The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-25
CHAMBER Of COMMERCE
ACTS FOR ARM0R PLANT
Body's Representatives Had Been at
Work on Matter Long Before
Bill Became Law,
RTCHMOND'S ADVANTAGES
WILL BE FULLY SET OUT
Business Manager Dabney Optimistic,
But Urges Active Cooperation
on Part of All Richmond In
tereStS.


Members OF the board OF directors
OF the Richmond Chamber of Com
merce, at a meeting held yesterday
afternoon. made known their inten-
tons TO use every influence to secure
for the city the armor plate plant
which is shortly TO be established by
the United States government
After the matter was thoroughly
discussed by the board of directors,
the entire matter was turned over to
committee, which was appointed
yesterday afternoon by Coleman 7.
Workman. president OF the Chamber
Of Commerce. The com mittee IS COM
posed Of John Kerr Branch. chair
man: s T. Morgan, +. d. Williams,
J. r Anderson, Oliver J. Sands. W
T Reed. II w. Jackson, Tazewell NJ
Carrington j. c. Easley, s. D. Cren-
shaw and II /. Caheli This com
mttee will cooperate with President
Workman and Business Manager Will
liam r. Dahney.
Members OF this committee, together
with President Wortha n and Business
Manager Dabnev. will get together
within the next day or two and draft
a paper. which will point out the ad-
vartages of Richmond and vicinity
and show just why the plant should
be located in close proximity to this
city. Special stress will he laid on
the advantages Richmond can afford
a project of this kind. Attention will
be called to the fact that in addition
to excellent water facilities offered
six trunk line railways enter Rich
mond, giving every transportation ad-
vantage that could be desired.
Been in Close Touch All Along.
Following the meeting yesterday
afternoon Business Manager Dabney,
in discussing the matter. declared thar
the Richmond Chamber OF Commerce
has been in close touch with the stu
alton even before the bill was passed
in Congress He says that Senators
ginia have already been approached.
and they have practically promised 10
do everything In their power to bring
the plant TO this city. Mr.. Dahney
declared that il would have been UNI
wise at that time TO let II be known
that the Richmond Chamber of Com
merce was working TO bring the plant
to Richmond. There were many things
TO be done before making any public
announcement of the fact. and now
that they have been working on the
matter for several weeks, he declares
that IL should no longer remain a
secret.
In discussing the matter Mr. Dab
ney was very optimistic over Rich
monds chances in landing the plant.
Vt iS
much more to be done by the cham
Der. He says that. there must be a
hearty cooperation between the or
ganization which he represents and
the municipal bodies of Richmond,
Members of the committee as we'll as
every member OF the chamber are
ready to place their shoulders to the
wheel and do everything in their
power to bring the plant here.
1t was recalled by Business Man
ager Dabney that some years ago sug-
gestions were made by Colonel Cut
shaw, who was then city engineer that
a canal should be cut through the
piece of land lying on the south side
OF the river between two bends from
a point near Mayo's Bridge to a poin,
in the river about mile below Full
ton. The canal would not have only
uieTcd QuitN outSe ioi eHS waeSi
in the time OF freshets. but could be
used for wharfs and a harbor for
boats loading and unloading. 1t is said
that this canal would open up for
manufacturing purposes several hun
dred acres OF river iowlands that could
not otherwise be used. Mr.. Dabney
is OF the opinion that this piece OF
land would be an ideal spot for the
proposed armor plate plant.
French Official Report.
Paris. Aug 24.-Midnight official
North of the Somme at o'clock this