Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-31
A Strictly Business Proposition

!
| DRoPOSED restoration of water commun-
1 ication between his city and New York
| resolves itself into cold-booded business
| proposition. AS such it should be consid-
| cred by every business interest in Rich
mond. BY every business interest" is
| meant. not only those which rely in whole
| or in part on water transportation for their
| freight shipments, but those as we'll which
depend entirely on the rail lines. The
clusively rail-shippinE class is just as vitality
interested as it would be If it shipped by
water.
In determining whether or not he will sub
scribe to the stock OF the company now or
ganizing to restore watcr-borne traffic with
New York by way OF the James River. the
forward looking business man will lay aside
sentiment. ignore as unworthy any possible
appeal TO his sympathes in helping Rich
mond'--a plea that in the past has been
overworkcd 10 Richmond's dctriment-and
study the problem dispassionately from two
viewpoints rs they relate TO his own finan-
cial and commercial interests. The first OF
these viewpoints is in the general study OF
freight rates as influenced by competitive
rail and water lines; the second is the prob
able volume of business the Richmond terri
tory can contribute TO the proposed steam
ship line on which the direct success of the
venture necessarily must be based
or these viewpoints, the first is far and
away the most important. Under waterfall
competition, Richmond mas been the bene-
ticiary of preferential freight rates. For in
stance. by virtue Of these competitive rates.
Richmond manufactures - shoes, stoves
woodenwarc, any Of its products = can be
shipped to the Western coast or elsewhere
throughout tho country just as cheaply as
Chicago, st. Louis, Denver or any other man
ufacturing center can ship its wares. This
preferential rate system has made Richmond
Il real business competitor Of every city turn
Ing out similar lines, no matter where To-
Gated, and is the key to its present clrviable
ranking in the commercial and industrial
world. With the abandonment OF its water
borne traffic by the Old Dominion Line, Rich
mond became dependent on its rail carriers,
and the Interstate Commerce Commission
now has under consideration the withdrawal
OF the preferential rate tariff. Permit these
rates to be withdrawn. and Richmond ceases
ut once to be n manufacturing and jobbing
competitor. since rival cities will be able to
underscll it in every competing field The
one and only way 10 prevent the withdrawal
is to restore water transportation.
The second viewpoint is important too
but much simpler, not far-reaching and
more direct in its application. Shipping ex-
perts have surveyed the whole situation as
1t affects the new line. They report that
Richmond and its contiguous territory can
supply volume OF business sufficient TO
JUSTIFY its operation, pay all expenses and
return fair amount on the investment
No one is asked to give anything to help
Richmond or TO assist i'll the promotion of
Il questionable entcrprisc-it is in no wise
charitable or patriotic undertaking. 1t is
an invitation to participate in Il legitimate
investment from which tho element of risk
has been eliminated so far as is humanity
possible in any modern business venture. and
which it has been shown is necessary to the
future protection OF business interests al
ready established.
1t is for Richmond to decide 1t must
face the future sturdily with all its trans
portation facilities intact, confident i'm its
ability to compete in the worlds markets.
or it must revert to the ranking OF an Gin
!and railroad town. and, hclpessly Grip
pied, he content to limp along on one trans
pCrta,ion leg. the fruits of even connection
always beyond its grasp.