The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-03
AT TIE CAPITOL.
Imposing Ceremonies at the Historic


Imposing Ceremonies at the Historic
Building.
The ceremonies at the Capitol Square
were most imposing. The speakers adj
dressed the jubIant throng from the east
portico of the historic buildinS, which was
occupied by them, officials OF the Seaboard
Air Line, together with friends and dis
tinguished guests. The military and the
bands, with their bright uniforms, gave
decided dash of color to the scene. The
members of the Seaboard Air Line party
had been conveyed from the CheSa 0sake
and Ohio depot to the square, and shortly
after procession of prominent officials
of the road headed by President Williams
and Vice-President st. John, came down
the path and took positions on the portco.
The applause which greeted the men VINO
made the FLORIDA and West India Shore
Line" a reality, was deafening and drown
ed the music of the bands. After the ao-
plause had subsidized Mr.. L. T. Morris,
president of the Richmond Chamber of
Commerce, under whose auspices the eXer-
cises were conducted, advanced 10 the
front of the portico and welcomed the
Sedboard to Richmond. Mr.. Morris said
in part:
Mr.. Morris said in part:
My fellow citizens, I congratulate you
on this suspicious occasion, for Richmond
has this day added another link to the
chain of her enterprises which are the
hope of our future.
Not only should you rejoice that this
Greater Seaboard Air Line which has to-
day entered our gates opens UP another
highway from the North to the South,
but that this great trunk line, covering
several thousand miles and opening up
new and desirable territory for our mar
kets, had its origin in an insignificant
road of eighty miles, and that the gil
gantic Undertaking. to make the road
what it is to-day was considered, planned
and executed by a Richmond man.
Mr. John Shelton Williams deserves
all the honors that You can bestow upon
him, because had it not been for his
superb leadership, his indomitable will,
his tireless energy and his unfaltering de-
termination, this great event which we
celebrate could not and would not have
become part of the proud history Of
our great and growing city.
This great event means much more to
Richmond than the mere establishment
of a new enterprise. It proclaims to the
world that we have citizens among us
who recognize no obstacle too great when
once they have made up their minds to
carry an enterprise to successful compile
ton.
With our many and varied manufac-
tories our extensive locomotive works,
our shpyard, our steamship lines nd our
railroads, we are bound to make Rich
mond commercial centre of command
ing Importance
| am especially glad to have with us
on this happy occasion so many dlstln-
guished gentlemen from our sister States.
We are honored by their presence and
the welcome of Virginia hearts to Nir-
GINA guests is theirs. We are glad to
have them unite in our rejoicing, for the
growth and prosperity of Virginia adds
to the prosperity of our entire country,
and the important event which we now
celebrate will exert an influence for good
in every State and city from Tampa to
New York.
GOVERNOR TYLER'S SPEECH.
AT the Conclusion of his address, Mr..
Morris introduced Governor J. Hoge Tyler,
who said
Governor Tyler said:
Mr.. President and members of the Board
of Directors of the Seaboard AIRLINE
system of Railroads.: ladies and gentle
men:
This is indeed an suspicious occasion.
Scarcely a generation ago we stood before
the world with our fair Southland bleed
ing It every pore, and our people were in
direst restitution and misery. This fair
and beautiful city was laid in ashes and
ruins; her factories had been burned:
ways had been destroyed The land was
covered with nothing but devastation and
debt Half of our nobleSt men had been
killed or disabled in war. I need not tell
of the sufferings and trial of our people,
in all the intervening years, but let us
look with pride and joy upon what We
see around US to-day.
We have, to the wonder and allraze7nent
Of the world triumphed over all difficult
In no In of 40 in
err every one has helped his neighbor, and
every one has said to his brother: ''Be
of good cheer a work of magic has swept
over the land, waste places have been
made to blossom as the rose. villages have
become towns, towns Cities and cities
great and prosperous beyond most sanguine
expectations Into the lap of these towns
and cities libations OF wealth are being
poured by railroads that have been made
to traverse seemingly impenetrahle soli-
tudes. and to annihilate the greatest dis
'tances. This beautiful city has risen
from her ruins, and to-day is taking her
mightiest bounds to prosperity and great
ness Her ship-huilding is opening up, and
promises to rival the foremost of all the
cities in this great work. Her shops and
factories are taking on new life and her
people have their faces to the rising sun,
It was but yesterday since our streets
were thronsed with thousands from every
quarter to 1ningle in our Carnival scenes,
and almost daily. large associations as
se,nble in the city to bear witness to our
tAppause)
LOOKS UPON IT WITH PRIDE.
Standing here in the historic shades of
this "O!d Capital Virginia can but look
with pride upon the completion and formal
opening of the great Seaboard system of
which we are here to-day to
ceIebrat e The contamination of this great
work is recognized as one of more than
ordinary Importance to the growth and
welfare of the city and commonwealth
We are almost in touch of the monument
to the greatest of all Virginians, who
was among the first to realize the great
importance of internal Improvement and
the development of better means of trans
portation. The failure to realize the ex-
pectation Of his plans and hopes, but ac-
HOT MORNING BREAKFAST