Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-26
FERGUSON ASSERTS
GREAT PROSPERITY
AWAITS RICHMOND
Diversity of Industry Equal
to Any City of Like Size
in America.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TENDERS HIM LUNCHEON
Declares Improved Highways
System Will Double Population
OF City in Next Six Years.
BOILER PLANT WILL REMAIN
BOILER PLANT WILL REMAIN
lens audience Labor Market and
housing Conditions Here Dictated
Choice of Location for Concern.

WIN diversity Of industries sec.
oHu 70 none IN any city OF like size !,
iea system OF railroad trans
pol'at!on remarkably re-enforced hv
mana waterway facilities TO commend
20 Dig enterprises. with community
hp!rit enlisted in the work of solving
me housing problem. with prosnocts
ot speedy action on a splendid NET
WORK OF highways and a banking sys.
TEN which the nation knows for Il.
,oundhess' ,o Richmond is reaching out
ut .t.i era o! great business prosperitv
|G'asen ~ Homer l.. Ferguson. president
: OF the Newport News Shipbuildinr and
States o9m Gb noihnpany and Of the United
speech yesterday afternoon before sew
erai CT hundred members OF the Chamber
inrdiiiian, ind,in,, prospect that the distinguished
}meus.rial }m,,,s expert, who. as builder and
nhu engine plant in South Richmond,
10 ne ma.,y wt,,aiiy interested in the city's ex-
their luncheon In the auditorium of
the Jefferson Hotel. 1t was given un-
Ger me auspices of the advisory coun-
GU Oh the Chamber OF Commerce.
Popularity VIII Double.
Mr. Ferguson predicted that, with a
modern system OF improved hiyhwavs
leading out from the city to the sur.
pe,n9II,; poIna,ng ,es,y country from which she
trade, and forming an easy means OF
iinsress for al those who wish 10 come
In, Rlchmonds population within the
doubled. AhoS'
..,ds .Rsichmond is perhaps more inter
IN any one single thing" he declared.
Inc hue and cry you hear OF slightly
iinSreased inSn SEQ taxation 10 build them is a
ilsy bring In their train. There is
,ittie use minimizing The fact that
,neTe r. are are some very bad ones leading
ali right by train he said. with a
laugh put II isn't quite SO certain by
he declared that he was glad Vir-
en- gina mas to have a special session of
Fedora! appropriations for improved
highways.
James River nm Axset.
When ! say this he declared. "1
as n member of the Governors board
on roads. We have in this State n
splendid organization with which TO
begin this highly. important work. and
the system Of highways which has been
mapped out by a. special commission
and approved by the General Assembly
tionai one
,hst Mr ,hs amss psf IS on the bee lief
bes, assets that the city has in the
matter OF industrial expansion. declar-
Ing that the transportation Of the
country is fast outgrowing the faciii-
ties afforded by the railroads. and chat
shippers would rely more and more on
inland waterways TO bear the nations
The Time is coming" he said. when
iSs.. River large large percentage OF the mer;;
plants for points on the seaboard, from
which vi ,ian it win go 70 lis Ultimate des,i-
a priceless possession. II was one of
the deciding factors in our determine. a.
tion place in. Richmond the plant. a
location for which we had sought in all
the principal places on the Atlantic
Labor Market ExceIs.
hrii, iinnd a. ! might say that this plant.
Fleet Corporation. will remain here for
the tn purpose ,bo for for WHICH ii was construct
program which is almost certain 10
come Tor great merchant marine. In
any an s,,tnnt- etyeni; i Will be useful for other
notifications. The plant when !, Snt
Ems ~ ,oo ,06oerat.1ns 3 VIII employ from 1000
elared sar a. that in seeking. suitable ioea e
mond mon rGr nfforSeGd ths Gdlan, he found that Rich
ket and that the housing conditions tiap
nsrf. nere were were better than in Baltimore
had in MIMI dmr; dnr many ny other places he
But ! find, he added. that ,bsv
aro n sEt as good as they might be. ana
hhai hnra athmsnted hs TO see that definite stens
foJ;Slne fac;Se apr pro9iem Hii Is one of the greatest
shevism.. Show me a workmavna b0i- @
fakes WI, pride sbeu in the place he lives in nS anS
con,nnt ssoW you man who lives q
ofinn San IRE. We in Newport News
we have had in Keeping men isuity
from Eichmond They ali seen, way
An aHection for their home nit, nave
ms ~ one reason why you have snn nnu
good labor market" nave such
Would Encourage N.
Mr; Ferguson said that neero
: IN Virginia Is the backbone of irar auor
ttty' me south. In this respect baWinc
ne ne SMnnvatnntase MnItn OF some communities iS6
fnr.i Morth, which depended chieflV on
dor,agaa ddore,,gna labor. Many foreigners. m ha.
leaving the country, presentinr n uari ,nJr
Gus problem to Industry Ifa seii
that virginia be careful To enconrne,a en
It's negro labor, which, he thinks
makes r, thrifty population
ne speaker made q special pIea an
on richmond declaring that in develons
Ing the resources of the city and l.,
opening up new avenues of trade tbns
giving to thousands OF workmen nus
chance 70 earn an honest living, thev
are performing wonderful service
a service which in Richmond receives
Iar less advertisement than the proe
LESSONS. les banking and other callings.
He asked that young mon who BEGIN
y new business be given not only the
fnancfal backing of the cIty bHt its
social backing also 10
Cavalry Pursuex villa.