The Washington herald., 1909-05-16

Petersburg. Va, Nay 1s-At this tim
much IS being said about the city 0
Petersburg. The President Of the Unite,
States and other distinguished men VII
visit Petersburg on Nay e. when mon
ument, erected on one OF the battlefield
near the city by the Pennsylvania Bat
tIefeld Commission, viii be unveiled.
The events Of the Gay viii serve 10 SCI
forth in a striking manner two facts
about Petersburg.
The Unveiling OF monument commem-
Grating events Of such historic interest
as to bring the President OF the United
States 10 the city indicates the impor-
ta1ce Of Petersburg as factor IN history
that was made nearly half a century ago
The spirit with which the Petersburg
CT to-day has entered into the reception
Of the Chief Executive OF our united
country indicates the position which
Petersburg now holds among the latter
day commercial communities
Is an Industrial Center.
The city for years has been known as
one OF the chief Industrial centers Of Vir-
ginia. credited with a substantial indus
trial foundation and q sanity among its
business men that has enabled il 10 hold
its head conspicuOusly high during periods
Of financial depression. Within the past
few years Petersburg has been possessed
Of spirit OF general activity toward
progress which Is apparent in tangible
results on every side. A close observer
OF the induserial situation over the coUn-
try remarked q year or two ago that
smOke-stackS around q city are more in
dicative Of commercial solidity than
brass bands on the street corner.
To sum up the situation n regard 10
Petersburg, It has long had the smoke
stacks, and is now getting the brass
bands
Has Big Trunk Factory.
L has many times been published that
there is located IN Petersburg the Iarg-
est trunk and bag factory in the world.
with a capacity OF 1,e00 trunks and SEQ
travelling bags a day, and that with the
three OF four other factories msnufac-
turing the same line Of goods, Peters
burg leads the world IN the output OF
these commodities
II has also been said many times that
Petersburg is the largest Spanish peanut
market IN the world This fact is inter
esting, because Il seems extraordinary
that the peanut should be an article Of
any considerable commercial value TO a
city The truth IS the peanut trade OF
Petersburg amounts 20 about 10000 an
nually.
Another product which Petersburg IS
forms Is tobacco. It was recently re-
ported that 50 per cent Of all OF the plug /
tobacco exported from the United States !
IS manufactured in Petersburg These 1
are perhaps the principal lines OF indus 1
try engaged n, but one OF the most graf
flying facts 10 the business men Of the 4
community IS that the city's mauufac- I
turing plants are vastly diversified. !
Petersburg has, therefore, many less
upon which 10 stand.
Wholesale Trade Growing.
The wholesale trade Of Petersburg is
about equal TO the business done by its
industries. the PRINCIPAL
ines engaged in being staple and fancy
groceries, dry goods. shoes, hay and
grain.
The most striking marks OF the new
spirit in Petersburg are the building op-
erations. particularly the building OF res
dences, the extensive Improvement o.
streets and sidewalks. the numerous in
7rOvements in the retail districts. and
he new chamber Of commerce nov. only
wo years old To these may be added
ne completion Of the scheme for. a per
nanent deep water harbor and the con-
1ruction Of large power plant on the
Appomattox River just above the city.
Chamber of Commerce Helps.
Without going into detail in regard 70
hese matters. We may pass TO a word
elative 70 Petersburg's chamber of
commerce. The exact plan Of This or
anization IS perhaps unique in the Init
q States. II is established on the prin-
iple that to enlist tha business mans
interest and 70 hold II, some Of his money
lust be secured.
Each member Of this chamber must
lace al the disposal OF the board of ii
ectors Sle0 when he joins. and must
len pay annual dues The fund thus
-eated IS for investment in anv Isriti-
iate way which VIII produce results for
1e prosperity Of the CITY. and The avail
oility Of the money for use in such in
7stments enables the chamber IN cary
u many Of its ideas for building
-eater Petersburg.
L was due IN a measure 10 tha invas.-
sn1 OF some Of these funds in fbe b,,ild-
g Of residences that an Impetus was
ven the recent building movement in
e city, and only recently the chamber
as enaoled 70 launch movement for
e improvement OF press facilities of
e city by the use Of its own MONEY
ErrrT, thnurI
Commerce has done a great 5ss1 -
Cd IN the city by the use n ifc i~
stment funds, stir those in chsrga %
e organization are perhaps prof,de- -
e general influence created by - or
uiZatiOn than OF any OF its aeeonsDIisL
ants. The chamber 1as striven bar5 >,
ep the city IN touch with other ciries =
d 20 include il in the conmerciaI -,
)vemerts inaugurate6 for the 1Inlif+ =,
tne South and the nation. :.
Supports Commercial Congress i
OF the petersb,,-v 10
amber we're conspicuous in the. o-pan5- th'
ion Of the Southern Commercial Con-
IS which is now known from. one end
the cot ntry to the other. apd bava
N since It's organization loyal sun =
tiers Ct the movement The Office Of :
8ete-Snui6 : N-ldil-DeI OF commerce is
3 the headquarters CT the secretary Of ceI
, commercial organizations covering bet
entire South. e.
he truth about Petersburg simplv vii
ted IS this II is a city Of 3ae0O pso- i.
on deep water. 50 miles from the A. nj.
tic Ocean. and the junction pe;nt Of eac
&c trunk lines Of railway. Il is tie SD