Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-15
THE CHA MBER'S WORK
INTERESTING REVIEW OF THE
YEAR by PRESIDENT TRAyERs.
THE OUTLOOK QUITE BRIGHT.
Entering Upon an Era of Prosperity
and Greater business Activity-Use.
butte to DIR. Hoge.


submitted at the meeting Of the |
Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, is |
Mountaineering paper. 1t reviews the |
year through which Richmond has Just |
passed so creditably, tells of the impor |
tant mission OF the Chamber, and takes |
an encouraging view Of the future. The |
report reads:
Gentlemen: In submitting the thirty
nrst annual report OF our Chamber, L
desire 10 express sincere regret that IN
consequence Of prolonged spell of Ill
ness and subsequent absence II was i'm
possible for me, during much Of my term
of Office as president, TO devote that at
tenton to the work OF the Chamber which
/ had confidently expected to do when
accepting so high and important a trust.
But this regret is happily tempered oy
the conviction that the interests which
the Chamber suoserves In no degree SUI
fered On the contrary. feel well as
sured that during my Inability TO act,
our worth vice-president, Mt l.. Il. MOT,
ris. as presiding officer, AMY secondeu
by the board OF officers and directors
conducted its work with all the zeal ana
fidelity for which he Is so well noted III
all Of his undertakings.
IMPROVED CONDITIONS.
The encouraging record OF the year JEss
the future are doubtless subjects LOT
universal qualification, but especiaiiy are
they so 10 members OF this orsaniZduOh
on account OF its close tOuch anu ss.bo
pathy with every business interest," OF sIls
community. I heartily consratuiate III!
fellow members that on the ocCeSlol y,
our annual meeting we nave suSh sOovt
reasons TO feel assured OF nv 49, ~, on
better times All indicauQns PONY 10 70 az
irnnroyement so decided that IN a sIeatsl
or less degree Il should permeate anu
ouicSen every branch and INDUSTRY III our
midst. ., recuneration
frn,o the Great depression following 49,
il was not to be supposed lnaL III az. a.
could chronicle any Heiy, nc -st III
velopments The boom perloG, N""In W.,
minated about that time haI' ~ ,bs
,-aettr.+ fever consumed much OF the
wealth and business energy OF the Gun Gun
trv shaken confidence. and almost PAL
sled enterprise our boun'hul Ies0ui 80
could be depended upon 20 eNe 49, 49, o.
.nair this waste. and under wise hlandse,
rnent 10 bring about more prosperous anu
healthy conditions: but, unul then' an 'le
attention. fOrtitude, ana peIseNe 49, -
busines s-men were Tor the iho9l 49, ~ = =
ouired TO maintain existing enterprises
and there Was an indispOsition 70 unheF-
take all new ventures. fortuHalely' ~ ~.
a series of good crops and an increasing
demand for both raw ana InahuId III S gu
products. at home as s WelI % ,hat last
have so improved conditions tnat las 49,
wear compares favorably with any IN tne
history OF the country as 10 the VoiuHle
az business. and the restored conlldence
and revival spirit OF enterprise are pro pro-
badly even more StIlklhs anu MAJ nv
characteristics Of the year -,,
IA the papers Of the LIST instant so Iully
and encouragingly furnish not ohIy SHe
statistics Of 1898, but also the record Oh
number CT new and most linpoII .sl,', IN
terprises already started or in contempla-
ton at Richmond, it will be unnecessary
for me 10 recapitulate those statements
but with a passing allusion TO these hapPy
changes 1 beg TO call your attehtoh 10
the affairs of the Chamber ltselL.
OBJECTS OF THE CHAMBER.
The chief mission # the Chamber, as
indicated by the declaration OF us CD
iects. is by unity OF action 70 iully pro-
tect and develop the commercial ana
manufacturing interests OF hchlnohd anu
promote the general progress ana pros
perity Of the community. To achieve thls
mission ii needs the generous co-operduoh
Of every businessman ana 6ood clll%en
OF Richmond. Its work Is OF varied ana
often extensive character. Brlef rele-
renee 10 a few OF the matters engaging
its attention will serve TO illustrate Du-
ring the year much of its time was de-
voted to matters Of legislation where
they were of character 20 AFFECT our
business interests. Among the most i'm
portant I'm the state Legislature were the
Opie and Withrow bills, relating 10 as
sgnments: the Bland boLler-inspectlon
BILL the proposition TO abolish the De
of Agriculture and assign their duties 10
the Virginia State Polytechnic Institute;
the fellOw-servants' bill in Congress; the
question Of currency reform; larger ap-
prOpriations for the improvement or
James river and its extension 70 the
head Of navigation within our harbor
lines: a bill 10 authorize and encourage a
national exposition al Philadelphia IN
1899; the Paris Exposition Of 1900; the
war-revenue bill.
other interesting questions were con-
sidered, such as the Improvement OF
terminal facilities at Richmond, including
the Chesapeake and Ohio viaduct ana
new depOis more convenient schedules
for travellers TO and from territory near
Richmond. and for the distribution OF
Richmond papers; the use OF the Expo
sition-G Grounds. Camp Lee for mo-
bilizing Virginia troops; the use Of books
OF southern authors and publishers IN
the public schools OF the State the en-
| couragement Of the Richmond and Tide
water railroad; the claims of the w. Z.
| Trigg Companys ship-building enterprise;
| the cues ton OF trades parade Tor 1879
| and the opening OF horse snow AT hleh-
mond Many such matters have been as
! posed Of: others are still pending. anu
require the continued attention OF the
| Chamber. ....,..
| and great amount ~ routine WORK, lne
| Chambers Traffic Bureau IS continuously
| and ZaalOuslv looking after the interests
Of the community, as involved IN the IN
| tricate and difficult question OF transpOr-
| tation rates. In dealing win such msttgIs
committees or representatives. ol nc
! Chamber have frequently 10 Visit otner
! cities necessarily causing heavy drafts
upon the treasury Of she Chamber.
| OCCASION FOR GREATER ACTIVITY T.
| with nearly every prospect most nat st.
| tering | sincerely regret the occasion IL ~
| alIusion 70 any subject or disc0urdblus
| character but 1 feel mat there is an I'M
! peratiye official obligation upon ne 70
| do so. During the last year or SS 80 10
| az I'm lis membership. and the conaltloh
! Of ifs treasury and that or me ram
| T2ureau has not only greatly nahulCdp.
| nod End embarrassed its proceeclnss' pul
| bos nroved TO some OF US very dlshedrl-
/ enine This was perhaps IN Heasuic -, ~ !,
be expected during a 5uc nb,cb S' we nave
recently passed. but in my oplhloH ~ ~
SoI,IS not he the case. Too many OF Us
| 90 nrons under such circumstance ~
az our sympathies and Hnes OF az,
| -. 70 heccme so absorbed IN our W.
/ Immediate concerns as 10 De s hoi 90.
"a Ioss public spirit ana cede1 " ~
eu, iose ~ fostering the common weal
| ga nromotlng by greater eHoftS tn n,,g
an nasi,ree most conducive % healthA airu
~ oayerous conditions, Whicn "ouiu ga
| blUo,JIlt.adIv in the end rebound many iO'1
10 our Individual benehl. -, hv SOFIA
| II there is one truth .dus"e otber-
IL more indisputable than any 9ln me-
etiliOS ti most invariably learned IRON
Vtio I~nerience OF civiliZatlon-it - INC
VIC sJeral interests are largely po. ..
oui LIN and dependent for pIospeliss
up NE Interests OF others, ana YET !,
uIY.rreencies how often by our ac'ioli'
Srn ignore these mandates OF DOM Te9s 49,,
and experience 10 ou ea,,,r,',nitv In ius