The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-26

nierated the city's natural aad ac-
! CURED NOTWITHSTANDING by
land and water. proximity to raw ma
terials. favorable climate, financial re.
sources and comparatively abundant
! labor
The development Of transportation
facilities" he said. seems TO me u de
+, velopment for the city of Richmond.
! Two ideas offer Themselves in this con-
nection. the first being the develop
ment OF highways which have become
of very much greater Importance on
account OF gasoline motor transporta-
! ton. and the development of the James
for the carriage OF goods to seaboard
and inland waterways Probably the
biggest new factor In the developme mt
| of trade and commerce is the automo-
bile, and while Richmond has fair
! roads close to the city. there are prac-
! tically none that may be used in all
seasons.
THE development OF a state and ma
| tional system Of highways so that not
only may travel of pleasure automo-
| blles to and from Richmond be vastly
| increased, which 1t surely will be. but
also that automobile trucks carrytn &
| the produce OF the farm and even the
| factory. Will be increased to an un-
heard Of extent. II suitable hard sur
lace roads are provided. These roads
will not only supplement the rail-
, roads, but will tend to open up and de-
| velop new sections OF the country. and
| increase enormously the resources OF
| the state.
| In regard to water transportation
| Our inland waterways have long beer
! neglected as the railways were equal
| to the task OF transporting our com.
merce. The time is now here. how.
ever. when the railroads are only par
, TALLY equal to this task. and in man,
| places have proven unequal under the
streets of war. SO that the develop.
| ment of our already existing water
| ways has become a question OF ma
| tional importance.
/ Referring particularly to the de,
pelopment Of the. city itself along in,
dustrial lines, 1t Is we'll known thai
the cities obtaining new industries are
the ones which have the most to offer
1t used to be considered that trans
portation. location and climate were
the governing factors, and in thes'
respects Richmond has nothing to feal
by comparison with any other city
Another factor OF even greater impor
lance at the present time Is the labo
market Your excellent labor marke
is the result of many years Of effort
your workmen have. in general, stead,
to larger extent than is usual In mos
cities. Cities competing for skilled
, labor must offer certain advantages
The most important advantage you cal
have is to have your city make 1t cas-.
and desirable for workmen to own ant
pay for their own homes. incidentally
, the one acknowledged cure for Bolshe
; vism and its attendant evils, Is for
, man to own his own home"
, Mr. Ferguson. a native of Waynes
VILE n G.. is the son OF Judge W.
, Ferguson and a brother Of Major-Gen
eral Harley B, Ferguson. In comman
of the United States forces at Newpor
! News Mr. Ferguson, on his gradua
ton from Annapolis In 1892, was sen
; by the government to Glasgow, Scot
, land, to study shipbuilding. and on hi
return was rated an expert on shi
!. construction. In 1908 he resigned fror
! the government to take the position o
superintendent OF hull construction
for the Newport News Shipbuildin
and Drydock company. In 1912 h
I was elected vice-president and genera
. manager and. on the death Of the pres
5 ident, A. L. Hopkins, lost on the Lusi
. tania, he assumed his present Office o
l president and general manager. NOV
= directing force OF more than 500
men, He is a director Of the Chesa
= peake & Ohio Railroad and presiden
s of the First National bank. of Newpor
r News.