The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-29
ACHIEVEMENTS or CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
REVIEWED BY PRESIDENT T. NJ CAE2l2LNC7ON

provement of James river, which, at a
great sacrifice and at some dfsadvan-
tages attended the national river ana
harbor congress, and we. with their
aid and our secretary, were able to
take some steps In the direction OF
having the appropriation of $500
which had been recommended by the
engineers increased This work is now
receiving our immediate attention.
The chambers work in the past in
keeping alive the great subject or I'M
provement of James river has been
one Of the greatest achievements in
it's history, and every nerve should
be strained to continue in the line of
furthering any project that will aid
in getting deeper and still deeper
water in the James river. which Is
the keynote to our citys business
growth.
In the past year the chamber has
inaugurated the bureau of trade ex-
tension, handled by a committee APP
pointed from the subscribers thereto
This bureau has for its purpose the
economical and cooperative adver-
tisement of Richmonds trade. and Its
emblem-"Richmo the Market
Place of the South should bring to
this bureau every wholesale mousse
and manufacturer In our city. This
bureau is administered through the
business managers office, and, with a
committee of the brightest and broad
est business men of our city, II prop
erly supported. can be made means
of having our city's trade fntelli-
gently, economically and adequately
advertised, and in bringing houses to-
gether in a cooperative spirit. that
alone has benefits that cannot be
computed.
The advertising committee has done
much effective work in various ways.
the most striking of which Is the
getting out, in conjunction with the
city. a book on Richmond of Yes
terday and Today" which briefly but
most strikfngly gives the leading fea-
lures of our city.
Inland Trade Committee.
The inland trade committee. which
passes on all matters handled by the
traffic bureau, has been. as usual, ex-
ceedingly active. The leading fea-
lures OF its accomplishment are:
Taking the initiative in protesting
against, and preventing, the advance
in freight rates on leaf tobacco from
the West, which, II acceded to. as
suggested by certain Western and
Northern railroads. which have done
an injury TO our tobacco interests OF
this city that would have been ir-
reparable.
The switching tariffs, which we have
every hope will be decided favorably
to Richmond's interests are now be
ing considered by the Interstate com
merce committee.
The suggestion and. no doubt, fu-
ture advocacy Of belt line, TO IA
cilitate and economic the switching
to private tracks; and other matters
which will be more fully treated IN a
Z hitch will hn nailed
to every member Will most pointedly
demonstrate the great Importance Of
this branch Of the chan1be work.
/ One Of the chief features, which
will not he treated, is the fact that
this bureau. every week Of the year
without litigation or delay unraveis
acknowledgements. and does II In such a
manner that il should, II IL does not
/ receive the thanks of both the ship
( pers and the public service corpora
tons.
/ Increased Membership.
( The committee on membership. the
+ foundation Of our very existence, has
not only been persistently and eff
/ fectiyely working bat, under its all
+ spices. a special campaign was inau-
gurated for new members, and the re-
suit OF this so far stands out as tbs
4 most successful ever carried out. due
/ to the energy and enthusiasm and in
teIligent work OF this committee; and
every single individual should ever
! be remembered as a personal Illus
tration OF unselfsh and high-minGed
work. This committees work never
ends
! The committee on business enter
prises has siveR much careful though'
to the many matters brought TO its
h In4i
of work that has not only been sue
/ cessfully accomplished, but the
elimination OF several large enter
prises in the very near future will be
among it's results The erection of 6
wagon and buggy factory should GER
/ tainly be contaminated
The committee on legislation. dur
ing the last session of the legislature
were called on to give much of theli
4 valuable time 10 various question:
directly touching the commercial in
: trresrs or our city. ard TO every ons
of these gentlemen there should be
vote of thanks for the painstaktng anc
I effective manner in which their ardu'
Gus duties were accomplished.
The special committees appointed
for various purposes have shown al
( intelligent. patriotic and unsclfish de
I votion to the consideration Of the va
rious matters for which they were ap
pointed.
The committee on annexation arr
now waiting for a. report from tht
council, which. we hope. VIII be II
such shape as the chamber can en-
dorse and bring every influence TO beai
TO carry through their recommends
tons
The committee on the Ninth stree
bridge has been able to do very litti'
until the report from the committee
on streets Is made This matter hai
now been taken up by the admins
trative board, and requests for plan
VIII at once be issued. 1t Is certainly
I our purpose to do everything posi-
i Bile 10 see that every detail TO the con
struction of new bridge snail o.
| ready by the time the Mayo lslah'
bridge is ready for use,
/ Currency Reform.
The special committee on BANKING
and currency reform called togethe
representatives from several Southern
States and passed resolutions lurgihl
prompt action on banking and cur
rency reform bill, and advocating sucl
a bill as would have for its purpos
the issuing of currency by the gov
eminent through a central associa
tion and urging congress TO take TIM
important matter out of politics an
carry ii to IA conclusion as prompts
as the great needs of this country de
mands The chief feature OF oil
has been endorsed by the leading bus
mess men and students of economi
cal and financial questions, and