The Washington herald., 1922-11-20
Merchants and Manufacturers
Association Announces Com
mittee of Five Members
BANKERS GIVE APPROVAL
Propose Establishing Vast In
dustriaI Center Across the
Potomac River in Virginia |

the appointment OF committee by
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association.
The committee, 1t was learned
yesterday. comprises the following
prominent Washington business
and professional men: R. p. An.
'rews. president Of the r. p. An
PAPER Company: Joseph A.
attorney; Joseph A. Ber.
ber-ch ice president Of the Mer-
chants Bank and Trust Company;
John III. wilkins. president John H.
rs Wholesale Grocery Com.
pm. A. F. Joess. president of the
j. ss Iron Wor6s.
AZ the same t.inc. Joshua Evans,
president Of the District Barkers'
Association. announces that his
organization Is heartily supporting
the movement and that a commit
tee OF bankers would be appointed
this week to cooperate In the pro-
1ect- Committees representing the
Washington Board VI Trade, the
business and financial interests of
Alexandria and officials of Airing
ton County already have been
named.
CHAMBER TO ACT.
A Z. Seymour, secretary of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce,
says his organization will arrooint
committee at the next meeting of
the board of directors, the first
Tuesday in December.
A complete organization is ex-
pected to be formed Immediately
following action by the Chamber OF
Commerce. Meanwhile, leaders de.
clare. every effort will be made to
secure participation in the move
ment by other interested organiza.
tons Practically every influential
body in the District of Columbia
and Northern Virginia has ap.
pointed special committees to co.
operate in the project or has in.
dicated that such action will be
taken.
According to NJ. B. Harlow.
banker and business man of this
city and Alexandria, and one Of the
leaders in the movement, the spe-
cial committees of the several or.
ganizations will be merged into a
general committee. II Is predicted
that such a body will comprise the
strongest amalgamation of financial
and business interests ever known
in this section.
PROPOSED SITE IDEAL.
The project contemplates the sys-
tematic development of the right
bank of the Potomac river op-
posite Washington into an indus
trial city. The Industrial zone
which has been mapped out in
cludes what is said to be one Of
the most desirable manufacturing
sites in the East. The territory
between the Highway Bridge and
Alexandria is declared not only to
have attracted local interests but
has recently been under considera-
ton by a combination of railroad
officials.
1t is proposed to open this section
fn manufacturing plants and other
industries which have been denied
access to the District. in the belief
they would impair the beauty of
the city. The rapid growth of the
Capital, however. is believed to have
created a legitimate demand for in
creased business which must be met
n Washington is to support a grow
ing population.
Under present conditions. the prin-
opal financial support Of Washing
ton is derived from the seventy odd
thousand employees of the Govern
ment. The mercantile establish
ments and other forms Of business
are generally regarded as DEPEND
ents rather than supporters of the
population.
WOULD CREATE BIG CENTER,
Development of an Industrial CEN
ter directly opposite the Capital, it
IS asserted, would provide an i'm
petus to business which should
make Washington rival the leading
Industrial cities of the Atlantic sea-
board
Contemporaneous with the indus
trial development, leaders propose to
launch movement In Congress to
have the Potomac River dredged so
as to admit ocean-going vessels to
the Industrial zone. The establish
nent of a port through which manu-
ractured products and raw mate
rials can be handled is looked upon
as essential to the establishment of
manufacturing plants According to
a survey made by the War DEPART
ment il will he necessary to dredee
the river a distance of only twelve
miles below Washington to make il
accessible TO the largest tramp
steamers and passenger vessels.
HAS NINE RAILROADS,
Nine Of the most important rail.
roads in the United States now
operate through this territory.
This is counted as one of the
strongest arguments in favor of
the project. Officials of these
roads have declared their willing.
ness to cooperate with local in
terests.
The Western Maryland Railroad,
which Is bound by contract not to
enter the District. is reported to
have recently acquired an option
on the Washington and Old
Dominion This road. it Is pointed
out. could be extended into the
industrial zone by laying less than
five miles Of track. This would
connect the proposed center with
the richest sections of Maryland
and Virginia
Leaders emphasize that in
dustrial development on the south
hank Of the Potomac would in no
way interfere with the plans of
Congress to make Washington the
most beautiful city in the world.
On the other hand. II is believed,
II would provide the commercial
basiS for a normal expansion and