Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-12
next WEEK's.EXPOs|Tl9N
AMBITION OF LOCAL MEN
Display of Richmond-Made
Products Possible After
Lean Years.
IRON INDUSTRY Is OLDEST
First Plant Was Established mt Fall
Ing Greek In Pioneer Dnys-Growth
OF Tobacco Iius Been Phenome nal.
City Clothing Center,

The second annual Made-in- Rich
nond Exposition. which will be hold
In the Grays' Armory the week be-
ginning February 20. is tho blossom
OF the seeds planted by sighted
manufacturers scores OF years ago
and tenderly nourished by several
generations OF Richmond men who
had confidence In tho ability of the
city ultimately to produce such an
exposition OF locally-mado goods as
VIII be seen next week.
Visitors who Will stroll down the
orderly aisles and watch the we'll
planned demonstrations at the vnri-
Gus booths Will little consider the
years OF toll and planning necessary
to devise their construction and then
manufacture on an economical basis.
fet. each shining. mechanically
perfect device and product visible
will have been tho achievement OF
some inventors or manufacturers
dream. Years of struggle for exist
cnce under the most adverse con-
ditions may havo been necessary for
tho exhibiting piant to have per-
manentiy established its business.
First Iron Works mt Failing Creek.
The various iron products. for in
stance. nails. spikes. bolts, bars.
bridge-iron. horse shoes. plow points,
mill gearing, engines. ornamental
iron work. and hundreds OF other
iron products. are all the result OF
the establishment on Failing Creek,
about six miles below Richmond. of
tho first iron furnace in the new
world.
The establishment of the iron
furnace marked the first step to-
ward making Richmond the Industrial
center It now Is. The furnace was
erected by NJ. John Berkeley. Vir-
ginia Rntleman. The smelling of
the iron orc. which nbounds in Vir-
Einia. continued pcnccably until
March %. 1922. when Mr.. Berkeley and
his force OF workmen, about twenty
In all, were mastered BY the Red
skins.
Although the Iron Industry was
paralized temporarily. the settlers
did not give W hope OF smelling their
iron In their own country. and In
1890. slx.y-e!ght years after the ia
tai Indian massacre. Colonel William
Byrd, rebuilt the furnace and re-
sumcd tho interrupted industry.
Although both were antedated by
the iron furnace. the tobacco and
-four industries were two OF the
earliest established In Richmond. A
Norr Mill which was established here
been so enlarged that II has cnpac-
ny OF 100000 barrels year. The
Hour manufactured here IL atlc TO
resist the destructive influence of
climatic changes and Is unaffected BY
torr!dity.
Tubncco Industry Grows Itnpidiy.
Duo to very favorable conditions.
the growth OF the tobacco business
In this city has been almost pho
Eo,ncnal. a comparatively large pro-
portion Of the population or Rich
mond Is employed in tobacco factories.
IN this city tobacco OF every sort is
prepared. In an endless stream of
railway cars and automobiles the raw
tolacco * brought to the city to be
put into the form In which IL Is con-
sumed Ly millions.
Great warehouses. with thousands
OF feet Of floor space. are used to
store this enormous tobacco until II
Is ready for the factories. In Rich
mond men thtuk OF cigarettes In bill
lions and cigars In hundreds of mill
lions. The factories OF the city an
nunlly turn out more than 100000
600 cigars and 10000, 600. 900 cigar
cites. in addition to a great amount
of chewing tobacco.
Richmond rapidly IS becoming an
extensive outlet for the staple pro-
duo. of the South. and its hinterland
In which cotton ~ the principal
product makes this city an important
center for the manufacture OF cot
ton goods OF every description. Cloth
ing. especially overalls. shirts. etc.
Is becoming one OF the principal eX-
ports of the city.