The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-22
President Workman, of Cham
Der of Commerce, In Annual
Report Forecasts Great
Future.
AS Trading Market, Richmond
Must Continue to Keep In
Close Touch With Southeast.

OlOSe lOuCn w I'LL OOuJnedSC.
Never In the history Of our coun-
try has our business world been NOV
ing at such high tension as in 1916"
says President Coleman Workman in
his annual report made ia the cham
Der of commerce last night. The re-
port in part. continues:
You will all recall that the year
1914 saw complete prostration of
business because of the outbreak Of
the European war. How the prob
lens that confronted this country
then were solved is so familiar to
every one that a repetition Is unnec-
essary. In 1915. II was apparent
that the terrible conflict abroad
would mean enormous profits 10 this
country, and while 1915 saw the be-
ginning OF material prosperity the
year 1916 saw a realization far be-
yond anything the most optimistic
believed the future could have in
store
We. Of the South have not en-
ioyed the extreme prosperity of the
grain section of our country. or of
the East and Middle West, where
muntion. steel and kindred orders
predominant, yet there has been
marvellous recovery in the cotton
business. and the cotton textile in
dustry. fast moving TO the South. is
adding looms and sp,ndles, and II
economic laws continue 10 control.
the South has before Il a wonderful
future, and Richmond. wlrose chief
business s with the cotton states,
should come into its OVID
THE statements OF the banks
-cfoartv- show how 4 tt4Ft t,4t.f4tl has
prospered In 1915. and if careful
investigation is made 1t will he evil
denced that there has been an I'M
precedented increase in business gem
orally Orr tohbing and retail trade,
our manufac turera, building opera
lions. taxable values, postoffice re-
ceipts, telephones. banking capltaa
and surplus. deposits and cleaTings
all show an increase. The last mem
toned. bank clearnge which are
true barometer OF business, amount
to the enormous sum Of 1882 212 1000
for the year 1915. an increase of IS
per cant, inc &AI Rt%l llIti ease ~ any
city in the country. As another evil
dence of Richmond's prosperity in
1916, ] heg TO refer you 10 the Bah
son Statistical Report" for January.
which shows Richmond the most ac-
tive city in the middle Atlantic group.
The Convention Bureau.
y our convention bureau during the
past year has not been as aggressive
as heretofore. in its endeavor to pro-
cure the meetings OF national con-
ventions. for the reason primarily.
that the chambers personal repre-
sentative In this work has had TO
give a great deal OF time and atten-
ton to subjects of vital interest to
the commerce and industry Of our
city which your committee feels was
az greater importance. II has, how
ever secured 4 number OF national
conventions for the year 1917, ana
has extended invitations to such state
associations as have for their object
promoting agriculture. The commit
zee is Of the opinion that TO continue
extending invitations to the manu-
featuring johhinG. retail. banking.
educational and agricultural assoc
atoms is Of great benefit to our city.
New Enterprises.
:ConStantly- the officers Of Your or
gaulzation ,are told that the chamber
should bring new enterprises to
Richmond This work is in the
hands Of the business enterprise com
raittee who are very energetic; thor
oughly investigates all seemingly
worthy prospects and renders any as
Ststance possible 10 further ali mer-
itorious enterprises. Experience has
shown that most OF the prospects
presented to the chamber are not
worthy Of the support Of our citizens,
During the past wear several manu-
featuring enterprises have located in
Richmond. and white am speaking
the machinery fer a new industry =
rolling 20 Richmond The represen-
tative Of the newcomer had the many
ADVANTAGES 81 RiChmo nd clearly
shown him by your organization.
location was secured. and in few
weeks this plant will begin TO turn
out its product Your business en-
terprises committee reports substan-
tial growth In many or our old man
ufacturins plants and johhing houses
as evidenced by their removal 10
larger quarters, in order to care for
the increase IN their business.
Attention rs called to the wonder
full growth of the automobile indus
try in our city. d considera BILE part
OF our retail thoroughfare having
been substantially and attractively
developed by the sa,esrooms and the
supply departments Of the various
manufacturers throughout the United
states Richmond has already one
automobile plant in operation, the
Kline Motor company, and efforts
are being made to induce other man
ufacturers to locate branch plants
and distribution depots in our city.
while your committee is doing
everything in its power to induce
substantial new industries to locate
here, it is of the opinion that our
first duty is to foster the industries
we now have. This is the most effec-
tive way to attract new manufactu-
re-