The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-12

v
competent for me to gay why these
enterprises failed, but the fact Is.
so many of them have done that II
may, upon my first allusion to the
subject, be considered temerity. How
ever, have been shown letter from
n gentleman who Is considered an
expert OF the highest order in the
investigation OF coal properties, whose
services are retained by one of the
largest industries, not only In this
country, but In. the world; and he
shows the courage of his convictions
by expressing a willingness to take
an interest in n properly organized
and financed company for the devel-
opment of this field.
Among other statements he says
1.-THE field is approximately thirty
miles long and six or seven miles
wide. and a five-foot seam of coal
over this entire area would give an
output of five million tons n year
for twenty-five or thirty years; that
he has not thought of an operation
IN that field Of n capacity of less
than 500 to 2.000 tons per day, and
that the plant should be constructed
on that basis: that in his opinion II
is the one thing necessary to make
Richmond the most important CITY
to the engineers or men that have
been employed in the Richmond coal
field, he confidently asserts that the
methods they employed have been
very primitive and that II is desira-
BILE to incorporate the latest methods
If mining and latest mining ma
chinery.'
should consider myself remiss
in The face Of such evidence. II | did
IA
mend the reference of this letter and
the important subject to which II
refers. to the consideration of the
Chambers Committee ON Mines. for
investigation and report; coal being
q basic feature in industrial develop
ment Of ever increasing value and
Importance.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Al the last annual meeting of the
Cha mber. 1t was suggested that its
EXPIRE sidents, who are alw,ys in
vited to the meetings of the Board Of
Directors, be invested with the right
To vote at those meetings. I heartily
recommend favora BILE action upon that
resolution ut this meeting, as the ex-
perieuce, judgment and personnel Of
those gentlemen would add force to
the conclusions of any directorate Of
any body.
! also recommend, and the Board of
Directors. at a meeting held the sth
instant. endorses this recommends
ton. that rhe date of the annual
meeting Of the Chamber be changed
from the second Thursday in Jan
uarv TO the second Thursday in Feb
ruary, For the last two years 1t has
been found necessary to defer the
annual meeting for the reason that
reports statistics and the other work
Of the Chamber could not be gotten
In satisfactory shape for your con-
sderation so soon after the close of
the year and the holiday season, az
the second Thursday In January.
Al this meeting of the Chamber.
At which directors have 70 be erected.
there is one vacancy on the board and
four members are Ineligible, under
the Constitution. which provides that
no member shall serve fer-saore than
five years This leaves twenty who
are eligible. but under another ex-
listing provision. ten new members
have TO be elected each year. Under
operation OF this latter provision it
will be necessary to drop five other
members. and as they are all most
valuable and desirable. it has been
suggested hat this rule be changed
So as to require hereafter that only
five new members shall he elected.
This would change the entire compo-
sitiop of the board In fiSe years,
which would seem to be sufficient
rotation. / submit this for the con-
Sideration OF the meeting, as we of
ten have to lose. under the existing
arrangement, most valuable and ex-
perienced material.
In conclusion, I desire to say that
] feel deeply indebted TO the Officers
If the Chamber: To the Executive
Committee the mem hers of the board
and the members generally, for the
loyal and efficient support they have
given to my administration without
which 7 am deeply sensible that the
responsibility of my office would have
beer greater than could have bourn
and the achievements Of the Chambe
would have been impossible
I also wish to gratefully express my
appreciation OF The press who have
accorded liberal space In their col
ums in reporting the work Of the
Chamber and have most ably advo-
Gated lts movements editorialiy
And finally. wish to express the
thanks of the Chamber to the city
authorities; his Honor the Mayor:
the members of the City Council; the
members of the Administrative Board
and the committees Of the City Council
NBttn nave NillbIlulN ana courteous
~ given due consideration to all mat
ters which We have brought To their
attention. and have been generously
responsive whenever circumstances
ana conditions permitted
With this trinity--the city authori-
ties the Chamber and the press. no
results numanly possible are beyond
our aspiration and achievement for
the eitys good.
Respectfully submitted.
W. r. REED.
President
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Talks On "Citizenship."