The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-29


in ten years of 100 per cent.
Telephones have increased in ten
years from 3.425 to 16, 165, Or 81 per
/ cent.
Richmond leads in having the larg-
est single business of blotting paper
in the world; the largest mandatory
of cigarettes in the world; the largest
woodworking plant in the world; and
the largest baking powder plant in
the world: and here are the cannon
balls and shells made for the United
States government
Here is located an industry that
has made the largest locomotive in
the world, and this enterprise has
Increased over 100 per cent in the
past few years; and we trust that our
advantages as manufacturing point
will be continued to be recognized by
this great factor, to our city's ever
lasting good.
Leading Industry.
In tobacco-its leading industry
we handle 80,000,000 to 100000 600
pounds of leaf, and manufacture and
ship to all points of the country and
the world about 10000 600 pounds.
4 We manufacture here two and one
half billion cigarettes; the largest out
put of any one district, and all prac-
tically from one factory; about one
fourth of the output of the United
States
Our position as q f1nacial center
of the South is more strongly estab
lished during the past six months than
ever before, with the largest banking
interest between Baltimore and New
4 Orleans: two large million dollar trust
companies, oversubscribed In q week,
all tend to give our city prestige in
the financial world that will attract in
dustries and borrowers of the highest
order.
The bank and trust companies of
Richmond now have a capital and
surplus Of SIS, 100000, an increase in
ten years of 202 per cent: deposits of
$4,000, 900, an increase in ten years
of 1928 per cent Thus not only being
able to finance literally every. inter
est Of our city, but to extend every
business to a large degree, In doing
their part in building up the con-
tiguous States of the South.
Manufacturing Advantages.
Richmond's great advantages for
manufacturing in the cause Of this
increase, and, as they become more
known. will add in a most remarkable
degree to her prosperity.
Here we have five railroads and are
Tiven, TO a considerable degree, com
petitive rates and free switching; the
great James river making many rates
on water DoTne OASIS.
We are near the great coal fields
giving low-priced fuel.
Electric power. generated by the
water falls of James river, which have
hardly been touched, suggests future
potentialities that can only be dream
ed of
We have one of the lowest tax rates
Our insurance rates are the lowest
possible, where buildings are proper
ly constructed.
And we have "A fire department SO
efficient that, for fifteen years they
have confined the fire to every build
ing in which it started,
Climate and Labor.
We have a climate in which work
can be done practically the year
through, and we have labor, skilled
their employers
Our street car system, reaching out
in every direction OF our city. gives a
, service that is second to none.
The transportation companies Gen.
terfng our city for 1912 carried over
3,000 600 tons. This is estimated by
competent traffic men to be an in
crease OF "a per cent In ten years.
The business of Richmond has far
outstripped the transportation facili-
ties, and few of our railroads have
properly anticipated our commercial
: growth. But we have every reason TO
believe that at least two of the rail-
roads that have not foreseen this
growth are now making adequate
plans properly 10 meet requirements.
And. In passing. I beg to submit that
/ there will be no better way to get
more room for freight operations than
| to put all passenger trains over James
= river into the Union depot at Fifteenth
, ana Main streets, and thence through
the Valley 10 their several destina-
J tons.
The chamber has had under consid-
. Grafton for some time the question OF
better connection and communication
with the Valley and contiguous coun-
ties We must first get our news
: papers to the people In advance of
: those from the larger Northern cities,
and committee Will be appointed
!. for tf1e purpose Of saving this prob
. lem.
, Plays Part OF Host.
: During thep asst year the chamber
has acted with the city in being host
TO several important conventions, the
) largest of which was that of the
United Commercial Travellers whose
influence for our city's good Is too
we'll known to make mention of here.
These conventions have an advertising
= value which our city council has wise
! " recognized. and sincere thanks are
, hereby returned to them for their
broad minded manner in working
, through and with the chamber in &C
curing and entertaining these tmpor-
tant bodies.
. The committee on conventions has
> adopted the policy of combining their
> invitations only to conventions OF the
: national character and have been sue
cessful and 1udicious in their efforts
a During 1918 the following are the
: most important that will be with us:
The educational conference of the
: South; the National Saddiery and Har-
. + ing institute; the American Gas fnsti-
/ ness association, the American Bank
tute: the Fairgrounds and Recreation
Association of America; the Travellers
y Protective Association of America
r Retail Hardware Dealers. Association
n of North and South Carolina: Ameri'
2 can Association of Railway Foremer
: Blacksmiths.
h The importance OF nearly every
g one of these bodies, / feel sure, viii
: bring the proper response from tht
: chambers membership to see tha
s they are Hospitality and properly en-
L tertained and cared for, The goot
y impression made on the individual
: members Of these bodies will rebound
i to the welfare of our city. In thi.
= connection II is pertinent to call at