Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
BUILD BY INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISE
Through This Means Must Our Adj
vantages he Developed.

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Answering your inquiry, l beg to say
that business in our line has shown a
gratifying increase during the year.. In
my Judgment Richmond is well located
for the manufacture of many articles of
worldwide consumption.
When individual enterprise takes hold
of these advantages and develops them,
our community will grow and prosper.
So long as we wait and halt for artificial
conditions blindly demanded of the
Chamber Of Commerce, or for what IS
called for lack of a more definite name
or a more definite idea-"co-operaton,
these advantages will remain unutiiized,
and wealth that could be made ours will
be drawn elsewhere. The value of CO.
operation. based on clearly defined bust
ness principles. cannot be ov~erestimated.
This. though, is brought about by indi-
vidual effort securing something Of value
to offer for the attraction OF capital and
CAPITALISTS: by the creation of industries
capable of enlarged development, thus
making the inducement for a natural
union Of ability and capital to operate
them. ANY citizen who does this can Sc
cure the necessary cooperation of both
money and brains to accomplish all that
he offers is capable Of accomplishing.
OpportuniUes exist here to-day that in
dividual effort can bring to light, and
then moving along the recognized lines
Of development the same individual ef-
fort can get the only kim Of Corpora
ton that is worth anything, and II can
get Of this all that it needs TO the limit
Of the possibilities Of the enterprise II
proposes.
our Chamber of Commerce is a body Of
great value and usefulness. 1t has. how
ever. its legitimate sphere Of operation.
Whenever IL is drawn beyond the limits
of that sphere it's usefulness is impaired.
II IS no part of its function TO create or
foster enterprises. When IL consolidates
the will and power Of the community so
as TO remove abuses that stand in the
yav of progress. thus leaving individual
euterprise the widest scope for its use
fulness which natural and permanent adj
yantages afford. it discharges its full
duty to the community. Popular meet
ines. whether held under its auspices or
any other. are not the birthplaces of en-
tcrprises Of great pith and moment.
Such things are usually conceived In one
brain. and then developed by consulta-
ton and elaboration with a few others,
the circle of interest charging as cir
cumstancc may determine.
This preliminary work being done. the
good offices of the Chamber may be
sought to make the conditions for the
operation OF the proposed enterprise as
favorable as possible. In this way the
Chamber can be useful. In this way the
Chamber is useful. Through its traffic
bureau our tights in the vital matter OF
freight rates are guarded. There are
many other matters Of public and general
concern in which It's influence is exerted
gor good. but II is quite beyond the scope
OF this article to enumerate them.
Take the Chamber OF Commerce of New
York-a body Of Colonial origin and Of
%weli-known dignity and influence. So
great IS IT'S usefulness that no citizen
OF the city would consent 10 It's going out
Of existence. Yet, / venture the as
sertion thai no single one OF the great
group Of enterprises which distinguishes
New YOfk's Industrial history. and which