The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-11
AGAIN CHOSEN
CHAMBERS HEAD
Continued from First Page.)

business and the consequent extension Of
credits. the records show the astonishing
fact that the total liabilities of all fail
ures in the city amounted to only s10., 400.
| ask to be INDUCED also in calling your
attention to the enviable pos ton of our
banking interests. The December state
ment in 1900 showed deposits amounting
to s16.1i0.314, an increase of s2,39S.12i. or
nearly is per cent. over the previous
year, loans and discounts. s15,i54,@o2. an
increase OF sl.iI2,S75, or over 11@ per cent.
while the clearances amounted to S1i5.-
CESS. an increase of 1915 .5S, or 5-S
per cent. The clearances indicate that
Richmond ranks fourth IN the cities south
of the Potomac and Chic rivers and east
OF the Mississippi, New Orleans, Louis
Vile and Savannah alone preceding her,
and the latter only recently, in conSe-
QueEce Of the immense cotton movement
at tlat port.
SOME SPECIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
Two enterprises, rev to the South. at
whose inception and development the
Chamber felt the most lively interest and
lent its best efforts. are the Z. r. John
son Publishing Company and the VIM. r.
Trigs Company.
The former was compelled to increase
its capital stock to meet the growth OF
its business. and to-day It is giving en-
pioyment to hundreds of people and send
Ing lis DupICdiiDIIS 10 i!d!lN StdLeS VI
the Union and also to our new possession,
Porto Rico.
The VIM. r. Trigg Company has also
Increased its capital, and is establishing
a plant which. when completed, will chal-
lenge the admiration and surprise of every
one. ana even now the stranger within
our gates is astOniShed at the achieve
ments of this company in Slip-butding,
while yet in its infancy. The busy scenes
afford striking eEi-
dence of what can be accomplished by
determined effort
Our older establishments are keeping
pace with the now III their progress and
cxpans:on-nota.oy the Richmond Loco
motive and Machine Works-and many
others. which cannot be mentioned Tor
want of space.
ELECTRIC POWER.
Another great enterprise, TO which al
fusion was made by my able predecessor;
namely. the electrical development OF The
water power Of James river, and the
conduit system for its distribution. VIII,
we are sure. largely augment The number
Of small factories. Wild! are the greatest
factors for the upbuiding of a city. in
addition to- affor1ing those already estab-
lisflcd the means of operating their ma
chinery by modern, improved and more
economical methods.
GREATER SEABOARD SYSTEM,
Among the notable events OF the year
was the entrance into our city OF the
Greater Sea1ooard System, which occurred
on the % of last June. The ceremonies
incident to the occasion were held under
the auspices of the Chamber, and our
people turned out in large numbers TO
give a hearty and enthusiastic welcome
to the distinguished party which arrived
on the first train over this important trunk
line, which comprises 1855 miles. and gives
Richmond a rect line 20 Tampa, Flor
ida Aside from the intrinsic Importance
of this new connection, our citizens felt
q distinct pleasure, because the president
OF this great system is our eminent fel-
low c tizen-iMr. John Shelton Williams
whose brain conceived and whose IRE
less energy executed this. stupendous I'M
dertaking. II was indeed a great day III
the annals of our city. and we conSrat-
uIate our citizens upon having thus ac-
ouired another addition to our tfdhStol-
tation facilities.
NEW DEPOTS AND TERMINAL f-AC-
ILlTIE,S.
The depot now being jointly erectea
by the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Sea-
board Air Line Railroads, and the ne"
depot built by the Southern Railway, VIII
provide accomrioda tons UT Richmond for
lile travelling epublic .wiassll have, been
badly needed for years; ands other cost
" and extensive terminal facilities are
being rapidly constructed. which VIII al
ford needed trackage and greatly DIS
patct the handling Of our largely IN
creased traffic.
PRoVEMENT OF JAMES RIVER
The Improvement of James river, the
subject of long cherished hopes with the
Chamber and of constant work and soilci-
tuGe on the part of the committees form
ed from its membership, as we'll as from
that Of the City Council, has for the past
two years engaged an unprecedented
amount of attention 1t Is hoped thattheil
Iabors will bear fruit, as the last report
CT the chief of engineers submitted plans
in connection with this Improvement. m
yolying much more liberal expenditures;
and rbc River and HarbOr Committee,
with other prominent representatives ol
tue Government. hOnored us with d WISH
last May, ana we !lave every reason TO
believe that they were duly impressed
with the Importance OF eNpedltlnS TINS
work by much larger approprta tons This
is essential to place us fully in touch
with the commerce Of the world, and we
await with profound interest The acton
Of Congress upou the pending river and
harbor bal.
FREE STREET FAIR.
One OF the most novel undertakings q
the past year was the Free street
Fair which was held during the month
OF MAY ana SiiJOS Nt1 'hi4N' APP
ciaied by many thousands OF people from
this and other States Aside from the
pleasure derived, il brought US III closer
touch with our country friends, and the
UNIQUE features OF the entertainment ana
its complete success demonstrated that we
are able to entertain as we'll as take care
OF all WHO come to our city on such &C.
casions TIC perfect order prevailing
Through the entire week spoke for the
law-ablding character of our people as
we'll as for the efficiency Of our police
department III the crowded condition OF
the city The project was first publicly
preached and endorsed in the Chamber
and its officers and members made up
the largest part of the directorate OF the
Carnival Association, under whose aus
p5ces The Street-Fair was held The
Chamber erected a booth for the convent
ence of visitors where pamphlets descrip-
tive of the city were also extensively dis
tributed Encouraged by the success OF the
first Carnival. the Association is contem-
Mating a similar entertainment during
the fall of this gear
CONVENTIONS.
TIE various committees of the Cham
have worked necessarily in their respect
i've spheres, and much good has been &C
complished through their labors. To emu
Irerate in detail would be impossible IN