The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-15

+ dent OF the chamber OF commerce, in
his valedictory address 20 the mem
bers. said:
Five years ago our total annual
bank clearings amounted to S4ts.l21.-
SlS, each succeeding year shows a
{ large increase. tile clearines for the
year 1917 reaching the enormous sum
( of f.47l.6As.2GO02
Our banking resources. according 10
the published returns for 1912, were
a. follows:
Capital s15.374.2S2.3S
Deposits, s47.209,1T695.
Total resources. s67.4S2256.S3
/ The statement Of our financial In
stitutions. as Of Deem Der 81, 1917,
shows
Capital s1a.942.S65.30
Deposits. so4.669,440.43
Total resources, $I3Q.S6S,
An increase in five years Of say
% per cent in capital, 100 per cent in
deposits. "a per cent in resources.
] shall not attempt 10 go into de-
tails as TO what the chamber has done
to cooperate With the government
curing the past year. In every pa
triotic movement. you will find mem
bers of this organization in the lead.
In the selective draft In the liberty
loan campaigns. in the Red Cross
drive and in the y M c. A. war work
appeal, your members not only took
a leading part, but led. Richmond
was asked to subscribe in the first
liberty loan $1,000. 900. she subscribed
$4,000, 0o0. In the second liberty
, loan her minimum quota was ss4s4.-
600; she subscribed s20,300,00o. The
American Red Cross asked of Rich
| mond 1000; Richmond contributed
over 100000, and to the Y. NJ. c. A.
war work and other appeals she has
responded magni1cently.
Municipal Corporation.
Among the subjects considered ap-
proved and taken up with the city
council are: A municipal survey, the
ctty's fire protection and the use OF
the gas works BY the government for
the manufacture Of 'toluol" In all
OF these matters the city has willingly
met the views of the chamber.
regret TO state that the attendance
! OF our members on the meetings OF
tho board OF aldermen and city coun-
/ Gil has not been as large as ] had
/ hoped, and ! cannot too strongly rec
ommend that when our members are
asked to attend these meetings they
Will even at some sacrifice. be pres
emit The members OF the council have
most cordially welcomed those mem
hers who haze attended, and have ex-
( pressed to me their appreciation OF
! the presence OF substantial business
/ men at their meetings Our city faith.
ers are but human. and your advice
and support is most cordially wei.
coined ny them.
Committee on Legislation.
! Now that our general assembly IL
( IN session, our legislative committee
finds it's time completely taken up tr
the consideration of various measures
nfrccting Richmond's commercial ant
economic life. Questions of taxation
and the resultant effect to Richmond
of the proposed changes in the ia,
laws are carefully considered by youl
legislative committee. Though the,
3. may not be able to have their position
IN matters OF taxation adopted by oui
legislature, yet in their positive anC
impartial stand for equalization O
taxes they have impressed the mem
hers of the Legislature with their eh
soIute fairness and have. consequent
ny, won for themselves and for tn,
chamber the respect OF our lawmak
ers. At this stage of the Legislative
session II IL impossible TO saw VIA
can and will be accomplished. suffic,
II to say that your committee on legis
'Atlon Will DO everything In their pow
- ~ t7f'i = p 1fAi u TtIAitIEipilQ 8 interest,
Advertising and Conventions
Under the supervision of the adver
Using committee, the chamber issue
monthly Its magazine, Richmond"
q copy OF which is not only sent TO ever
! / member Of the chamber. but TO ever
American consul 70 the prominen
lciuhs throughout the United state
land 10 any one making inquiries con
cerning Richmond. In this magazin
IS chronicied the activities not onf
Of lhe chamber and its committees
but other matters Of interest concern
, ing Richmond The advertising com
. tln0ttee, ever mindful OF Its RESPONSE
=, hilities. never loses an opportunity O
: advertising Richmonds advantage,
and. appreciating the force OF per
, sonal agencies, has q representattv
. before every representative gath erin
- Of people, particularly those gather
e. linEs of commercial organizations, I
the end that Richmond's economi
e ara social advantages mae be eS
g plotted
e James River Improvement.
Owing to the demands being mad
upon congress for appropriations I
Inject war conditions your committe
: on James river improvement deter
= mined to postpone, until after tn
= close Of the war, the strenuous effort
= they have been making to obtain I'D
! ditional appropriations to deepen tn
. channel OF the James river.
The committee fully realizes IN
: importance Of deep water to Rich
mond and the chamber viii not b
satisfied until we have a channel {
twenty-five feet depth at mean lo'
] tide,
= Committee ON Manufactures.
Owing to the demand for labor, be
,-Ause OF war activities. and the de
crease In the available supply of lahol
due to the entrance OF our cOuntr
| in the worlds war, great difficulty
experienced In securing the necessar
labor It is estimated that over rs
600 negroes have left Virginia, bein
induced to leave by promises of highe
wages and better living conditions /
The misunderstanding cities OF the Mort