Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-02
ADsouRx FROM TALK TO WORE

ADJOURN FROM TALK TO WORK.
In yesterdays issue Of the Dispatch
many valuable suggestions were made with
respect to the development of Richmond's
industries.
The crying need Of orr community is for
more manufacturers. 10 give more employ
inent to our worltngmen. and TO furnish
more tenants for our houses. ANA more
business to our merchants.
It may always De safely assumed that
when the workingman is regularly en-
ployed at fair wages. the general com
munity win be prosperous. As prosper-
~ is what We are seeking for, obviously,
it should be our aim to secure employ
ment for as many workinemen as pos
sible. now. the question is how to eff
feet our desire.
The Dispatch likes the suggestion that
an organization De formed here. with "a
capital Of 10000 to promote the estab-
lishment Of new manufactures. such
an organization would show, first that
we are in earnest: and secondly. that
projectors of new enterprises viii receive
the encouragement and help here that
they so much need.
1t is no secret that. on occasions. men
coming here intending TO establish busi-
nesses have been driven off by hearing
The half-hearted talk Of some Of our peo-
ole. We need the organization mentioned
10 countpract this injurious influence and
At is essential TO success that st be Of
dcered by men who have not only good
Judgment. but plenty Of enthusiasm
There are such men here. and many of
them would be willing TO give their SER
vices TO the cause. Yes; we must put
forward men who believe in Richmond
az we would induce others to believe i'm
our city. Half.hearted men won't DO for
ihis work.
by all means. let us have such an Or
sanization. Let as appeal to every man
Of public spirit to subscribe his 500 or
sos or 500, TO provide the capital stock.
The plan should be not to get a few
.api,alists 10 subscribe the bulk Of the
stock, but TO have the stock distributed
in many hands so that the whole com
onunity may be lcavened with the leaven
of enterprise. and become interested in
the scheme. Payments TO this capital
stock might be made in instruments. as
they were made to the Chamber OF Com
mercc's building fund.
Now. as 90 our water-power; 1t is here;
but It makes more noise rolling over the
rocks I'm its almost unchecked course 10
the sea than it does i'm turning mill
wheels. To be sure, some Of it is In good
usc-vcry good use-but more of it is
wasted. BY some. however it IS con-
tended that our water-power cannot be
made Of much greater practical benefit
until our canGl-the great race-wsy--is
gfilNrrlu. II TINS tt ~ W. "tl'tttA iiNNsH
10 look out for very large sum Of money
Win which TO do the work. inasmuch as
the berm-bank Of the canal Is bank OF
granite. and to blast it away would be
costly; and In no other WAY could the
canal be wldencd or deeponcd But are
We sure that nothing important can be
done without an enlargement OF the
canal? Suppose wc arrange 10 consume
in mill-power every gallon OF water We
have before we begin talking about en-
larging the canal? If we would do so.
we might find that as matter OF fact.
the canal as il now exists is capable OF
furnishing a deal more OF wator-powcr
ahan II Is now furnishing.
Again, why not take hold Of ma
utilize the water-p0wer several miles
above Richmond. ana bring 1t here In
fhe form Of eleciric-powcr? The like Of
<hls Is being done olsewherc-notably az
Niagara-and that plan m.ght save us