Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
Diversified Industries Could Be Secured
and Would Brig Wealth.
MUST PATROSI- ',',lSi !; 4 ID INDUSTRIES.
This One Of the Essentials TO Improve
Our Business Conditions.
ELEcTRIcITY ny wATEn-rowrR.
EIectrifying OF the James Would
Produce Extended Results-Exten-
sion of Markets Into New southeru
Territory, and N Hearty Spirit oe
Co-operntioD Advocated.

Carlyle says ideas are valuelcss unless
they result in action. He could also have
said that all action is the result OF ideas.
Back Of every achievement In tho his
tory Of the world. however great II may
have been. was the Inevitable idea, some-
times true, perhaps as often faise, bur
always stirring mems hearts, and moving
them TO 90 and dare for the accomplish
ment Of their desires
Just at this time, when there Ls a gene
raj and greatly quickened interest In tne
subject OF stimulating Richmond's
growth. ideas as to the method by which
this may be accomplished ere OF peculiar
value. While. as was Sid in the begin
ming. ideas. however intrinsically valu.
able. are worthlesS unless they lead to
action, action will not be taken until
well-deflned Ideas arc adopted.
The Dispatch presents this morning sug-
gestions regarding the methods 10 make
Richmond leap forward on the road or
Industrial development towards tho goal
of commercial supremacy. These coming
from men who have made Richmond-
men who are the bone and sinew or trade
and finance, who have given earnos.
thought 70 her needs-will be read wiro
interest and are of real value. The men
who offer them are not In the habit or
setting down the thoughts that come To
them in the rush OF daily business, but
they are men who have applied all their
faculties In the conduct Of their affairA
Al 1tay al ~
the good OF Richmond. the result or their
study and experience. Following are tne
letters sent to the Dispatch:
Must Stimulate Manufactures.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch.
1 fully concur in the conviction grow
ing in the minds Of our thinking people.
that the chief hope of Richmond Tor af-
yancement in population and welfare lies
In the promotion OF our manufacturing
interests. These, IL appears to me, can
be stimulated by the following conditions:
/. A specific license-tax favoring bank
ing institutions In place of the heavy rate
now imposed on their capital rms Wouid
enable bankers TO charge lower rates OF
interest on account Of reduction In ex-
penses, and would induce northern capi-
ialists 20 irvtst IN such insiipl'ions mere,
To compete with more favored manugac-
turing centres. we must have money 10
lend manufacturers at lower rates than
now prevail
? A lower rate OF. IL not exemption
from. taxation for a term OF years for all
manufactures established here II thu
constitutional objection can be overcome
3. Cheaper coal and cheaper material
for manufactures must be obtained by in-
ducing the railroads TO cease their dis
elimination In freight rates now obtains
ing TO our disadvantage, and thus secure
cheauer power and products, which VIII
compete in prices with those offered else-
where
4. DEVELOPMENT OF our water-power.
which seems now on the threshold OF
accomplishment.
z Cheaper labor for cottOn-mills, Ia
oomnete successfully hero with sinillaf
works south OF IA.
g Diversifying our manufactures by In
ducing a variety Of kinds % le established
here.
Cheaper sites for manufacturing
pIants TO prevent enterprlsing business
men from crossing the river 20 secure
business locations. or from going iurther.
A determination to buy exclusively
(as far as possible) from our own mer-
chants and manufacturers. and thus en-
able them 20 prosper
3. More public spirit among our "eaiehy
and weu-to-do citizens IN the direction Oh
subscribing TO the stock or all manu-
facturing enterprises which ofter rea-
sonable prospect OF success, even though
thov may not pro.lse early payment OF
dividends.
TO recapituate. we must saduc, capital
FOR manufactures to come here by offcr-
ing cheaper money cheaper taxation.
cheaper lator, cheaper coal. and cheapef
mower. and much more public spirit.
Very truly yours,