Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-09

AS what is now to be related Is not
exactly old-time Richmond, but slight
ly postbcllum. and. therefore. not
strictly entitled TO appear in Randon
Sketches. /. nevertheless. record it to
illustrate the energy and enterprise OF
Richmond merchants.
The ola dominion Steamship COM
pany held the monopoly of freight
rates between New York and Rich
mond. and, as ~monopolies are notorious
for Il tenderness to their own inter-
eSts, freight rates wre naturally cN-
c~cSSive, and. as escape therefrom was
possible only by radical steps, the
merchants of the city consulted to-
gcthcr to protect their interests. and
the outcome was the establishment of
a new freight line to New York. Ac-
cordingly. n company was formed to
the line, and David j. Burr,
an able and popular citizen, was elect
ed president. Steps were at once taken
to build AN iron steamer and. i'll time.
the keel thereof was laid at Rockets,
II eventually the steamer WAS ready
for water, soon after which it was in
active competition with the Ola Do
minion Steamship Company. Though l
do not now recall any material reduc-
tion OF the freight rates. there prob
ably was some. The new y
however, proved a thorn In the side OF
the old company, and. after 4 while.
thc latter offered to purchase the in
trudcr into its preserves. whereupon
the new sold out at a loss
of about - per cent. Though Il fail
urc. the new company was 4 heroic
effort of the merchants TO protect their
interests. and the effort deserves COM
memoration. \ sad and unexpected
event ended the mortal career of the
worthy president. He had bought {,
country place wherein 10 spend his
wcek-endS, and one afternoon while
dead from apoplcxy.
FArI: FRUSTRATED
EL LAID SCHEMES
The story now TO be rclated-one of
sunshine and clouds apparently con-
OF the ~ancicnts hat fate views with
e~nvious eyes the happiness of NOR
tails. and. in time, will surely Illustrate
their best laid schemes: The Old Do
minion Iron and Nail Works, located
Belle Isle. in James River, and cs-
tahlished by William S. Tripictt and
q! Z NV VI '' w many
years. owing to its abundance Of cheap
water-Dower. to the inability OF COM
to get at it's trade. and to
the energy of it's superintendent. Bob
Blankenship. exceedingly prosperous,
but the stockholders. instead of lay
aside a heavy surplus To provide
against eventualitics, spent all the
profits in expensive living. which was
well enough. provided il was. fisu-
ratively speaking. always Sunday. but.
alas for the this was not
always TO be. Fate. observing the inn
providence of the company, deter
mined to call it &c account, and. &C
cordinGly, causcd to be invented the
wire nail. which was so superior to
the cut nail that il almost complete
~ superseded the latter. and. as the
old Dominion company was not prepar-
ed To make the wire nail. a blightinC
frost fell upon the and all
the energy OF its superintendent could
not save ii. After vain efforts TO re-
place nails with bar iron, the old Do
minion company went out of eXis-
tence. and, in the course of time, be-
the property Of the Passenger
Power Company. Tragedy aC-
the closing years Of the old
Dominion Iron and Nail Works. Early
cold wintry morning, tho dead
body Of the superintendent was found
lying on the ground in the freight
yards Of the Richmond and Danville
Company. Whether he had
been accidentally run into by a train.
while passing through the yards on
his way TO Belle Isle. or had deliber-
ately walked into the moving rain,
was never known, but those who knew
the superintendent excessive pride.
that. unable to stand the NOR
Ii:ication OF the failure of his COM
he had voluntarily put himself In
the way of the train. Pride is es-
Scntial to manhood. but. when OK
1t precedes a fall. Not very
long afterwards, tho body of tho SUI
pc~rintendent's son Gan assistant SUI
rcr~intendenD was found dead in Il
mill race OF the company.
That manufacturing companies, To loo
successful. must not only he properly
located. hnt that they should he sur
rounded by other similar companies. in
SO TO speak. TO enjoy - certain
fellowship. was illustrated by the Man
chester cotton mills. For very many
the Manchester Mil stood as a
lone sentinel AT the southern end OF
Mayo's bridge. II manufactured q.
coarse shccting called O~snaburgs. in
demand in BraHil-probably used for
clothing by the natives. Rut the mill
stationary-not only locally.
but hnanciaNy-to old age. and Till
Its demise. It's manar was a most
tstimable gentleman. but. apparently,
was az much-or more-interestcd
in the sunday collections at Monu-
Church as In the growth of his
company It's %ncighbor, tho Marshall
Mill. was, in most respects. a fac
smile of tn" Manchester Mill. cxccpt
in its president. This gentleman.
though not a wise or a rich man in any
respect, was a happy man, for he was
of that class Of mor,als that imagincs
himself tho embodiment of wisdom and
knowledge; that believes that tho sun
rises and sets In him. and tina when