The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-15
URGE LARGER FUND
FOR RIVER WORK
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Chamber Directors Want Vir-
ginia Delegation to Have
Amount Increased.
PLAN BIG WHARvEs, TOO
Richmond Members Requested
to Oppose Tax on Tobacco
Manufacturers.

RESOLUTIONS were adopted at spe.
cial meeting OF the Chamber of Com.
merce directors yesterday appointing
a committee of five from that body and
asking the Mayor to appoint one oil
like number from the Council to &c
before the Virginia representatives in
Congress and try If possible to get a
larger appropriation for the improve
ment of James River this year, or a.
least to pave the way for obtaining d
sufficient amount before the next ses-
sion OF Congress.
The Committee on Rivers and Har-
bors has recommended $4,000 for this
State. but the committees will ask for
at least 100000 for the proposed
wharves here and other improve
ments. thus enabling the largest trad
ing vessels to reach this city and get
accommodations equal TO those receive
cd at other ports along the Atlantic
scaboard.
Thinks People Have Slept.
John c. Freeman and O. Herbert
Funsten said that the people had prac-
tically been asleep. while othcr cities
whose causes were no less noritori-
GUS had got what they wanted because
OF their activity. Mr. Funston criti-
cited the Council saying that as far
as he could see the City Hall people
as we'll as citizens had been asleep on
a most important proposition. Alder
man Iobson was highly in favor Of
the improvements, and said that If the
chamber would take one-tenth of the
interest In wharves and the improve
ment of the river as ii did in consol-
idation. something definite might be
done in twenty-four hours
Mr.. Freeman made speech almost
identical with that made before the
Finance Committee of the Council
few nights ago, showing that the i'm
provement of the river and building
OF wharves would benefit the railways
and manufacturers as much as any
other class, which several railroad men
and manufacturers agreed was right.
SHOW Congress first" he said. that
You have case, and there will be but
little difficulty In gaining your ends"
He then read what other States were
doing for their waterways, adding that
the cut through Cape Cod, though a
much larger proposition than that
through the curves at City Point. on
James River, would he completed first.
TnSitc Delegation Here.
PresldenI WOOD viii appoint the
Chamber OF Commerce committee prob
ably to-day, and Mayor Richardson
will be asked at once to name the
Council representation. AS the matter
is urgent, the municipal committee will
go as soon as practicable, leaving the
question of expenses to be decided
later. The joint committee will invite
Senator Martin and the other repre-
sentatives to visit Richmond in order
that they may see personally the wants
of the city in the way of wharves and
river Improvement
The bill taxing tobacco manufactu-
rers was briefly discussed and a reso-
luton passed asking the city's repre-
sentatves in the Legislature to use
all their influence in opposing it. Sew
eral of the members stated that they
thought that in the event of the pas
sage of such bill the American To-
bacco Company would nave some of it's
plants from Richmond to New Jersey.
a move 1t started to make in 1891. At
that time committee Of prominent
men induced tile company to remain
here.