The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-14

meeting OF the chamber OF commerce
last night, Is here g!ven.l
Nineteen Hundred and Eighteen has
been perhaps the most momentous
year TN the history of modern times
Great events have followed each other
In rapid succession. Political and
social upheavats have astonished the
world and promise the greatest amelio-
ration OF the conditions Of mankind.
IL has fallen TO the lot of this coun-
try To take n leading part. our energy
and capacity have heon taxed beyond
Whist We believe II possible 10 accom-
plish and this community in common
with the rest has responded to every
call
As early as February, 1918. the
chamber ia annual meeting, adopted
a formal resolution. pledCiug 10 tho
national government IT'S hearty sup
port and that of it's members individ-
ually---'to ard in everything pertain
ing to the efficient and prompt prose
cution of the war" How wen that
pledge has been redeemed is now his
tory Yet it may not be amiss to re-
count some OF our activities in this
direction, and 10 emphasize the fact
that many If our members have rem
dered conspicuous personal service in
the many patriotic and charitable I'M
dertakines that were necessary to en-
able this nation to lead, not only in
the field. but in the work of relief.
Our course was communicated to all
/ chambers of commerce in Virginia
that they might be stimulated to
greater zeal in the good work. Thus
employed, IL is not surprising that
many OF the things usually accom-
plished by the chamber have been de-
ferred. 5-
Our business manager was prach-
! caily loaned to the government te
aid in the several liberty loans and 10
eerve as ordinance representative in
the civilian department, which con.
suined about three months TO SAY
nothing OF the many other calls upon
his time in connection with thing
necessary on account of the war.
The services Of our traffic manager
were given TO tte government in con.
nection with it's railroad rnanag cement
and rnost of our directors In one caDa-
city or another, were almost continu-
ousiy employed in war activities Of
some kind.
Envinbic Record
The record OF Richmond in these
in the last liberty loan. when the sale
ceeded that OF any Federal Reserve
hank city in the country. In the fou
issues Richmond subscribed for $40,
[ goo 900 worth of bonds, besides abou
5 So 600. 900 OF war savings stamps.
Among the war plants located in o
near Richmond, largely through tn
| influence OF the chamber. may b
, mentioned the Bag Loading plant a
Seen Pines. This IL one of thre'
GJICh mia n re nnaTnfnd h.s tf1n
, ment. the other two being on lease.
, ground, while this is on land pur
| chased and owned by tho government
which fact makes US hopeful that it
operation may be continued perma
nentiy The Investment involves
cost OF several million dollars. an,
many buildings have been erected an,
other improvements made. that will
be worthless unless used Cor the pur
pose for which they were intended
Acting upon the assuu ption that tn
government must operated such
plant even in times of peace, tn
chamber has done what T. could {
induce the government not TO abandon
this Investment
i. The Aviation. Storage and Distri
button station in Fulton, employ
about 500 men tcivilians and soldiers
and carries O stock of supplies to tn
amount of $50, 900 900 In value, an
! your committee on business enterprise
hes heen advised that II may b
: permanently retained. This commit
a tee has been active in pointing on
the many advantages Richmond ha
: to offer. and the. fact that the govern
/ ment VIII probably retain one sue
. plant, and that $4,000 are now bein
spent there in construction, make II
. hopeful.
The Boiler Plant.
While work on the boiler plant i
South Richmond was suspended upol
the signing of the armistice, as wa
| the case with practically all govern
j rnent en- Urgency work throughout III
country, our business manager ha
been particularly active In his effort
to secure the completion and opera
tion of this plant aud largely through
his efforts the government has beef
induced 70 complete this plant ant
work there has been resumed.
The Alec Manufacturing plant.
branch Of tho American Locomotive
Works Zhich makes parts for al
engines made by this company. wa
lgecured and when completed will EN-
pioy at leaEt thousand skilled work
men and involve an outlay Of approx
nlateiy $4,000 This plant wn
brought to Richmond notwtthstandin,
strong com petition from other local.
ties
The AIR Reduction plant. costing
large sum and employing large mum
Der OF operatives, has also been iocat
Cd here and Ii backed. we are in
formed. by unlimited capital.
The government hospital on tn
Richmond college grounds. was secur
ed by the chamber. Representative
Of the government from the surgeon
generals ofiice and the camp at New
port News were on their way to som'
point In North Carolina in search o.
a suitable location and stopped ovel
la Richmond to talk the situation
over with the officials OF the chambe
who fixed upon this location for them
took them over the property anI
brought them in touch with those ir
control of the college, and the promp
and ready acquiescence OF the coileg.
trustees made the negotiations easy.
Your committee on manufacture,
n has been active in Its cooperation
with the Emergency Fleet corpora
; ton and with the United States labor
!. bureau, and it's efforts have been help.
full, both to- the government and tc
; the industiers IN and around Rich
nond
The committee on agriculture re.