The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-30

4 ana the application tnere0f are SC
| complicated and excessive In some in
stances. and too low in others. that
some adjustment WIZ deemed to be
| necessary by everyone 1T all familiar
with the subject. The good work OF
this committee has Just eliminated in
their having a resolution passed for
| the appointment of commission who
shall sit and report to 4 special SEES
| sion OF the legislature. which the gov
ernor will, no doubt. be asked to call.
| Too much communication cannot be
given to the members OF thi1 commit
tee. who have brought this subject to
the point Of having something prac-
/ tical done.
! been as usual exceedingly successful In
effective work. The national char
acter. the personality Of the members
| OF the conventions that they have
/ brought to our city, under the most
suspicious circumstances, has neces-
sariiy given Richmond a reputation
| and a publicity that could not be got
| ten from print. and the benefits that
must accrue from these conventions.
which are not always seen at once. are
most pronounced In the general re-
suits Of the development Of our city.
| For the coming year this committee
has secured the following conventions:
| The National Tailoring association.
! in February: $50 members.
The National Association of School
Superintendents. in February. s.ooe
members.
| American Bankers association,
| in October; 1000 members.
| American Bakers convention. in
! October; 1900 members.
| The Southern Medical association,
| in November; 500 members.
! And that the committee and the
! chamber will measure up to their full
duties is shown by the acts OF the past.
The advertising committee have
been watching every point that they
could use to the citys advantage in
discrediting the many schemes OF no
| value that have been tried to be put
upon them, and. on the other hand.
with the material assistance OF the adj
vertising committee OF the city coun-
| Gil have done a great work In bring
! ing to the attention OF the country our
city's many attractions and adyan-
/ tages.
| The business enterprise committee
| has many plans on foot. which we
trust will eliminate in our city's Sc
curing manufacturing plants and dis
tributing houses OF considerable value,
and they have already in one or two
4 instances been most eminently sue
cessful. In this connection 1t might
| be said that every effort should be
spent in acquainting the manufactur-
Ing interests with the great advan-
/ tages that our city possesses, for there
| Is no factor SO important to a cfty's
growth as that of manufacturing.
I The membership committee did
such pre-eminently successful work
/ In the closing OF the chambers year
OF 1918. that 1t should give them
every encouragement TO continue 1t,
and the regular accessions to the
chambers membership shows that
/ they are most actively at work.
| The trade extension bureau Is one
| of the most potent OF the chamber
activities. The results OF It's very sue
cessful effort Of the Better Acquaint-
ance Week. which they inAuUurated
last August, has now brought the
membership up OF this bureau from
80 to Ito. and "Richmond--the mar
ketplace OF the South"-will be still
further impressed on the visitors ~ho
will be with us on March Sd. to 9Th
/ inclusive. and every business house In
! Richmond that can make use of II
should certainly belong to this part OF
this chambers most efficient branch.
/ The matter of awakening the citi-
zens of Richmond to their obligation
of voting Is a most important one
and the work done by the young
mems registration committee, which
had the hearty support OF the cham
Der, Is worthy OF the highest praise
and every effort on their part should
have the cooperation and assistance
OF every citizen who has the welfare
of the community at heart.
i The Railroads
The railroads. as a rule. are recog-
nizing the necessity of larger facili-
ties for handling increased passenger
and freight business. and considerable
to this end. The construction of the
Richmond and Rappahannock River
railway is now being prosecuted. and
no doubt that road will soon be
opened. The railroad to the Northern
Neck has gone through many agonies
in its efforts to arrive at its accom-
plishment. and such an important
trade to our city must be in some way
worked out. Our connections in bust.
ness with ~ valley. and contiguous
counties still are in q very unsatisfac-
tory condition, and every effort should
be made to get better mail and freight
facilities. specially should we con-
tinue to work to get the Richmond
newspapers into this territory before
they are one or two days old
The matters for the coming year
that should engage the chambers
most serious attention are
The strengthening and covering OF
Shockoe creek, which Is now receiv.
ing the attention OF the municipal au-
thorities.
Urging an adequate bridge to be put
upon the site OF the present Ninth
street bridge. which. on the present
tines, with an addition Of 9 or 10 fee,
In width, should be accomplished
without an undue expenditure.
The building code should conform
as far as possible with that prescribed
BY the underwriters. In order to get
the lowest possible rate OF Insurance
and the fire department should be mo.
torized. II this is necessary to accom-
plish this purpose.
public library Ia one OF the great
needs of our city and should receive
due consideration.
Our city should use every means In
making good roads and radiating from
all points Of the city, us this has a
direct bearing on increasing the farms
to raise more products for the mar
kets.
] A great need Ia 4 municipal en-
ployment agency which change In
our charter will enable US to secure
In october the chamber moved into
1 Its new quarters at Sixth and Main