The Washington herald., 1922-11-02
Board of Trade Names
Committee to Act With
Other Interests.
INDORSED ALSO BY
MERCHANTS BODY
Chamber of Commerce to
Be Represented, Says
A. E. Seymour.

The organized movement Tor an
Industrial development project on
the south band of the Potomac
River received impetus yesterday
when IL was announced that, the
Washington Board of Trade has ap-
pointed a special committee of
prominent bankers and business
representatives to cooperate with
other commercial interests of the
District and Northern Virginia In
working out a plan of action. Al
the same time announcement was
made by the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association and the
Washington Chamber of Commerce
that special committees from those
two bodies will be appointed for the
same purpose within the next few
days.
Five on Committee.
The committee appointed by the
Board of Trade consists of the fol-
lowing: E. c. Graham, president of
the National Electric Company;
Harry v. Haynes, president of the
Farmers and Mechanics Bank:
Frank p. Leetch. real estate opera
tor; Francis r. Weller. construc-
tion engineer: and John l.. Weaver,
president of the John L. Weaver
Real Estate Company.
Charles ]. Columbus. of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
tion. declared last night that the
movement has been heartily In
dorsed by Individual members of the
association. A committee to CO.
operate with other business inter-
ssts will be appointed as soon as
it is possible to do so. he SAID
Project Previously Discussed
According to A Z. Seymour, of the
Chamber Of Commerce. the project
has been under consideration by
that body for a number of years.
The present movement, however, is
the first organized effort on the
part of financial ana commercial
interests to build a sea port and
industriaf center opposite the ma
tIonal capital The Chamber of
Commedce will be represented by a
specially appointed committee. Mr..
Seymour said.
Committees composed Of the
strongest financial and Industrial
interests of northern Virginia al
ready have been organized to push
the project. These committees, rep
resnting Alexandria. Arlington
County and other Northern counties
will meet with the washington
representatives as soon as the or
ganization of local representatives
has been completed.
VIII Appeal to All Interests.
NJ B. Harlow, banker ande bust
81 ssifx AlaXan.
dria, said Yesterday thati is the
purpose to have every commercial,
and Industrial interest in this sec.
tion represented in the project. Not
only will business houses and banks
be appealed to. he said. but spe-
ciaI invitation Will be extended tC
railroads and shipping interests op.
Grating in and out of Washington
One of the first steps after com
pIetion of the organization. 1t !:
said, will be to arrange a conference
between railroad managers and Of
hciaIs of the various shipping com
panies along the Atlantic seaboard
That the Industrial develOpmen nj
of the south bank of the river would
he cOntempOraneOus with the build
ing of a port for ocen liners is the
general belief among commercial
engineers. The reason for this, II
Is explained. is that the outlet to
the sea is Immediately accessible
Moreover. it is pointed out, manu-
featuring center. such as Is contem-
plated. would demand transportation
by water as well as by land. nav
materials and manufactured prod
ucts for foreign consumption wOSd
be loaded aboard vessels docked on
the South bank between Washing
ton and Alexandria
VIII Ask for redging.
once the movement Is launched
leaders say. the matter will be laid
before Congress and the Virginia
state legislature for appropriations
with which to dredbe the harbOr.
According to n War apartment sur
Vey, II will be necessary to dredge
the river only twelve miles to allow
practically any ocean liner to steam
UP to docks in Washington or across
ther liver. That the channel is IN
good CONDITION is evidenced by the
fact that the British dreadnaught
II. NJ :. Raleigh docked at the local
navy yard last spring.
BY building mp an industrial city
between Washington and AleXan-
dria. il is pointed out. the Capital
would enjoy the benefits of increased
trade without the Objectionable fea-
lures of a manufacturing locality.
Would Aid Growth of city.
Compared with other cities of it's
size, Washington is noted for it's
lack of productive enterprise. In
addition. it is shown. there is little
probability of a continuous growth
of the city equaling the expansion
of the last few years, due to the
fact that there is not sufficient busi-
ness to support a much larger popu-
lation- The future growth of Wash
ington. II is believed. will depend
largely upon the development of
industry in and around the city.
Another advantage resulting from
inviting manufacturing Industries
to this section. it is argued. would
be to afford the young men of
Washington and vicinity a much
larger field than is now open to
them.
Governor E. Lee TrinkIe of Vfr-
ginia will be asked to Indicate what
aid can be expected from the s tie
Legis ature. Leaders who have
talked with representatives from
Virginia expressed the belief that
the move will have the unqualified
support of every member of the
SaleCatfOu