Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-02
Business Better Than Usual

| CARRYING Goals to Newcastle seems a
| ~ necessary and profitable occupation when
, compared with the shipping Of tobacco from
| China to Richmond Such shipments are
being made During the past ten months
for the first time in the history of the tobacco
industry, the Celestial growers of the weed
have been sending large quantities of the
leaf direct to Richmond, center OF the
greatest tobacco growing territory in the
world, shipments coming by way of Tacoma,
Wash. Here the leaf is manufactured into
the finished product for distribution to the
TOUR corners of the earth This is cited
merely as instance of what Richmond is
doing III world trade.
Business as usual was the slogan adopted
by this nation soon after its declaration OF
war against Germany. In all essential things
that slogan has been lived up to exceeded.
ticre III Richmond it was determined to make
business better than usual, and to-day facts
and figures more than justify that determine
ton. While necessarily there has been more
or less dislocation of business, and certain
lines notably the building industry and the
nonesSentias, have decreased, some almost
to the vanishing point Richmond now is buster
and more prosperous than ut any other time
in its history. On the solid foundation of
combined conservatism and progrcssiycness
il must continue to go forward.
Figures from the office OF the collector of
customs serve as index to what is being
done by importers from Which in turn may
he judged the general trend OF business.
They also point to what may be accomplished
after the war has ended, and the United States
is III position 10 take advantage of altered
commercial conditions throughout the world,
particularly in South and Central American
countries In May, Richmond importers paid
to the collector OF customs Sl47.000. This
Is the largest amount ever paid by local inn
porters since Richmond becdme a port Com
pare it with the $1S,571.31 paid in January
1910, which has stood the record. and one
begins to see TO what proportions local bust
ness has grown. During May Richmond i'm
porters paid duty on 1,346.OOO pounds OF
tobacco, $1,000 bags of sugar and 200
barrels OF moasses, these being only Il few
If the many articles OF trade and commerce
which came TO this port. . While this food OF
imports was coming into Richmond. the out
going flood was correspondingly heavy, and
Richmond made goods in ever-ncreasing
volume arc finding their way TO all nations
with whom We have friendly relations.
Ii this remarkable business growth can be
accomplished while the world is aiame with
Tar. what roles will Richmond and Virginia
not be able to play when peace is restored. if
only they are ready TO take full advantage OF
he golden opportunities that await them.
The almost virgin fields OF the other Americas
viii be open to them, the countries OF the
allies, bound to by ndissoluble ties Of
friendship forged in blood and mutual sacr-
Ice, will look to this country for relabilita-
ion, and those marts where hitherto German
commerce has had control will no longer well
come the Teuton trader. 1t is not too soon
80 'Ook forward 10 this aftcr-thc-war period
will be 4 time of fcvcrsh activity, and the
fF.gi- al