The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-03
PRESIDENT NIILLIAMS'S ADDRESS.
Governor Tye General Many Prominent Men
Arrival Of the First
Train Here From Tampa Interesting Ceremonies
Attending Driving of the Golden Spike, Fol-
lowed by Exercises at the CAPITOL
The Banquet Hall Dazzling Scene.

to 15,i1,O00 acres in 1889 Our
tremendous gain in the growth OF
farm products has not been the
result of the crowding-in OF immigration,
or stimulation by government or new
capital. 1t has been the result of the hard,
steady, patient intelligent and courageous
toll Of our own people
BEAR TESTIMONY.
The clearinghouse statements from the
Southern cities bear testimony to their
growing wealth In the first three months
OF 1900 the clearinghouse exchanges OF
Savannah showed an increase of more
tlian 100 per cent. over the Same inEee
months Of 1899. And our city of Richmond
shows an increase for the same period of
80 per cent. The increase in the Jackson
Vile banks for the same time was 33 per
cent. give you these figures of Southern
cities on the lSeaboard, taken almost at
randCn, 10 illustrate the truth that we
are keeping abreast of the country.
Ihirty-fiye years ago the South was a
stripped. barren and desolate land, The
streets Of her cities rows of scorched and
smoking ruins her fields trampled by the
feet of contending armies, scores OF thou
sands of her best and bravest buried in her
soil.
We began our new life with money
borrowed at rates of interest which seem
appalling now. Men present here this
thought TO be fair and merciful rate
We paid toll on all we wore and used
and on nearly all we ate. We were
drained by thousand streams pouring
north east and west, and We're debtors al
ways for everything.
The creation of this system Of ours by
Southern men with Southern money, the
increments of which will remain in South
ern hands and continue in circulation
among us, is the announcement to the
world of the South's strength, the signal
to the republic that the South has come,
and that she will. from now henceforth.
do her part in establishing and developing
the power and glory of the common coun-
try, viii have her share from the COM
mon increase. She will cease to pay tri-
butte, and Will help to receive it. The
horizon of her hopes wiGens 10 illmitable
spiendor. She looks to the development of
her commerce with the eXhaUstless Islands
cf the West Indies, with the untouched
territories of the tropic Americas, through
the gateway to be opened across the 18th
mus to distant, teamng continents
OUR PROSPECTS.
The most sanguine and agile Imagination
fails 10 comprehend the magnificent mag
nit1lde Of the opportunities and prospects
before us. The world and men move fast
1t is within the limits of the possible that
the Seaboard Air Line of ten years hence
will compare in wealth and business with
the Seaboad of to-day as the system of
to-day compares with the little road from
Norfolk to Weldon of sixty years ago 1t
is possible, considering what we tlaye done
and the new opportunities ana stimulants
TO growth nov just before us-we may
say it is probable-that the South of 1869
may be by comparison with the South of
1920, as poor and backward as the South Of
twenty years back seems to Us now Our
wide, plain road forward and upward is
illuminated with blessings bestowed. The
hams Of our robes of victory are unstained
by tragedy, and on our way there is no
wall of calamity. The light of the new
golden age shines fair ana clear upon US.
Our destiny is spread wide and beautiful
before Us. We are going TO dominion over
far Shining and tumultuous seas, to tighten
strange. dark lands: to establish with the
peaceful but ali-conQuering powers of pro-
duction and commerce a glory of majesty
and might and wealth such as the con-
QuererS of old never dreamed Of as the
Argonauts could not conceive even when
they set their sails to favoring winds for
faSled lands of golden groves and silver
sands, and everlasting summer and sun
shine and beauty.
MR. MNEIGH'S RESPONSE.
Hon. Wayne McVeish responded 10 the
toast. He expressed t1is great pleasure at
being present, and extended congratula-
tAoiiS Oh iiic SUCCESSFUL completion OF the
Greater Seahoard Air Line project Mr.
McNeish stated that perhaps he enioyed
his being here the more on account of his
trouble in reaching here. Il got on a
special train at Washington and attempted
TO enter a car, but was halted BY the nor
Ter, who told me l could not enter. because
Ils Postmaster-General occupied that car
asked why tue Postmaster-Gener
should want whole car. Because said
the porter, he is trying to divide the pos
tai service so as TO satisfy all roads
II tried another car You can't go in
there. said the porter. General Wheeler
occupies that car. | asked why he should
want whole car to himself, but was told
he was irving TO determine whether ne
was in Congress or in the army. I hone
i:e will ever stay in both. 1 ased if /
could so in the baggage car. 1 did. and
am here.
But / have a piece of news that / have
been almost bursting toltell you. our roa,
has absorbed the Chesapeake and Ohio.
we have taken Cowan,s road and have just
bought the Pennsylvania Great things
come from small beginnings, you know :
Mr AIeVeish then paid a glowing tribute
TO Virginia. Washington and Marshall. a
toast to Washington was drunk standing
THE EAST AND WEST.
The East ana West was responded to
by Hon. John X. Cowan, president of the
Baltimore and Ohio. Mr.. Cowan declared
that the early settlers of tue West were
characterized as adrenturers, but to them
much Of our great progress was attr.b
bic. He spoke of the enormous tonnage
originating in The West, and the work OF
the roads of the country. He pointed out
how cheap transportation had reduced the
cost of materials, and had brought the
.'far-away country TO the door Of the
East AIR. Cowan stated that the Penn
sylvan;a Railroad had nifty times as much
capital and in its employ ten times as
many men as had the East India Company V
when India was claimed by Britain. .sYei
this huge octopus, was to-day regarded as
q blessing wherever it penetrated.
"a can point with pride 70 industries OF
your own fair city that mark Your de,
| velopment and progress-the Richmond