Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-01-06
Friday, January 6. 1905.
THAT NORFOLK ROUTE.

Aoth tOuSS CkSatcO q oeOi III VI pAOtSot
along the Rappahannock and in the
city of Norfolk. BY letter and in
person prominent men on the Kappa
hammock petitioned the management
not 10 take this backward step, and
the papers and business men of Nor
folk took prompt steps to persuade
the Weems people not to sever the
growing relations between the Sec
tions. The appeals met with partial
almost whole success. The Weems
will continue one trip week-down
Tuesday and back Wednesday,
during the winter, with the promise
of resumption of semi-weekly trips
later. The new management has as
sured us its policy will be not to
restrict the service but to develop the
interests of this people.
1t now beh doves the people of the
Rappahannock and the business men
of Norfolk to show more than an
interest of convenience in this route.
We dislike to bring up unpleasant
recollections but they are necessary
Just now. When some of us were
toiling hard for a permanent semi
weekly schedule in past years we had
documentary evidence that the route
was losing one to the Weems people,
and all We had to argue on was the
promises that it would be more largely
patronized, and if possible made to
pay the boat people. Norfolk Joined
in the promise to aid. How far it
was fulfilled we would be ashamed
to recount even if we had the COM
plete data at our 6nger-tips. 1t
must be said, however, that the
fault lay more with Norfolk than
with the people of the Rappahan-
mock. Aside from some personal in
convenience this people could as we'll
have left Norfolk out of the question,
as good facilities to Baltimore mark
cts continued. With the exception
Of probably some half a dozen
Norfolk houses, no efforts have
been made on the part of that
city to cultivate closer trade re-
lations with this prosperous aud
rapidly growing section of Virginia.
The few houses that have sent solic.
itors here and persisted in advertis-
ing have begun to reap returns, but
the vast majority of business inter-
ests in our ''city by the sea" have re-
NAMED apathetic-spiritless, ener-
waited, skittish and afraid to venture
without assurances of immediate
returns. To have the reputation
she does We have long time been
appalled, at the miserable lack of pub
lie spirit and energy Norfolk, as a
whole, has displayed towards seeking
closer commercial relations with a
section that is without rival in
rural tidewater south of the Mason
and Dixon line. A good illustration
OF this came TO our knowledge few
days back when leading business
man of Norfolk began Gliding a
Weems officer upon the withdrawal
Of the boat. When asked why he
the Norfolk merchanD did not send
canvasser to the Rappahannock his
reply was that it didn't pay; where
upon the officer aptly retorted-
"How, then, can yon expect us to run
route here that don't pay?" Pre-
sumably this big business man had
sent a drummer up here one or two
trips and because it did not pay
expenses he was withdrawn. The
same may have happened as to
transient ad. We had thought with
the bright papers in that city
Norfolk's business men had been
thoroughly drilled in the lesson that
itickativeness in advertising-either
BY man or card-was the only sue
cessful method of advertising.
keeping everlastingly at it brings
success" is business axiom, yet bat
few of Norfolk's business men seem
to have learned this primer. The few
have found it 'self-evident propo-
sition.
$ Richmond sees the advantages now
reaped by cities north that legiti-
mateiy should accrue to Virginians,
and with the perspicacity comes agita-
ton that promises in the near future
railroad connections with the lower |
Rappahannock valley. Railroads |
costs thousands where steamboats,
would mean hundreds, and adyertis-
ing but small pittance. 1t is cup
to" Norfolk to show the stuff she is
"made Of"
Now, let both sections resolve on
"a long pull. a strong pull and pull
all together" to keep up close commu-
nication; not alone by words, appeals
and threats, but by actions that will
result IN paying steamboat tariff, a
mutual confidence and mutual finan-
cial and social benefits.