The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-12
GREAT BUREAU
OF INFORMATION
Contractors and subcontractors,
Supply Dealers and Architects
Banded Together for Pro-
lection and to Gather Build
ing News About Home
and From Abroad.
BY FRANK S. woopsoN.

organizations OF this city have done
perhaps moro than any other agencies
TO build up Richmond and mike a.
blossom as a rose. One OF tbeso mr.
SahizationS. now just a year and a hale
o.o' Is put little know in the city out.
sue OIL It's own membership, and yet
II mas In It's short life lone much -
the best interests of this city
ana is destined to do a great dosi
more. l refer to the Builders. ~
changc of Richmond. Va, that being
the name of the association IA ,hnr.
tered by the State Corporation Com
mission.
ANY ono visiting the offices and
rooms or the exchange any uay dur
,hs mango hour" Will witness a.
ousy scene. There contractors suhcon-
tractors. builders. lumber deniers hr,e.
dealers. hardware dealers, all name
u material sellers and buyers and
architects may be found, examininr
pidns and specifications for mbuildinea
mat are being or to be erected all over
the city and all over the country ana
eonlerrins on business matters per.
tanning to building operations Or oil
Kinds and all sorts.
Origin of the Organizations
Inc Builders Exchange was orp,n-
ized May 20, 1903, with the officers who
are yet at the helm. as follows: w. 4.
Gilman, president; ". j. Whitehurst,
hrst Vlce-presidert: Reuben Burton.
second vice-presidcut; Horace s.
naWes' third vice-president: James III.
Snappeii, treasurer: J. C. Drever, sec.
retary. On the 9th of February. lam
the exchange was duly chartered nv
she State~ corporation Commission. The
SPACIOUS offices are on tho basen,cnt
hoor of the Mutual Building.
Ihe membership is made I'D of All
classes trades and professions that
may De Interested directly or indirect-
" IN inc matter of BUILDING. that is to
say Wholesale and retail dealers In
all Kinds of building materials such
as lumber, stone, brick5, lime, cement.
hardware, plumbing stocns, and IN
iaeI all manner OF material that roas
into house making; of contractors
suocontractors and of architects. the
latter being honorary members. There
are at present $50 active members ON
inc roll exclusive OF the honorar,
members, and there are at least ~
many more men in the city who arc
ioosins the deal by not being mcmbera
Great Burenu of Information
Inc necessity for such an oreani-
eaton mad long been observed by IT'S
promoters, but 1t was only a year and
d naif ago that it was put on its feet.
anu us advantages and its value to the
aHe ~ Tic general public
nave been thoroughly demonstrated in
this snort time. 1t is nov, firmly es-
taolished. having taken high ranl
among the business and trade ~orronf.
zauons of the city.
n exchange Is a bureau of oerar.,
ntormatIon OF value to any one how
cHer remotely interested in building
operations, The aims and objects are
TO furnish information and the yery
t tbsest news that Is o%btalnable and
trial operations within the citv ana
throughout the country.
through Its secretary and his as
sI'aHss, and through the committees
al hlhaS or of interest 10
Sa.nered Tor the benefit of the mem
nefship and for any one ~proposinr
TO DO any kind of building. This work
is not confined to the city or to Vir-
gina put to all parts OF the country.
Eor instance. the exchange is in daily
Feseipt from Washington OF any In
ssP feIn there Is In regard to United
II Uncle sam decides to build "a new
post-oficc or custom house anywhers
IN tne United States or to make en-
tarScincnt OF OF extensive repairs To
any building he owns in the world
iull particulars are In the hands OF
the exchange the next morning. and
In due time the plans and spectica-
tons are received and placed on cr.
hlbition so that Richmond contractors
and supply dealers are in a position TO
o'N v 6ONeIlHeLt business.
other Sources of Information.
Iien, again, the exchange is q mem
ner OF the Interstate Builders and
Iraders, Association, covering Mary
,ahd. virginia and the District OF CO.
lumbia. which is the only ASSOCIATIONS
OF It's kind in the country now. all
thouSh others are soon to be organ-
ized. Thus. the members are brought
im~aiVidualiy and collectively in touch
with the furnishing EXCHANGES in
Baltimore, Washington and Norfolk
and can obtain from them In person
or by mail any Information that may
De OF interest TO them and that may
pc In the possession of those ex-
changes. The architects of the city.
who are honorary members. hle with
tho exchange as soon as practicable
plans of all buildings they have charge
OF. and these arc placed where the
contractors, subccntractors and supply
dealers have access to them. that they
may in~telligently bid on the work or
on the supplies to be furnished. This
exchange not only furnishes informa-
ton to its own members. but also 20
visiting contractors and to ths
stranger within the gates, and also to
Ihe general public, Any citizen OF
Richmond or elsewhere who contsm-
pla building q house to live in or
a factory or store to do business In.
or a skyscraper to rent out for Offices,
or what not. a go TO the exchanges
and obtain any information he desirea
as to architects, contractors. subcon-
tractors or supply dealers or on any
subject pertaining to the matter In
hand.
a Protecting Feature.
A further object is the protection
OF the builders end contractors, tho
architects and the dealers In bntidfnE
supplies. To that end the asaociatfenE
keeps IN touch with Councils snasLeg+s
,tGontinuea on Second :