The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-01-13
President L eigh's Report.


M President Leigh's Report.
4 The annual meeting Of the Chamber \ Of
commerce; last evening was we'll att tilt end
ad. ana tbs III enbers listened with 3 inte''se
interest to tho admirable report Of csi-
liant DrbertA q. q Leigh, which IS published
IN full in to-day,s paper Mr. Leg 81 =
Fl shows III his report that during the year
Il neither the Chn1ri,er of Commerce nor no.
u its president nnd other officers have been BEG
I idle, First Of all, llo speaks of the work
which tho Chamber has done in pre-:
Il venting vicious Legislation md N pro-
4 noting good legislation, especially In Sc
u curing the passage Of the Anderson Dill,
4 which provides for the ext ension Of the
N corporate limits Of cities and towns under ,flt
favorable conditions. In this connection
y lie takes occasion to pay a just tribute
to the work OF Senator George wayne
@ Anderson the patron Of the bill, and also
n to urge the extension OF Richmonds cor
B porate limits under this act. 81 "a 55
He then refers to the urgent need of g
II i ew pcstofIlce3 building for Richmond. II
Ss mentions tho cities $of Memphis. IA ton,
Y Syracuse, New Have Port land, n N sll--
vile, Albany, Grand Rapids, Worcester,
q Scranton and Allegheny, each Of which,
with one execution, has a larger popula--
ton than RI edmond, yet Richmond stands
at the head OF the column In cash re-
Lex,
figures to our credit, MI. Leigh recon-
1nends that the matter OF getting a new
(; building FOR Richmond should be urged
in Congress. l{ 81 M it2a
+ Passing on from this, he calls attention
Ito the Importance of deepening theFchall-
n mel OF James River so as to make it
the highway OF commerce that its geo.
graphical position demands. "8 He says
that an investigation of the methods by
which Germany. has achieved such mar
Vicious industrial success since 1871 shows
n that 1t Is due, II not chiefys certainly
A in large measure. to an Intelligent thor-
ii .ough, wcll-concelvcd and wel-executed
system of inland waterways, The facts
and arguments which he gives in this
connection should by all means be brought
3 to the attention ofsthe River and IIarbor
Committee, and It is to be hoped that
5 Congressman Lamb will mako proper use
Il of the same. ~ n & H.
Mr.. Leigh Sdevotes lnosto of his report to
AZ & discussionl Of the, work OF tho Traffic
bureau Department OF tho Chamber Of
4 Commerce. He SPEAKS OF the valuable
service which Mr.. Goodwin Inns per-
I formed in this department hut says
Y that his work has been hampered by lack
Of funds. Mr.. Leigh had thought OF ask
3 ing the Council for an appropriation Of
4 $500 for this work, ms the whole city
receives benefit therefrom. but is informed
by the City Attorney that this cannot he
done except by authority OF the Legisla-
ture, ana so the people OF Richmond must
supply the means or the work will not 1le
n DONE We have not the space TO give
Il even a synopsis Of what he says on this
r subject, and perhaps it Is we'll that no
81 such synopsis should be made, for it be-
hooves every citizen who feels any sort
# of interest IN Richmond to read In whole
4 and to study carefully this part Of Mr..
1 Ieigh'A report. BY way Of impressins
3 the Importance OF tho subject, he says,
\ and wisely and truthfully says. that not
y only a community's growth and pros
perity. but Its very existence, depends
on its freight and passenger rates and
schedules. II we cannot compete in
these respects with other trading and
manufacturing ccnters, We are undone
and we must 50 backward instead Of
forward. 1t IS a question Of vital con-
i Germ. Eternal vigilance Is necessary Il
prevent discrimination against Richmond
III and we cannot afford 10 stint that depart.
lnent OF the Chamber OF Commerce, whose
x business 1t Is to keep an eye on the rail
road rates and to sec that Richmond IS In
teres,s are protected. H
85 MIR. Leigh also directs attention to Rich
#anond as n manufacturing center. lie |.
gratlhed at the progress which was made
Vast year In trade and industry, but ht
~ thinks that Richmond is not making a.
great progress as she is entitled to maht
E in extending her manufacturing Indus
tries, He SAYS that the twelfth census oil
the United States credits Il competing
city for business in our ,qrritory Will
more than twice as many manufacturing
schedules MS IL credits TO Richmond. eaef
achedule representing a number of estnb
b lishmcnts. Yet Mr., Leigh declares thai
J. that city possesses NOT one natural ad.
vantage over Richmond IN respect II
inanufacturitg
8 In conclusion, he sums up BY asking
that during the year 1905 The Chamber Of
4 Commerce VIII focus its attention upor
w tina following guhIGctS. The leyelODuleul