The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-07
HOW RICHMOND CAN SECURE.
NEW INDUSTRIAL, PI ANTS.
Manufacturing Enterprise Committee AS Adjunct Of
Chamber of Commerce Would Solve
the Problem,

Men naturally differ as to the best
method of obtaining a given result.
In tn matter OF bringing new indus
trial plants to Richmond there are
doubtless several methods which are
favored by different groups of our
business men, all members of the
Chamber of Commerce. which body
has no higher aim than the upbuild-
ing of our city. This upbuilding con-
sists of looking after the interests of
those manufacturing and jobbing con-
Germs already with us and the induce
ment of others to locate here. The
Chamber has accomplished great
deal, especially along the first propo-
sition; the success in locating new in
dustries has not been so marked
Various methods have been tried,
foremost among which Is the bringing
to Richmond of many large and in
tiuential conventions. These have
advertised our city from one end of
the country to the other. There is
hardly business man in the United
States who is not acquainted with
Richmond, and most favorably i'm
pressed with its beauty and health
fulness as place of residence: they
also know of it's favorable location,
as a business mart, as the Gateway
to the South: yet, we must admit
that these conditions, while undoubt-
eddy increasing our trade. have not
caused any considerable manufacture
ing plants to be built here. There Is
something besides general publicity
necessary to turn the minds of men
wanting to embark in the manufac-
turing enterprises toward Richmond
it Is a reputation for public spirit and
financial support.
1t is better for a city to have many
small manufacturing plants than one
large plant; the diversity of products
insures steady employment ana gives
stability to the general business OF
the community. The growth of these
small industries is an announcement
to investors and finally means a large
number OF prosperous concerns with
a great number of satisfied employers
who become permanent citizens of the
city rather than the shifting class
usually found with very large fac
tories.
My suggestion is that the Chamber
of Commerce select a body to be
known as the Manufacturing Enter
prise Committee. composed of two or
three of each of the following lines:
Bankers, merchants, real estate deal
ers, manufacturers. jobbers, retailers
and lawyers. Let this committee Gre
ate an investment fund of, say two
hundred thousand dollars, this fund
TO be underwritten by several hundred
men: only five per cent TO be paid
in cash. this amount TO be used by
the committee in advertising and to
cover expenses of investigating any
industry wanting to locate here. This
committee should secure options on
number of desirable factory sites,
thus being prepared to furnish suit
able factory location at a reasonable
price when negotiations were under
way. Richmond has lost several
manufacturing plants because of the
fact that real estate owners advanced
prices on their holdings the moment
factory promoters hove in sight and
began figuring on site. Nothing
will so quickly disgust prospective
new corners to a city as the idea
that they are being held up by rea'
estate owners; at the same time. there