The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-12-30
\ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 50 l i {

III flon. than from those they FIN M OUTS.
III 49, - iis ID i8 a Il -Grevlllc.
How to Build Up a City.
I several 81 our contemporaries have re-,
Gently reproduced and commented tl5 On an
81 article recently appearing in The Times s.
n Dispatch on tho modern method 81 IN vogue cue
Ii, some Of the cities Of land q oi 1e 7
n pecuniary inducements to man ~, occurring
q Enterprises to remove from one locality 8
1 Is another, The Roanoke Tim & s. Is \
sea TO say that our line OF 2rea sonlns
ia 4. sound to the core 1T is proceeding
70 81 nan Is altogether unsafe rremise
b says our contemporary ito pract ticaily
iii ~ money to Ia concern as consideration;
~ forts location ut a certain point Be
~ cause thus 1T is sought to build up
v artificinlly$ what should spring only from
Il; & ia tural growth. Business Is business
N lis governed by business laws SO Tar
q, IS Its location is concerned rs we'll US ls
i1lsa 9th er resp cts. IT should no more
.5Fbe tically ibribed to fix that 70 ca i
ton in certain city t u g 2. sWo.ta
NJ seeit4 Il to brbe a Roanoke firm t move
"A its store from one street that 1t con
$gs,si dcrs good for its purpos es--to anot = er.
sSs u business proposition IN maxi ns3s g
" han "a u Of this character, the n business
All AZ not B suppose d q he slnfluenced
10 ~ 81! desire d profit the neig hborfood
AZ yvhereln3s the site of his enterprise g
#ssf fxed, bit solely and only TO profit him
SSsSS sell and ID his own trade. would DC
proper for the 85s owners OF OF
~ opertyson one Of our streets 81 O 30 To
ct, nm
;f loroiighfare, and by argument and yyEin-
5steliigent persuasion, seek to convince him
Esti,atf This interest would be promoted by
moving to their street, That s a sort
IsSof. advertising that's entirely legitimate.
n But to- offer that merchant n bonus Of
money or OF money ac king as D an in
& ducement in the mat ter. is all out of G.
cord with sound business principles. Be
4 cause In the very fac t that money Is a,
necessary inducement to accomplish the
laend in view. is contained strong presunp- =
II tive proof that the merchant in question
regards the move as a losing proposition
SS and hence demands Indemnity cons
Y Inunity or r. section of a community that
rests Its growth upon that character of
3 foundation is building npon3a most peril
q lous and uncertain foundation, and tlfe3
chances are heavily against It's pernln-
nent prosperity. With the Richmond
& Times-Dl dispatch, we heartily favor 81 a
policy having in view tho raising Of
I funds to advertise a city--to make known
en- TO the world I'LL OF its attractions as an
i 1ndustrinl, commercial manufacturing
II and residential point. but not for the
& purpose OF paying people to come and
cast their business fortunes in a certain
& place, simply by reason OF such pay
ment.'' '5s
EoiH oiCr, 49,.
& sdually opposed to Inducements" in the
d way OF exemption from taxation, and we
y re glad that the Constitution OF
Virginia prohibits that method. We
A. ara opposed to rebates. as well rs to-
+ bonuses. The principle is wrong in what
ever form It may show itself, We are
3 for . fair field. equal opportunity,
square deal, and no sort Of favorltism
Every city should guarantee this much
Il ard no more to all classes OF business
enterprises.
In discussing annexation, we have
\ urged that the city make ample proyi-
y sion for manufacturing sites, that ali
# manufacturing concerns be assessed upon
4 a fair and equitable basis of
Il valuation, that city convenences he
q provided at reasonable cost, and
81 that every legitimate facility be af-
y forded TO those who would locate here
Il for the ruTpose OF carrying on Industry
{ or trade. But we are as much opposed
II 10 fayorltism as We are to djscrlmna-
+ ton. It too often happens that IN hold
Ing out Inducements to new enter
lsrises we do intnstuca to those already
81 IN existence. Rather than do such i'm
s,.s,ire, we would let The new Industries
~ hang, We are FOR the home folks
sfsfst. And Just here let us say that IL
d tbs people of every city In Virginia were
rs dilgent 10 aid and encourage enter.
4 ptdses already in operation az they are
Is TO bring In new ones. a great Impetus
would be given TO home Industry. II we
a al made II our business In urchasing
n to give preference to homemade articles;
y IL we did all VIC could to make the home
4 brands popular; II we adopted nlnade-at-
!. home as Our motto, we should thereby
hold out tho best possible lnducement to
outside entsrprises 10 move In. 1t Is the
cooperative stand.together policy that
wins. But II is too often the case that
we yfyc preferences 70 tho foreign-n made
81 article that ne give ourselves little con-
q earn about home Industries. and thero