The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-12
The Value Of Water Transports

ton.
Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
,sir,EThe wisdom shown in the views. of
the purchase Of the stone ship-dock and
1inereey insuring to Richmond an en-
aea water ter ss 3, ss
Impressed upon this community Mr.
ony rhs arbSyr ava avya,a ths shpd0ck is
Without n,incing words let us look at
the the ,unaeue.s,tioned facts and give a few
IN Ray e assss nee aaSs
for a port. Upon what does Richmond's
fps chiefly depend Il she i e take
r-;manufactures-is the only answer.
Every factory operator will assert that
IS o
tra e Hps and must M e syy
pe the &c cheapest, Let us pause and ask:
eoo on shp eana 5 niles spes ons Is
rec. deep and twi Ss,t as wide as the suez
has Glasgow. Scotland, expended ovei
500 100000 in deepening the channel or
SHIPS d Ga "a fest 9 wnter can
BaltImore after loss s Of = .7se s By By
millions on her harbop and Wa,es fro a
Singing al her dSsSs' me sasxsl
for these great cities are. dependent on
their factories. From the. factories OF the
entire world radlate all the lines Of traf--
raw material and the cheapest competa-
TIVE lines OF , transportatton It Is an
axe tina, home mannfaetnres Is the
full jobbing trade. Before the War be-
tween the States the South had no manu-
mil1S of this CITY and Manchester and
hence the merchants of Northern cities
did the jobbing trade for the entire South.
with few exceptions.
Richmond is proud OF her jobbing trade,
WHICH is more, due to her geographical
position, and also to the strenuous efforts
manufactures Commensurate with the
many natural advantages. Richmond
factories and the variety Of her manu-
features. otherwise she may not hope to
hold her present, trade against growing
Let us look at bit OF history OF sixty
Ave years ago that shows how trade Is
lost. Dr.; James Lockhead. late Of Hong
fathers told me that ron N Isl he was 50 sar
geon Of the port at city Point. Va. Six
fFEe esas waS dhPs
William Henry Harrison had occasion
the captains Of these foreign ships. in
their. handsomest six-oared cutter, with
Pr. Lockhead as boatsswain rowed he
similar ships to be found now above, New
port News, and where the vanished river
trade? Shall such. trade be lost for all
Water waite u ro ,is ENDS ends at Richmond. and
reaches every seaport of the world. Its
cx and dsveoemsn Is yta to
traffic restriction upon Richmond steady
growth and future greatness; n Aisle from
the future growth Of her coastWise inland
traffic, il properly nurtured, will grow to
e,Ss pnd ou " as aong
Atlantic. For the protection Of coast and
sound cities our national naval marine
war vessels o. large dimensions. This
route greatly inures to the benefit Of this
city. provided Richmond has 9, port worth
power available here to mock with Its
ceaseless roar silent, deserted factories?
Is the coal product Of Virginia,s mines.
capital owns and mines our coal, trans
ports It to States where the minerals ais
fields and forests are manufactured and
then returned to MS for consumption
heavy sSs esy ns sVd rF hn y for
Virginia's good since, the rating of her
children In other, States stands 80 very
nlSn IN all QuallCleS stHdl cleVdle Yum.
monwcalth and extend and exalt national
virtue. Nor Is there lack Of versatility and ar q
at home. Business ENTERPRISE. ST.. starting :
should be sedulously cultivated. Too
many OF. our young men Wish TO take
Ing what IS ind,spen;ssable to successr ~,
order should be multiplied all oyer the
South and be largely attended BY our
as lawyers. doctors. ETC.. etc.
These are natural and unavoidable con-
ditions that destne the South to become
the great manufacturing quarter of TIL,
country. Richmond Is SO destined. Who
then is TO take charge Of the mas master tel
enterprises? Shall the trained and con,
trolling men come from Europe and tht
i Northern states? The fathers Of Rich,
mond must answer this question for thel,
business training and they will make OF
Richmond a great manufacturing metro
I polls with an immense water-borne trade
|ieavlng her river docks RespTsses!sf1nWlliy.
| Memorial to Pocahontas.