Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-22

Tho ultimate protection OF Richmond
lies in the coal basin at our door, and
should the present price OF coal con-
tnu". it will not he surprising IL
some one with sufficient money and
nerve does not again start coal opera
tons In our local mines which have
o""n so long neglected"
The report stated that Richmond's
~" rata shar" of tn" amount neces-
Sary towards the building Of the Rich
h"nd. Rappahannock and Northern
Railroad had been subscribed. and that
soon all rail connections with tho
Northern Neck section OF Virginia Will
be established. Reference was made 10
tn" establishment Of the Salesmanship
Club Of richmond. To the agreement
between tho business Mems Club and
III" chamber whereby their civic aC-
tviii"s are combined. and to the an
nuai meeting Of the Chamber of Com
mere" Of the United States. of which
tn" Richmond body Is a member.
FIt'TIf:TH ANNIVERSARY
OF CHAMBER or COMMERCE.
Recalling that this is the nftieth an
niNerSarT OF tn" Chamber Of Commerce.
Mr.. W"rtham read the preamble which
was "dcnt:d by tn" founders in 1867:
whereas. organizat ion and unSv Of
action ar" Indispensable to the full
protection and development Of the COM
n"rcial aud manufacturing interests OF
Richmond: tu the collection and prcScr-
walton OF statistical information con
ncct.d With these pursuits; 10 promote
Just and equitable principles in trade:
to establish uniformity in the com
n"rcial usaG"s OF the city: TO settle
differences speedily and without liii-
cation. and to promote the general
progress and prosperity OF the COM
munity."
9TH" PRINCIPLES for which tho cham
for which II was orEanizcd.'' he said.
have continued without change to the
present day. which. in a large meas
urc. accounts for its success. on Sep
TENDER S. next, It Will h" proper.
think. TO hay" an anniversary meeting
Of the chamber, with an attractive
program befittinG the occasion"
OUTLINES LIST or
nICHMoND's NEEDS
the chambers magazine have appeared
numerous articles setting forth the
needs Of Richmond. some Of the most
important Of which arc as follows:
Better housing facilities for work
ing people.
.'pcepening the channel of James
River.
Urging tho national government TO
build highways TO the battlcnclds
around Richmond
"EliminatiOn Of toll bridges in Rich
mond.
Improvement of Shockoc Creek.
Public neighborhood libraries.
Improvement Of the roads leading
into Richmond.
Opening Of Fifteenth street through
20 the Locomotive Works.
Improve the City Auditorium.
''Of all tho needs above enumerated.
believe the most important one to
be better housing conditions for work
ing people. In this connection, ! am
pleased TO state that already move
ment is on foot to organize a company
TO start the erection Of modern sani-
tary homes for our wage carners. In
the plan or organization of this COM
pany. il is proposed to limit the yield
on the investment, any overpius be-
ing put back into improvements. and
while the investment Will ne an attrac-
tive one. there Will he no proft to the
shareholders other than legitimate
return on their investment.
CANNOT URGE CITY
IMPROVEMENTS Ar THIS TIME
I'm tho present state OF tho city's
finances, we cannot urge the eHpendi-
turc OF money except for necessities.
and take il that our city represen-
tativcs. realizing conditions. will lend
their first support 10 the health and
safety problems confronting them be-
fore taking up those needed improve
ments which. while important, we cam
not urge at the present time.
Not once during my tenure of Office
have | called upon the chambers di-
rectors, committees. members or de-
Dartmcnts that ] have not met with
willing response. The entire or
Eanization is showing a cooperative
spirit which, II continued. will not only
make the influence of this organiZa-
ton greater than ever before. but
Richmond Will catch the spirit and