The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-03
THE TIMES COMPANY.
CIVIC ADVERTISING.

If is becoming the fashion among ciues
to have press agents. just the same as
theatres actors. circuSes, 7olticlsns,
preachers and women in hleh socictS.
ST. paul, fallen into the serc, the yelioW
loaf. as one twin usually does "hlte IN"
o,ner thr,yes. mas been in the throes OF
advertising for year or more. bene
1,pon annihilating its old rival. Mime
apons New York, losing trade annually
10 Chicago and st. Louis. has, am
told Just issued wonderful BOOK. set
ting forth her manifest and manitoba
advantages over all other cities OF the
New World as n depot of necessaries and
luxuries and a slaughtcrer Of prices.
And now comes Atantas Chamber of
Commerce with a brochure on "A
twentieth Century City.
1t may be undisnified for a city TO
send out advertising agents and adyer-
using matter. and 1t may shock the old
fogies for a dignited city to pursue
such a course. But the city which fails
TO do so VIII not keep pace with the
cities which do. A comparison of bank
clearances shows that Richmond is far
ahead Of Atlanta III the matter of bust
ness, yet outsiders doubtless imagine
that Atlanta is far ahead OF Richmond.
At least there is no reason why they
should not think so, unless they have
taken the trouble to investigate for
themselves, as Atlanta has continually
kept itself in the public eye and has
proclaimed itself to be the greatest city
in lie South. while Richmond has not
disputed the claim and has done little
or nothing TO exploit its own resources
and advantages.
Ne doubt II there IS a city in the
South to-day which Is altogether as
busy as is the city of Richmond: We
doubt If there is a city in the country
of Richmond's age which has SO largely
outgrown itself, which has so largely
outgrown its capacity to house its in
habltants as :he city of Richmond has
done. New houses are going UP i'll all
directions as fast they can be built,
and sun the cry is Tor more. AS fast
as new residences are started they are
rented, and as fast as they are COM
ploted they are occupied. and still the de-
mand is not satisfied. Our population
has ou,grown our house capacity, and
it seems to be a hard matter to catch
up OF course there is room here for
all the people and outsiders need not
be afraid 10 come in for fear Of not
nnding a lodging place But the brisk
and increasing demand for houses in
this city is an unmistakable evidence of
our wondrous growth.
This implies that the industries of
klchmond are all busy, that there is
plenty OF work here at remunerative
wages. that there is prosperity in every
branch of trade and industry, yet we
are content 10 let outsiders find out
these facts for themselves. We are GER
tainly doing very little to advertise the
facts far and wide.
1t is a mistake. Richmond is on q
boom and We should let the outside
world know it. We should proclaim the
tact so loud and circulate it so extern
slvely as TO make people know it and
to prevent them from being ignorant
of it.
Richmond has been very much in the
public eye OF late because Of the scan
dals in government, and has on this &C
count come INTO unenviable notoriety.
Outsiders will not fail to hear of our
faults and our misfortunes. That sort
of free advertising is sure TO come with
the occasion But if we wish the world
to know of our virtues and our COM
mercial and industrial advantages, we
must do our own advertising and pay
Tor 1t.