The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21

The constitutional convention OF
1902 was composed OF a hundred men
of far more than average ability.
Some of them were head and shout
ders above the average senators and
among them was timber for great
things.
The roll call of that convention
would disclose men worthy to stand
with some Of tho giants Of old and
many of them are still in public life
in State and nation. This body of
men framed the constitution under
which we are now governed and its
work has been accepted as the best
of It's kind in Virginia history.
In congress today Virginians are to
the front, occupying the most impor-
tant positions and doing the principal
work on the most important measures.
Four of the five most important COM
mittees in the house of representa-
tives are headed by Virginians, and
in the senate Virginia's representatives
OCCUPY positions of trust. requiring
constructive ability of high order.
Surely Virginia has no cause to
feel other than proud of her pubiic
men. Most of them nave filled high
positions under the people for many
years, and in all of them have so
conducted themselves as to be called
higher: many of them have served
their State on the battlefield as well
as upon the forum and in the halls
of legislation and In executive offices.
Surely Virginia has no cause to feel
other than proud of her State gov
ernnient, clean, progressive and safe
" conservative with its foundation OF
rock and its structure conceived by
the visest men of the centuries, build
ed b.: world famous statesmen and
conducted since it's birth by men on
honesty of purpose and ability n
political That government
is similar In many respects to the
government Of the other States n of
the nation. but the pitfalls INTO which
many have fallen have been avoided,
and when changes have been made
they have been made cautiously. and
after her people were sure Of their
ground. With a foundation broad
enough and deep enough to hold the
structure and based upon eternal
truths, additions have been possible
where needed, and never has a politi-
cal revolution been necessary.
Keeping Time With World.
There is much to be done in the
future as conditions change, but with
each era in the past the work has
been done, and there is room only for
confidence that. as the world moves
forward, Virginia will o with It.
The capitaI of the State of Virginia
since the year 1879 has been h city
Of Richmond. The former capital of
a nation tina was lost and the present
capital Of one of the States of a nation
which will endure. Richmond has a
history but little less glorious than
that of the State of which it is part.
Traditions there are in plenty, but
they are traditions which stand at
their back urging them on to make
history for their children to point to,
and not traditions which cause them
to pause and dreamily contemplate
the glories Of the past.
Good natured filings are frequently
made at the Southerner's worship of
ancestors and that characteristic is
not absent in Richmond. but Rich
mond's answer has been the answer
of the whole South-progress in So
clal. industrial and political condi-
tons: progress along broad lines. but
progress always in one direction. the
course marked by "a conservatism
and the ideals and landmarks of the
past serving as a safe and all but In
fallible guide.
The progress of the city of Rich
mond during the past decade or two
has forged ahead. Politically she has
improved with her sisters. Social
progress has kept pace with the tried
theories of modern days. Her build
ing operations have doubled and tri-
pied and q~uadrupled. but not at the
expense OF safety and sanitation and
beauty. Efficient building inspectors
have seen to that. Her streets have
been improved as rapidly rs the
wealth of the city justified, but no
/ more rapidly. Competent municipal
legislators have made sure Of that,
and city engineers have seen that few
mistakes were made. Her bank de-
posts have grown by the traditional
leaps and bounds and her business,
retail. wholesale and manufacturing,
has more than kept pace with the in
dustrial advancement of the country.
Good laws nave hefped In this and
the same laws have been used to pre-
vent gouging of the people, and the
overriding of their rights. for the bene-
fit of the producers. A street cleaning
department ably conducted has kept
the streets as clean as possible with
a limited force and not too perfect
equipment, and this force has been
increased and this equipment en-
larged as rapidly as n income of
the city has allowed. Excellent ser
vice. good government and splendid
progress has been mad at the min
mum expense to the taxpayer. The
tax rate for Richmond Is lower than
any other city of its size in the coun-
try. Other cities have splurged, the
citizens paying the freight, while
Richmond. held in check by a con-
sentative people. who do not regard
conservatism and m~ossbackism as
synonyms. and piloted by able NUM-
cipal officials. has made progress
steadily forward.
Capital City Growing.
In twelve years Richmond's popu-
lation has increased from a little
more than $4,000 to about 140. 900;
bank c1earings have grown from much
less than two millions to more than
four and a quarter millions; bank
capital has increased fourfold: build
ing operations skiold: industrial cap
ital a hundred per cent: sale of pro-
ducts nearly two hundred per cent;
property values a hundred and fifty
per cent; postoffice receipts three
times: street railway mileage seventy
five per cent: number Of industries
nearly a hundred per cent.
l.. Another. evidence. of ~ Richmond's
progress and prosperity is found in
the increase in the assessed valuation
Of Richmond's real estate and per-
sonal property. In 1900 the people
of Richmond were paying taxes on an
assessed real estate valuation Of about
sac. 900. 900, while for 1912 the figures
reached $4,000, 600. The personal