The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-12

collective display. Of our progress
and industrial development. This
new development y progressing very
satisfactorily indeed, and ! trust that
before another year rolls around. ~
will be an assured asDet to the citys
commercial and manufacturing ac-
tivity.
Tho business enterprise committee
has always been active whenever OPP
portun6ty offered to present Rich
mondT great advantages - a COM
merciAl, manufacturing and distribute
ing point. and been alive to the Work
OF securing both new enterprises ana
devolipcschrdlu SEQ IS IS $TAO1
| developing favorable conditions Tor
1.-THE promotion and successful conduct
OF our commercial and manufactur-
ing operations.
! The Convention cemmittss.
The convention committee OF the
chamber has been very active IN inc
securing of national conventions OF an
| Industrial and commercial character.
or of such a character rs would ao-
vance our economic or transportation
interests. In ADDITION TO the CONNER
cial conventions. such ms the Amer
lean Cotton Manufacturers, the Ma
tionaI Paint and OIL. the National
jewelers.. and other like conventions.
the convention OF the Atlantic Deep
er Waterways Association. the First
American Road Congress, and the Ma
tional Municipal League were OF par
ticuiariy timely importance In advanc-
ing the interests Of our community.
The Atlantic Deeper Waterways Asso-
citation had particularly successful
and interesting convention. On that
occasion many distinguished and ar
dent advocates of the importance or
waterways were present, and very
able addresses were delivered. which
were an Inspiration. for the value OF
water transportation. and the appre-
citation Of the fact that 1t must al
ways be depended upon a. q most I'M
portant factor In the distribution of
the rapidly increasing production Of
this country. TIE delegates on that
occasion were very favorably Impress
ed with Richmond. and cordially APP
precfated the arrangements made for
tho convention, and II was generally
agreed that II was the NEST success-
full one the association had ever held,
although previous meetings had taken
place at such cities as Philadelphia,
Baltimore. Norfolk and Providence.
Rhode Island.
AZ one Of the fruits OF this Attain
tic Deeper Waterways Convention. the
secretary Of war has recommended TO
Congress. In accordance with the re-
pert Of the United States Engineers.
an appropriation Of SI7.00o. 00e.08, for
| the Improvement OF an intercoa star
| canal. *l2.o0o.ooo IL ror the improve
| mont OF the Delaware and Chesapeake
Ba, Canal. and 100000 for deepen
ing the canal from Norfolk, Va, to
Beaufort. n. c.. 80 sto make them
available for the passage of small
steamers. sailing vessels, torpedo
| boats and smaller vessels Of the navy.
In view OF the recent disasters re-
ported. TO the torpedo bonts OF our
| navy, we fudge that this appropria-
ton Is likely to be very favorabiy act
ed upon. as II is an absolute neces-
ssty far the protection OF ou- coast
| wise commerce during seasons &c the
year when adverse weather CONDITIONS
are liable to render the coast water
route dangerous both for our COM
riercial and government service.
| Tho Convention OF the First Amer
lean Road Congress. which also was
great success from start to finish.
\ was attended by distinguished speak
ers. the delegates including senators,
| governors. congressman. railroad Of
ncials, engineers. road machinery men
and representatives OF automobile
associations and good. road associa-
lions, ana 1t was to have been attend
ed by the chief magistrate of the
nation, but he was unavoidabiy pre-
vented from doing so, b.. severe
Iindisposition. BY his gracious meg
eAgeB OF regret. he indicated his pro-
found interest in the work Of the
Congress. aud sent member OF his
cabinet. the Hon. James Wilson, Sec
rotary OF agriculture. to represent him
at the Congress.
The officers of the Road Congress-
were particularly pleased and ex-
pressed their great qualification. not
only at the succezs- of the congrass
but the hospitahle and satisfactory
way In which they were entertained.
| The work Of this convention 10 al
ready bearing fruit. and much good
- likely to come out OF il, both from
q local and n national standpoint,
from the inspiration Of the work OF
this convention.
The National Municipar Leagues
| convention was attended by repre-
! sentative delegates from all over this
country and Canada. The papers and
discussions Of this convention were
most interesting and educational, for
better forms Of municipal govern
ment, and I am quite sure that the
presence Of this convention and the
publication OF the proceedings OF the
convention in the daily papers had a.
Very vital influence In securing ths.
Accomplishment II better form of
government for our own city. which
was successfully carried through very
shortly after the convention adjourn
ed.
There were d large number of
other conventions held during the
year. The conventions Above mon
toned, with large number other
smaller conventions which met In our
city. are estimated to have brought At
least forty Thousand visitors to Rich
mond during 1911. Considering alone
the amount Of money spent hv these
visitor4 this must 4 nnQuest10nably
have proved very profitable financially
TO the various business interests OF
Richmond, and the people attending
| the e0nSess$ton le<t MI - -E0pd- 3sn~
IpfN1aipn as err eleys In. i 10 my
mind, IL the best method Of advertise
ing that could be adopted by our
Chamber of Commerce and thu city Of
Richmond. and the city Of Richmond
has co-operated In . very affective
way. by making appropriations for
tho purpose OF advertising BY enter
funffuY Tng1g conventions r-rv-1xt1Bs
factory manner do NOT helieya that