Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-09
,,,r WORK FOR Us no DO.


Tn another column Of this issue we p'O-
ush letter from 8. II. Halves Esq'
,,rosident Of the Chamber Oh Ooi'i'l0
-. H. s,biect OF 1.-THE Puolic-Spiil'
c,,h , proposed by this paper and com
nents that have been maze 'hei '"pO''
onr correspondents.
We are glad to have this letter. oec"0se
Il is valuable contribution 10 d SUI
mat we should not willingly see rose ~
,,roroinence. and because it puts
,.o ruh,ic statement of some OF the
work being done by the Chamber
president Halves states that the very
.o~,, ,roposed IS now being done by INC
cha-orer and argues that our people
.,o,,,d hotter give the chamber theH
sunnort than seek to establish d
ACCUMULATION. Moreover, we are assuieu
~ him that though the Chamber mas ''s
we know done a great deal oil "o'N -
This character In the past, 1t VIII DO nlu'"
more in the near future.
Tho Dispatch has never committee IL
elf IN favor of a separate organization
- u,e are clad indeed to hear that the
Chamber will prosecute its work WIN IT,
neyed zeal and grander plans thah eF''
,.ofore So let the committees that 'he
,-bar,her has in. charge of this Work DC
our public-Soirit club. to whom we may
,oo,k for leadership. and from whom re-
ceive inspiratlon. meanwhile giving theH
o,,r encoura cement and support.
The essential thing IS 10 have me pun
lie mind awakened 10 the desiranihly u
trcreesing the number Of our manuidc-
tories and to securing hearty cooperation
ON the part Of our people
Here we have the falls of the james
For several miles above the city anu
within the city limits. too, We have power
that is going 10 waste. The quesuoh
ar,ees. How may we make better use oil
our advantages; how profit more by an
This energy OF nature which Is beating IT.
self out upon the rocks and wasting "se'i
as It rolls to the sea!
II seems 10 Us that We ought TO inquire
n IT be not possible to seize some Oh inns
mower AT a convenient locality and trans
form II into electric power, to be DIS
pensed at low rates here in the city.
The city Of Richmond has Vaiuapie
xvater-power rights between the Three
Mile locks and Bosher's dam. and 1t mas
other valuable water-power rights con
nected with the old pump-house' ahe
there are yet other rights that may Dc
acquired. Now, isn't there somewhere
,,non the lanes near the city a site thai
could be secured for great public power
plant-a plant from which we might gel
at low cost electric power 10 run nun
dreds of manufactures? II SO, cou'dn
we raise the money 10 establish the plant
and If established. wouldn't 1t encourage
manufactures here very much indeed? ~
course. we ought TO make direct use Of our
water power, TOO, but great eiec'rlc
mower plants are things which many o.
the most enterprisng cities are now LOOK
ing forward to as the especial means o
advancing their prosperity.
AS we have pointed out before the ad
vantage OF electric power is that the IN
weston has the widest possible range o
choice In selecting factory site. liz
NAV establish himself wherever III
pleases. He may even 80 into neighDor
hoods the residents OF Whlch "o"'
'kick" against the smoke from smoke
stack.
In short, 1t would seem that the motive
power Of the future, for small induslre
particularly, is 10 be electric power. 80
let Richmond. II possible. equip itself s.
as 10 be able TO offer such power al
low a price as II can be offered elsewher
in this section OF the Union.
The Dispatch is glad too. to see ina
the Chamber of Commerce has arrange
for a public meeting TO discuss question
that affect the prosperity Of the city
That the meeting will do good we haV
no doubt That IT viii be followed up b
practical work upon the part OF IN
Chamber and its committees we have tn
best assurance. But the greater the SUI
port the Chamber receives from our pee
pie the greater will be the influence tina
IL may exert ana the mere enthusiast
and effective VIII be its efforts.
One hundred years. ago New York CIT