The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-10

| sicipated by me when Its preparation was
commenced, but in reviewing the past
.welve months I found myself, SO 70
| speak, confronted with an embarrassment
| of riches. and I was at g loss to deciGe
what to exclude from a record SO repiete
Fith gratifying achievements.
In conclusion. I beg to direct your at
| ention to subject which 4 hope and
believe appeals to US all most strongly,
| or otherwise we should not be present
here this evening.
| THE AFFAIRS OF TIE CHA8fBE1
At our last annual meeting I reported
a gratifying increase which brought the
membership of the Chamber up to 623.
and expressed the hope that with your
assistance we might secure LOCO MEM
bers. I sincerely regret that through no
Jack Of effort, it has been impossible to
recruit our strength, and can only re-
! port about 600 members on our rolls.
This is a disappointment to me, because
| had hoped for better results. 1t is in
conceivable why men engaged in bus1-
ness and otherwise liberal in their ex-
penditures will plead necessity of econ
| 'omy when asked to join the Chamber.
Your Board of Directors has met regu-
Iarly even during the summer months,
our work has borne fruit. and If there
| be still some who are not convinced as
| TO the usefulness of our organization. and
| know they must be few indeed. let me
present but a few matters with which
he Chamber has dealt during the past
year.
We succeeded in bringing back the Of
fee of the Collector of Internal Revenue
| for this district.
We succeeded in increasing the imports
| for this port. our Committee on Com
uerce having called the attention OF
| our importers to the advantages OF
| entering their consignments at Rich
mond. instead of at other points, as here
| tofore.
We were instrumental in having the
special agent for the Internal Revenue
| Department locate his office here.
We succeeded, through the able efforts
! of our Committee on Business Enter
| prises., in bringing to this city a large
| number of merchants from the South
who had never been here before. and
| who purchased their supplies here.
The long-promised early outgoing
! trains on the various railroads have been
established largely through the persistent
| efforts of the Chamber.
| We were active in inducing the Con-
stitutional Convention to remain in
Richmond, though inducements were Of
| fered by several other localities claim
ing their ability to furnish better accom-
| rlCdations.
The public meeting held on the sub
| iect of Annexation already referred
% was supplemented by another held on
| May 9th, and addressed by our accom-
| olished fellow-citizen. Virginius Newton
| ESQ., on Taxation His mastery pre-
sentation of the subject created pro
found impression throughout the State.
4 hot nf 10
presented will be embodied in our or
ganic law.
We published and distributed the very
| able addresses delivered on Virginia
Day. at Buffalo by His Excellency the
| Governor, Hon. Joseph Bryan and FRO
! fessor George w. Miles, which ought to
,ttract the investing public from all di-
rections. The immense undeveioped re-
sources Of our State, together with the
| EDUCATIONAL and social advantages &C.
| quired through centuries, must inevitably
make Virginia the ideal spot for the
| wealthy, and those of moderate means
| rs well.
We have initiated several matters not
yet completed of vast Importance to our
city. and have done hundreds of other
! things which have come under our con-
| sideration.
a central and thoroughly equipped or
ganization like ours is of untold benefit,
rot only to this community. but to the
State at large. Our fellow-citizens. how
ever for whom we constantly labor. and
whose interests are daily looked after.
must assist by their contributions and
their thought and experience. Perhaps
it may not have occurred to you that
while the expenses of conducting bust
ness and of personal living have increas-
ed materially in recent years. yet the
| dues to the Chamber have remained the
same. We are doing to-day work many
times over what was done by the Cham
Der ten or fifteen years ago. and. of
curse we must either increase our mem
bership or our dues. Funds are needed
to carry on our work. and it Is not fair
to call upon the same people all the time
! 70 meet special demands. All that is ne
cessary is to speak q good word for the
Chamber when the opportunity presents
itself, and to urge your friends to join
our ranks. For the past year we have
| heard a great deal about community OF
interests" which the large railroad sys-
tens have established. Let us adopt
Community of interests as the slogan
for the Chamber, for it is here that this
principle can be carried out TO the adj
vantage of all. With the sentiment pre-
vaiing. we, should increase our member
ship until we have at least Loco members
| upon our rolls.
THE TRAFFIC BUREAU
All that has Eaen said in reference to
the Chamber applies equally to our Traf-
ic Bureau, with the exception that its
work concerns directly the shippers only.
But right there it must appeal to every
one when you consider that if trade is
| diverted to other channels 1t paralyZes
our progress. The bureau has also done
| effective work during the year and its
efficiency and power has been demon
st-ated in many instances. Our manager
has labored with untiring zeal. and is
ever ready to take up any matter within
the province OF his department. It is
remarkable how other cities appreciate
the Importance of such agencies-aye, in
several places regular appropriations are
made by the city governments towards
their maintenance. It stands to reason
that unless we are ever watchful for
any discrinina tons in freight charges
against us that the potency of Richmond
as a market may be hampered if not de.
Sfroyad nd tho Ground. may