pubHc
sch, OILS. in academies and colleges. In nos
pitfalls for the sick ana homes for the aged
and inirm.
FOR 4 LARGER GROWTH.
have seen her diversified factories
|Ha..r az - ia
come into existence; ] have seen her mer-
chants extending their business into
States as far South as the Gulf OF Mexico
and west TO the ohio river, ana yet be
heve that there is room for much larger
growth.
Richmond. situated. as she is. at the
head of tidcWater. with water connections
North and East with deep water for
ocean steamers near by, with three great
trunk railroads entering heroine from the
North, the South and the West-has IA
cilities unsurpassed for distributing her
manufactures ana merchandise. and for
"a much larger business than she has ever
had. Cr even aspiIcd to have, but IN order
TO avail herself OF these advantages. she
must. with Argus eyes, watch these great
transportation lines, and see that they
pass her not toy as Way-statiOn, and
that no discrimination is made against
her ia favor Of other cities Low freight
rates and rapid transportation controls
commerce to-day. IL Is useless 10 attempt
10 expand and enlarge our business, how
ever liberal may be our terms or inviting
our goods. If the rates OF freight are
against us; hence. Mr.. President, 1 wCuid
say that an essential factor for the de-
Vclopmcnt Of our commercial interests IS
the securing of the lowest and most cX-
pedltious transp ortatiOn lOr our manu-
features and merchandise that possibly
can be obtained. and / know of no more
efficient and powerful agency for the ac-
complishmcnt of this obJec than the
Traffic Bureau connected with this Cham
Der From the varied and complicated na-
ture of the questions handled by this de-
partment. IL Is almost Impossible TO csu-
mate the Indispensable character of its
services. and the lar-reaching benefits re
sulting from its favorable adjustment Of
rates which places our manufacturers
and merchants in a position TO compete
successfully with rival centres OF trade,
thus Grabbing them 10 hold ana extend
the hcld of their operations.
SAVING AND PROFIT.
TO give expression, therefore, &c the
value of these services in dollars and
cents which Is the most significant meas
ure 10 the minds of many business men.
IS almost impossible, but IL Is believed
that IL would be entirely within the
bounds of conservative estimate TO say
that the saving and profit TO the commu-
nifty annually Is now equivalent TO from
$4,000 10 100000.
inland Trade in the second annual report
of the bureau:
In estimating the services of n traffic
bureau. IL should be borne in mind that
every advantage secured by the bureau
except IN the settlement of claims.
whether it be in the reduction Of a tariff.
he adjustment OF a classification, or the
removal of discrimination in a specific
rate, the benefit Is not short lived. but
continues from year 20 year. and increases
In IN Mil no Nnlfgrt.a
of business.
This Traffic Bureau. therefore. Mr.. Pres
idcut. should he literally supported and
fostcrcd hy the business men of Richmond.
II Is ever on the alert guarding their in
forests and enabling them TO enter new
fields of trade. and ! hope the day Is not
far distant when. through its efforts or
these of tho Railroad Commissioner, the
merchants OF Richmond may be able TO
extend their business into many sections