Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-05
BRING NEW PLANTS.
MOVEMENT SET on FOOT LOOKING
TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
CIVIC PATRIOTISM TO The FORE.
Eighteen Gentlemen Pledge Them
selves to Subscribe 20 stock of n
Company Formed to Encourage
New Enterprises to Come Here.

A most important movement looking TO
the Industrial development OF Richmond
was inaugurated at meeting OF promi-
nent businessmen held In tho Travellers
Protective Association rooms. on the cor
ner Of Main and Fourth streets, last
nleht.
Mr.. John s. Elicit, president OF the
state Bank of Virginia, occupied the
chair, and there were present. besides.
Messrs. T. a. Cary. G. II. Cannon. w. c.
Camp, S. ID. Crenshaw, II. G.. Reynolds.
J. V. Boyd, T. ID. Taylor. Robert S.
Bosher, A. B. Clarke. G. Harvey Clarke.
Stewart Woodward. Thomas X. Poindex-
ter. II. a. McCurdy. Matthew Gilmore.
Ware b. Gay. $. T. Morgan. Virgnius
Newton, A. II. Christian. Jr.. w. c. Bent
ley. aud w. NJ. Coullng.
THE OBJECT EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Coulling was constituted secretary.
and being asked by the chairman to state
the object for which the meeting was
held. he gave a brief history ~ the in
formal gatherings of few gentlemen
who had come together in that club
house on several occasions for the pur-
pose of discussing plans and ideas that
might conduce To the betterment OF the
condition and prospects OF this city. A
very practical suggestion had beon tho
result Of these confersnces-namely. that
an industrial development organization
should be formed with a view to inducing
new enterprises TO come here. and. II
necessary, TO extend financial aid as "A
further inducement
Messrs Nswton. Boyd. Christian. Gay,
Crenshaw, Bosher. Cary. and several
other gentlemen spoke heartily endorsing
the project All were agreed that the
time had come in the business life OF this
city. when 1t behooved businessmen TO
come to the front and lend themselves to
a plan for the enlargement Of the cty's
interests.
Tho discussion was entirely informal,
though many practical suggestions were
made. Touching new industries that
might be started here with profit. Mr..
| Boyd mentioned the manufacture OF felt
| hats as one that might well be inaugu-
rated. Mr.. Gay suggested the making OF
door and window hinges and steel, and
| the condition trade generally was dis
| cussed at length, including the very fat
tering showing made by the Richmond
banks in comparison with those Of other
cities of the same size.
WILL FORM A COMPANY.
Mr. Newton moved that the meeting
should take steps TO organize a company
| TO be known as the Improvement De,
velopment Company, which should be
| called into existence as soon as $1,000
capital was subscribed by not less than
| one hundred of the Businessmen OF Rich-
mond. This motion was carried unani-
mously, and no less than eighteen OF
those present pledged themselves to sub
| scribe.
Mr. Newton moved that the meeting
committee Of five should be appointed 10
solicit subscriptions. This was also ear
ried, and the Chair appointed the fol-
| lowing gentlemen TO serve: Messrs. $. W.
| Travers. II. s. Bosher, V. Newton, W.
| N. Couiling ahd II. w. Rountree.
Although the attendance at the meet
| ing fell so far short of what had been
| expected, yet there was an underlying
| spirit Of enthusiasm which speaks
| volumes for the success Of the UNDER
| taking. which. founded, as It is, upon
civic patriotism rather than hope for
| gain. has its title clear TO hearty sup
| mort