The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-12

Photo by Foster.
set to the city's commercial and manu-
featuring activity.
The Business Enterprise Committee
has always been active whenever or
portunity offered to present Richmands
great advantages as numerical,
manufacturing and distributing point
and been alive to the work of secur-
Ing both new enterprises and develop
Ing favorable conditions for the promo
ton and successful conduct OF our COM
inercial and manufacturing operations.
The Convention Committee.
The Convention Committee of tic
Chamber has been very active in the
securing OF national conventions OF
an Industrial and commercial charaC-
ter. or of such character as would
advance our economic or transportation
interests. In addition 10 the CONNER
clal conventions. such as the Ameri
can Cotton manufacturers, the National
Paint and OIL, the National jewelers..
and other like conventions, the Con-
vention of tho Atlantic Deeper water
ways Association, the First Anne rican
Road Congress. and the National
Municipal League were OF particularly
timely importance IN advancing the
interests or our community. The At
had a particularly successful and IN
teresting convention. on that occas-
lon many distinguished and ardent ad
vocates OF the Importance of water
ways were present. and very able adj
dresses were delivered, which were an
inspiration, for the value of water
transportation, and the appreciation of
the fact that it must always be de-
pended upon as a most important fac
tor in the distribution OF the rapidly
Increasing production of this country
The delegates on that occasion were
very favorably Impressed with Rich
mond, and cordially appreciated the ar
TdnKcmentS made for
and 1t was generally agreed that 1t
was the most successful one the as
ISOLATION had ever held. although pre-
vtous meetings had taken place at
such cities as Philadelphia, Baltimore
Norfolk and Providence, Rhode Island.
AS one of the fruits of this Atlantic
Deeper Waterways Convention. the
Secretary OF War has recommended 10
port of the United States Engineers
an appropriation of sl7,000.000. for
the Improvement OF an intercoastal
canal. Sl2,000.000 Is for the improve
Bay Canal and 100000 for deepening
the canal from Norfolk, Va. 10 Beau
fort. n. c.. so as to make them avail
able for tho passage of small steamers.
sailing vessals. torpedo boats and
smaller vessels of the navy. In View
of the recent disasters reported. to
the torpedo boats of our navy, we
Judge that this appropriation is likely
to be very favorably acted upon, as
1t Is an absolute necessity for the pros
: lection of our coastwise COMMERCE dur
ing seasons of the year when adverse
weather conditions are liza BILE to render
the coast water route dangerous both
for our commercial and government
service.
The Convention of the First American
Road Congress, which was also u great
success from start to finish. was at
tended by distinguished speakers. the
nors. congressman, railroad officials,
engineers. road machinery men and
representatives of automobile assoca-
tions and good roads associations, and
Chief Magistrate of the nation, but he
was unayoidably prevented from doing
SO, by severe indisposition. BY his
gracious messages of regret. he lndi-
OF the Congress. and sent a member
of his Cabinet, the Hon. James Wilson,
Secretary OF Agriculture, to represent
him at the Congress.
The officers of the Road Congress
were particularly pleased and express
cd their great qualification, not only
at the success Of the Congress, but the
hospitable and satisfactory way in
which they were entertained. The
work of this convention is already
!. bearing fruit, and much good is likely
TO conc out of 1t, both from local
| and national standpoint, from the in
spllatioh VI TIC WIN VI tnis CoH'cil-
ton.
The National Municipal Leagues
convention was attended by representa-
tive delegates from all over this cOun-
try and Canada. The papers and dis
cussons Of this convention were most
interesting and educational, for bet.
ter forms of municipal government,
, and 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 the accomplish
ment OF better form OF government
for our own city. which WAS success
fully carried through very shortly at
ter tho convention adjourned.
There was Il large number OF other
conventions held during the year. Tho
conventions above mentioned, with q
largo number OF other smaller conven-
ttons which met in our city. are esti-
mated to have brought at least 100000
visitors to Richmond during 1911. Con-
! sidering alone the amount of money
spent By these visitors. this must un-
questionnbiy nave proved very proiita
! interests of Richmond, and the people
attending the conventions left with 4
good impression of our city. This. to
/. my. mind. Is the best method OF advcr-
Using, that could be adopted by our
Chamber OF Commerce and the city Of
! Richmend. and the city of Richmond
has co-opefated in o very. effective way
i BY making appropriations for the pur.
pose Of ADVERTISING, by entertaining
| these conventions In satisfactory
! wiser expenditure of the city's money
can he made than to continue this work
during the coming year and the years
to come, and am glad to say that
] an appropriation of $4,000 has already
been recommended by the Councils