The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-13

a6elphia and Boston are blood!ess IN
comparison with the hclted contentious
of RED Dog and "Wolfviile',; witness
tho amenities between Minneapolis ano
st. Paul. San Francisco and Seattle.
improvements cost money, and since
| the more the people the more the money
the question of immigration is an ex-
ceedingly live one out yonder. Every
town. county. city and State makes a
bid for 1t, and naturally the course OF
empire is westward STILL With Vsr-
ginia's superior agricultural and indus
trial resources. and her tremendous his
torical and social prestige to work with,
we could. with comparatively little effort.
easily attract the best of these seekers
after home. and business opportunities.
to the obvious benefit Of our beloved
Commonwealth.
In California they have reduced to a
science this business of State adVer-
tisement Any one who saw the Califor-
MIA exhibits at Chicago. or at San Fran
cisco, or at Atlanta, or at Hamburg.
or at Paris, will recall how Well they
do it There is an organization out there
called the California State Board OF
Trade which takes the burden of
this work. II is under the patronage
Of the State government which contrib
utes variously upon occasions, but it's
permanent support is the counties of the
State. The counties may contribute or
not. as they choose, their pro rata of
the estimates of the institution. These
estimates include current expense and
exposition reserve fund accounts. Since
the large majority of the counties are
well supported It is further assisted
by the railway and steamship people
whose interests it promotes by its en-
enlargement of immigration and freight
traffic individuals also subscribe, like
the great vincyardists, the ship-builders.
the miners, ranchmen, and SO on.
The board not only prepares and dis
tributes the very attractive literature
descriptive of the State and its resources,
but it maintains a pertinent exhibit of
cultural products of the state. numerous
examples Of the varied industrial output.
specimens from mines and forests, from
sea and Mountain and valley,
and of the fauna and flora.
Nor are the unsurpassed educa-
tional advantages of the State neglected.
The public school system of California
is well-nigh 6, perfect one. This ex-
libit is kept in the great ferry building
at the foot of Market Street, where
every stranger must pass, whether COM
ing or going, and its influence is some
thing wonderful. The whole institution
can be packed UP and moved around
the world at q few weeks notice. The
organization is under the general direc-
ton of a board of a dozen or SO prominent
live men elected by the contributors.
and all its Immediate business is carried
on by a general manager an assistant,
or secretary, a bookkeeper, and collector
a stenographer, and a couple of white
porters.
Virginia would be benefited immeas-
urably by having a State Board of
Trade, just as Richmond is by its Cham
Der of Commerce. With this exposition
feature could be combined functions Of
large Importance. Through it, for in
stance. Chambers of Commerce organized
at Richmon.. Norfolk. Fredericksburg,
Lyncfburg, Danviile. Petersburg, and in
the Hampton Roads l4,toral, and bodies
at other commercial centers, might Sc
cure concerted action upon any vital is
sues which might arise. There are in
Vulnerable details in a plan like this
After some OF our strong men have
thought it over, let them get together.
We squander an awful lot of time and
energy working in darkness striving at
cross purposes, listening to orators
cringing to precedent, when he who can
see at all must know that nature abhors
waste and that only organization gets
clean-cut results.