The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-09
THURSDAY, DECEMBER .. 1897.
HOW TO BUILD UP RICHMOND.

The splendid meeting of citizens at the
Chamber OF Commerce on Tuesday night
was inspiring. Richmond is waking up
TO the fact that city cannot stand still,
but IL must move either forward or back
ward. This is an age of personal soil
citation and advertising and these meth
DDS are as necessary 10 the progress OF
a city as to the promotion Of any indi-
yidual enterprise. There Is sharp COM
petition between cities and 1t won't do
for our city TO wait for business while
other cities are hustling for 1t.
Some doubt is expressed as TO the ex-
pediency OF establishing a Bureau OF In
dustrial Development. Some doubt that
such q bureau will be sustained and 9TH
ers doubt it's ability to accomplish any
thing. In our opinion the second doubt
is involved in the first. The bureau can
do nothing of itself. 1t must. first of
all. have the substantial support of the
community. IL must be supplied with
money and its allowance must not be
stinted. But moro than that It must
have tho moral support and the co-ope-
rative support of the people of Richmond.
II both conditions are fulfilled, 1t will
succeed. 1t will arouse public spirit; 1t
will crys.alize public sentiment; It VIII
organize and bring into action the e.
serve forces OF this community. II will
stimulate Industries already in existence;
81 will induce tho moneyed men of this
community to invest in enterprises that
tn 10, IN
10 look up their means in buildings that
are not needed. 1t will help the com
pany that proposes to develop the water
power of the James; it will help the
company that proposes 10 establish
great sugar industry here; 1t will take
hold OF this tobacco question and help 10
build up a great loose tobacco market
here, a thing that is so much needed
All this and more will 1t do provided
only II shall have the confidence and
hearty support of the community.
Richmond Is in sad need Of an organi-
ger. The brain and the money are here.
hut they are not organized. Think OF a
great corporation composed OF the rich
and brainy men of this city. organized
fer the purpose of advancing the inter-
ests OF Richmond. There is no limit;
comparatively speaking. TO the great
things that it could accomplish.
So much for the work at home, and
that after all Is the great work for tho
bureau TO do. There are abundant op-
portunities here for profitable industries
and there Is plenty or homo capital 10
build and operate them. IL IS not neces-
eary 10 go away Tor either the men or
the money. II our home folks can be
aroused TO action. But in addition 10 all
this. manufacture can be brought here
from other localities and it is very well
10 have a live man always on the look
out for them. Look at the following
telegram which was clipped yesterday
from a Georgia paper:
FALL RIVER. MASS. Dec. 6.-The
New England Cotton Manufacturers or
ganization has appointed "a committee
10 investigate the cotton manufacturing
business of the Southern States for the
purpose Of securing definite and reliable
information on the subject in as much
Detail as possible.
II Is recognized that southern competi-
iion is largely responsible for the demon
allied condition OF the local print cloth
market. The object is 10 learn officially
just what the situation in the South is.
and how large a share or the general
market southern mills enjoy.
IL has been suggested here that north
ern and southern mills link their interests.
or In other words. from a trust But
the one great obstacle i'm the way OF
thus relieving the situation IS the differ
ence between the cost OF manufacture
in the south and in New England
Business conditions are changing ana
mills are moving, opportunities are con-
stsntly offering themselves and Richmond
should be constantly on the look out
Tor them.
In conclusion let us say that we are
in no sense gloomy about Richmond. Its
prospects were never brighter and We be-
lieye that an era or great activity VIII
soon get In.
The effort that is now making viii only
hasten the time.