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

Chamber Of Commerce.;
Again, under this administration.
the time has arrived when II is the
presidents duty to submit a report OF
the activities OF this body for the
previous year, and to make such sug-
gestions for the work Of the ensuing
year that may be deemed wise. and
to this end the report will take up the
different items Of interest that oper-
ate to the welfare of the business OF
our city.
Extension of City Limits.
The work Of the chamber, initiating
this movement. was efficiently taken
up with the city authorities and push
ed promptly to a successful conclu-
sion. as far as their work goes. and
1t now but needs the action OF the
court to pass favorabiy en- the boun-
daries as outlined. TO make this great
work an assured fact BY this action
the city win add TO its present ter
ritory about sixteen square miles. en-
bracing 1S.425 population, making the
total territory twenty seven square
miles, and making our total popula-
ton. we hope. In the neighborhood of
i55. 900 Inhabitants. This will put
Richmond out of the class of being
the second most congested city in the
United States, and will have a very
far-reaching effect in enabling the city
government properly to take care OF
the territory that Ia in close proximity
to city. and putting homes In sani-
tary condition. and giving to manu-
featuring plants the facilities they
need.
The accomplishment of this will
enable the chamber to get in shape
to put into operation the plan they
are now working on to provide homes
for wage earners at reasonable rent.
and in this connection. II might be
pertinent to state that the chamber
is cooperating with a committee who
has taken up the betterment of hous-
ing conditions within the city limits.
These conditions have been found by
expert investigation to be. In some
instances, most deplorable. and no
better work can be done by the cham
Der than In their aid in this great
needed improvement.
The Dock.
The dock acquired by the city is, and
will further be. to the greatest ad-
vantage to our shipping interests. and
with the development OF the inland
waterways, the benefits Will be untold.
James River.
The chambers committee on i'm
proyement Of James river Is contin-
uing to do earnest and efficient work.
and their recent efforts before the
committee on rivers and harbors in
Washington gave them hope that a
larger appropriation could be secured
than the $4,000 recommended by
the engineers Our representative Is
now introducing a bill increasing this
to 100000. This may be regarded
as the most important work In its far
reaching consequences of our city's
prosperity, as our basic rates on wa
teri borne traffic must be sustained by
James river.
Union Passenger Station.
The inland trade committee has. as
usual, been most active in its work
1t was this committee that first took
up the question of the union depot for
all the roads at Fifteenth and Main
streets, and which the chamber and
| every other commercial body, with
the exception Of one, efnphatically en-
| dorsed- There IL every reason to be-
lieve that the Southern road is ready
| to enter into this arrangement. and
a considerable amount of development
Is held up. pending the final dete mi
nation Of the Richmond, Fredericks
burg and Potomac ana Atlantic Coast
Line railroads. The plan that the
chamber wishes to see carried out Is
! for the Atlantic Coast Line to come
| lhho ttiiS oCPVt anu NoiiihoS tbi oAk IL
the valley, and then by curve come
into the proposed depot, with the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac railroad at the Hermitage club
site. This plan has been endorsed by
lmany prominent railroad officials and
engineers as being much more eco
nomical as we'll as desirable, than
backing the trains to and fro from
Acca. Not only would this insure all
through trains going through Rich
mond. but 1t would solve the very
serious problem of grade crossings.
| which have been, and are now great
| source of danger and trouble.
Express Rates, Etc.
| Another most important matter
| taken up by this COMMITTEES s the Sc
curing of a reduction In express rates.
This committee has also given con-
siderable work to other matters in the
line of protecting the freight rates OF
the city and adjusting and solving the
many questions daily arising between
the transportation companies and the
| merchants.
Work Of Committees.
The legislative committee has been
most arduously at work for nearly one
year in trying to suggest some plan
by which the authorities could get to
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