Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-09

,on,lon IN tho boolth of the community,
and the rcproach TO the city III III,
respect has been removed by 49,
improved record. 1t has careiuh9 go,
sidered it's financial condition. VII,
was not only affecting the puphc 49,
but taxes. which 30 vitality lnhusnN IA
business md prosperity OF the CITY. anr
a healthy and vigorous ehort Is p''pe
made at retrenchment and reform.
has also studied the tranfpoi'a'lo"
problem in It's various phases anu a.
complished results absoluteiy esh,"' ni
to the prosperity Of the city ana ~,
rectly or Indirectly benefited every uuo
ness interest within it, limits. W."
respect to the latter question, IL u nv
always the part Of wisdom 10 sNo W
widest publicity to what has been aceo'n ,
piished. but Perseverance II respect W
IN referred TO the Traffic Bureau report oil
1886 and to the largest shippers III ou'
midst for the substantial results oo-
tanned through the Inland Trade Colh-
nittee and the Traffic Bureau on inc
Chamber.
From the statistics Of all manufactures
for 1896 1t appears that Win capi-
tai invested. sl6275.75o, the numoer
of men employed was 1886. ms gives
for every SiC0.OcJ invested about lOi men
employed. At that ratio the fuoilc
Spirit Club" with 10000 capital w9uid
restore TO employment II all It's means
were invested. not quite one-tweHth Oh
those who lost employment during 3d.
and would be totally inadequate 10 re-
employ even that percentage OF the
larger number losing work in the
Immediately preceding years. we, there
fore. feel that unless, as suggested py
one of your recent correspondents, the
fund OF 100000 Is to be used not Tor IN
vestment in manufactures, but soleiy TOT
advertising expert examination, ana
other preliminary expenses, that II VIII
| fall far short of the needs OF the sltua-
ton.
The Chamber suggested in 1875 syn
| dicate Of our wealthiest citizens 10 take
an interest in enterprises after they hau
been fully investigated by the Chamber
through its Committee on Manufactures
! or its Committee on Business Enterprises
| but it must be reluctantly admitted that
| no such syndicate could then be formed,
! and i'm some instances. desirable ana
attractive enterprises were not suDscrlDeu
to- though subscriptions were earnestly
| solicited. At that time the tendency
was. i'm almost every instance 10 rush
abroad. where. investigation being less
practicable on the part OF the inyestot'
! the prospectus Of the promoter coulu'
| with safety. be more roseate. me tx
perience of those investors, and, indeel'
! of us all in late years. may. ana certain
" should. induce for all considerations
a greater disposition to invest at home
and also to invest i'm manufactures, 10
give employment to our population, ana
| 10 sustain our other vested interests pul
we do not think new organizations are
! needed TO effect this most desirable con-
summation; but. on the contrary
| greater concentration Of EFFORT, ana a
rallying to those we now have by al
classes of our citizens.
| All that YOU say with respect 10 the
utilization Of our water-poWer IN felei
cnce to electric-power and you mishl
have added. our neighboring coal-heius)
for the development Of industries. Is aD-
solutelv true. These are primary and
essential conditions. which will best pave
the way for. attract. and stimulate IN
dustries The Chamber has under con
sideration some plans Of importance h
this direction. after having urged in sea
son and out of season, their vital I'm
portance.
perseverance" alludes to a meetins
some weeks ago Of Post y. travellers
Protective Association. for the purpos'
of starting manufacturing clo.n .
house. and fntimates that the proJec
may be dead. such. however is not IN
case. The Chamber was kindly invitel
IN co-operate i'm this effort and holdi
itself ready TO do so Immediately and mos
cordially. upon the report of the suo
committee of Post 4, now having TN
matter i'm charge for the purpose o
D making certain inquiries. Conditions ar
all favorable to this enterprise, ana IL i
imperatively needed 70 hold the TRAD
I that comes on during the season. am
now seeks northern markets for THIS espe
cial line of goods. and there supply II
uonts for other articles. which can %
| amplv furnished here Some OF the OF
0cers and leading members Of the Cnam
her have already expressed their interes
I'm this enterprise. and Indicated thel
readiness 70 subscribe
The Chesapeake and Ohio viaduct
another subject ready FOR action. IN
C,bonber has at all times been willin
and anxious to help i'm that direction. an
, is stW so. whenever the railway com
many thinks their services can be rem
dered available. -,
In conclusion. beg 10 assure you, MI
Editor. that the liberal devotion OF IN
o. columns Of your paper 10 all ques
lions affecting RiChmonds advancement
is appreciated fully by the organizatio
which | have the honor 10 represent bu
: II seemed proper to dissent from some q
tho suggestions recently made. as II wa
holieved they would initiate against tn
common object we have in view
Very truly yours, :. II. HALVES.
70 presf5ent Richmond Chamber Of Con
r rnq~ca