The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-14

strike In any serious dimensions in
more than ten years. and has only
had three small strikes of all descrip-
lions during that time. The city be-
lieves the Investigations Of the de-
partment will disclose an intelligent
and contented working population,
thoroughly capable of being trained
in the technical processes contemplated
by the department
4. The department. 1t 10 confidently
believed, will have no difficulty In pro-
curing any labor 1t may desire to sup
plement the ample supply Of the Rich
mond district. One Industrial estab-
Iishment. recently opened near Rich
mond. procured $4,000 laborers within
few months. AS many as thous-
and~operatives arrived daily during the
period when the company In question
was most DESTROYS of adding to its
force.
5. The department may wish to know
that in case its Judgment dictates the
transportation to Richmond of skilled
steel workers from other parts of the
United States. Richmond Is able to
give work to such of the female mem
bers of the operatives families as may
desire IT, The Richmond tobacco in
dustry alone employe 10000 white fe-
males and is steadily increasing in
number. Other industries employ many
thousand women in numerous lines of
V. Specific Locations and Cost of Plant
in Richmond.
l. Richmond's water front on the
James River, as shown by the con-
tours on Map l.. stretches for six miles
at an elevation sufficient to protect
the armor plate from floods, but not
high enough to require extensive ex-
cavations to reach the level of the
river, Below that point the character
of the shore and it's geological forma-
tion are different and less satisfactory
2. The accompanying geological map
constituting one page of the brteD is
respectfully presented as showing the
strata along the James River, Lying
on the edge of granite formation
Richmond has stable foundations for
the heaviest manufacturing. Actual
experience has shown that granite Is
reached al from ten to twenty feet at
most points around the city. To this
fact, particular attention is directed
The department will find at Richmond
the unusual combination of deep
water level and a granite formation
at a depth that will greatly reduce the
cost Of excavations and foundations,
g. Richmond does not presume to
recommend specifically any one of
many suitable sites near the city TO
the department; but If the department
desires it, a site of seventy acres con-
Seniently located on the water front,
and less than two miles from the CEN
ter of the city, with adequate railroad
trackage, Will be decided the United
States This site Is regarded by COM
petent engineers as ideal for a steel
plant. Your petitioners are prepared
to have executed a deed for this prop.
erty.
a. on Map l. Constituting one page
OF the brief). will be found the legend
available Sites" Attention Is respect
fully directed to the contours OF these
sites and to their relation to the geo.
logical map. The department will OBJ
serve that there are several sites. with
ample frontage. including that offered
the department.
8. In constructing a plant at Rich
mond the department will find sand
and gravel in needed quantities on or
Immediately adjacent to the site 1t may
select. 1t can purchase sand. II 1t SO
desires. at approximately ninety cents
per ton, and gravel at eighty cents per
ton, washed and sized. delivered.
6. IL the department does not wish
to generate Its own electric current, it
can purchase 1t in Richmond In large
volume at minimum rate OF one half
cent per K w. II. from central sta
/ ton of ample capacity, as many of the
largest industrial plants in Richmond
are now doing.
VI. Defease and safety.
l. Richmond will not attempt to lay
down strategic principles for the con-
I SiHerntinn Of nth
rather rely upon the knowledge of the
department and will accordingly do
no more than respectfully to urge that
the location of Richmond be examined
! In relation to the mobilization centers,
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timore Philadelphia New York