The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-23
RICHMOND SPIRIT
TANNED To FLAME

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if the chief executive makes Il success
o. his adm nistration. He impressed
upon the business men the necessity
OF their suggesuons--the necessity of
the community spirit. Each indsvid
uai, ne said, has a personal interest
in everything the city government
does and personal duty to perform
H. Il. There is room on the rope
fer every hand and l want II see
every hand on the rope puiiing for
Richmond. We either go forward
| or go back---there Is no such thing
| as marking time for a city,"
/ Outlines His Program.
Then the mayor emphasized few
of the principal objects which he
hopes TO attain during his admins
tration with the cooperation of the
Rich mond spirit. These are better
housing conditions for workingmen:
better and cleaner streets; well dis
tributed and we'll conducted play
grounds and a public library. Rich
mond, he declared, in its efforts to
progress. was not bidding for people
who were standing just outside the
door crazy to come in, but II was in
competition with other live Southern
cities that were offering attractive
inducements to .citybuilding classes.
Therefore, the question was not can
Richmond afford to have these es-
sentials TO offer prospective citizens,
but can Richmond afford to be with
out them. The mayor made a dis
tinet hit, and was frequently inter-
rupted by applause and outspoken
evidences of appreciation and coop
Grafton.
Forty Years Ago.
Judge George L. Christian, the
oldest living ex-president of the
Chamber of Commerce. followed in
| gtowingly optimistic talk. in which
| he pointed out the glorious opportuni-
ties before Richmond. with it's bound
| less advantages, and he urged the
| Chamber to take hold of them. He
| reviewed the little organization of
| forty years ago and It's struggles and
| grew enthusiastic over the inspiring
assem- blage before him. He urged the
| business men to greater action, de-
| claring the cha mber ought to have
! five thousa nd members. fired with the
| enthusiasm of the FIVE hundred before
/ him, and Richmond would grow by
/ leaps and bounds,
| Oliver j. Sands expressed the belief
that Richmond's present -rosperity
| was due more TO the Chamber of
/ He, too. grew enthusiastic over the re-
| preventative assembage of Richmond
| ers which ne had feared would con-
| sist largely of clerks and employees,
and urged the support of the business
men in the chambers activities.
Mighty Nigh" City.
| s. t. Morgan. president of the
| Virginia-Carolina Chemical company.
| had the crowd with him from the
tSta y<f H., N % Etfy Arto ~
| his predecessors had taken the wind
| out of his sails. He couldn't pay any
| more compliments to the Chamber of
| Commerce because he couldn't paint a
| lily and ne couldn't deliver funeral
| orarton beca use he wis not talking 10
over dead body. Though he WAS
from the country and wasn't an au-
thority on cities he did think that we
| come mighty nigh having one in
Richmond
I'VE have the transportation facili-
ties, we have the Chamber of Conn
merce and We have weli-organtxed
press--al We need to make a truly
great city is push. Richmond I'M
doubleday has the greatest possibili.
ties of any city in the country
John Stuart Bryan drew com
parison between the Richmond of
1898 and the Richmond OF today, and
had no fear of material growth and
welfare; that was here and was COM
ing in punches. but the emphasized
the need of keeping the Richmond
spirit alive. because the Richmond
spirit meant not only material pres
perity. bat good citizenship. mo man
within the hearing of my voice would
exchange Pittsbnrg. with all its ma
terial wealth, for Richmond If he had
TO live in PMtsburg.
Dabney starts Hall Rolling.
Bat II was business Manager Deb
ney who awakened the enthusiast.
In enthusiastically vigorous manner
he warmed up TO his subject at one
bound, He reviewed briefly the work
of the chamber, giving due praise To
the civic authorities for their hearty
cooperation, and reconnted at length
what the organization hoped to arr
complish with the anne co-operation
annexation Of the suburbs TO de-
velop homes for the workingmen;
improve docks. To encourage small
craft and cheaper products; bridge
Ninfh street TO STIMULATE trade with
y 49, 49,