The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-11
HOW RICHMOND WOULD
Be AFFECTED BY WAR
tic Views In Event of War With
Germany

tic Views In Event of War With
Germany.
Several well-known local business
men connected with wholesale and
manufacturing interests express their
view. OF how war between United
States and Germany would affect To-
cal conditions
1t Is gratifying to note the spirit
OF optimism that seems TO permeate
these statements and that no I'M
easiness is apparent among the differ
ent business interests OF Richmond.
Several men who were interviewed
along this line. preferred not to make
any statement. saying that 1t was q
question which could not De answered
with any degree OF certainty Those
who have given the following state
ments to a Virginian representative,
have qualified their expressions by ad-
hitting their inability to give GER
tain forecast OF what results would
follow in Richmond were the United
States to declare war on Germany.
Alvin NJ. Smith, president Smith
Courtney Co.:
Business in our line is at present
exceptionally good and We do not an
ticipate any let-up in the event of war
with Germany: in fact, in our lines the
demand would increase. for the gov
eminent would use vast quantities of
machinery and supplies In their
preparations for war"
James HI. Check, manager Cheek
Neal Coffee Co.:
x.-ith IN
raise the price of coffee to the con-
sumner: on account OF submarine war
fare affecting the importation of coffee
from South America and by the en-
forcing OF an import tax OF two cents
a pound, which matter ia already be-
ing considered by the United States
government Coffee is now about the
only food commodity which has not
been advanced in retail prices. al
though the manufacturers have been
forced to pay higher prices for green
coffee, tin cans, paper. etc
George r. Nelson. sales manager
r. \. Saunders Sons Co;
According to history. all food
products advance ia price during war
times. Some foodstuTs would OF
necessity go up. others would doubt
less remain at about present prices.
We are advising our trade to conserve
their stocks and Use caution in buy
Ing; which advice Is given on account
OF uncertainty of trade conditions"
Walker Stuart sales manager Rich
mond Hardware Co:
War with Germany would prob
ably advance prices to some extent,
but would hardly decrease demands
after first shock of war declaration.
The hardware lines are not dependent
to much extent on exports or imports,
and people must use farming and
, building tools even in time OF war"
T. VI. Darlington. president Car
rtngton II o.:
War would increase the activity
among home tobacco manufacturers
because soldiers and sailors must be
supplied with tobacco. | have every
faith that shipping conditions Will ad
Just themselves shortly so that to-
bacco and other products may he ex-
ported. The future of the tobacco in
dustry seems assured regardless o.
whether or not we have war
Hampton Fleming, president Christie
Manufacturing Co.:
War with Germany would prob
ably tend to increase the cost of pro-
duction in the manufacture of soda
fountains and curtail the output, but
eventually local conditions would be
better than ever. Nothing can stop the
great activity in the soda fountain
business
George s. Stoneanan. secretary and
treasurer Sydnor Pump and Well Co.
Local trade in our lines would not
be materially affected by war We
are we'll fixed for raw material ans
able to take care of a big trade"
Charles Straus. wholesale cigars and
tobacco:
War would AFFECT the fve-cent
cigar trade more than anything II
our line. on account of imports OF to
bacco. 1t would be the means ot
causing "A more extensive use o,
demand would make the manufacture
of a good five-cent cigar very diff
cult"
w. r. Dabney, manager Chamber oil
Commerce:
In the event OF war with Germany
IL the United States is not forced Il
send soldiers to Germany or manufac
turers are not compelled to curta
outputs by war regulations 1t is fair L
assume that general business condi
tons would not suffer serious reverses
Fred Dapprich, advertising agent
First shock OF declaration of wal
would have the affect of injecting
spirit OF uncertainty among bushes,
interests, but the unequalled financia
condition of Richmond would tend Il
stabilize local affairs in such a wa,
as to bring about a speedy adaptation
to conditions that would permit o.
Richmond business interests movins
along in the usual steady and pro
gressive manner"