Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-03
RICHMOND LOOKING
FOR TRADE UPTURN
Historic City on James In
creaSes in Importance
on Industrial Lines.
BY JOHN F. SINCLAIR.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
RICHMOND, Va, March 3.-Rich-
mond. founded in 1874 and the capital
of Virginia since 1779, is again be-
coming industrial minded. It was in
this city that coal was first mined in
the United States; here the first Amer
lean iron and bricks were made and
here the great American tobacco in
dustry began.
While Richmond has a population of
about 200,0 900, its annual number of
visitors is estimated at 100000 Sit
uated in a section rich IL romance and
history, the annual tourist crop has
been growing steadily in the last 10
years. Within three hours one can
visit very many of the landmarks of
early American history. But it is along
other lines now that Richmond is
thinking.
make triangle formed by the cities
of Hopewell, Petersburg and Rich
mond-this is the famous James River
Basin, in which more business enter
prise is concentrating today than pos
sibly in any other area in the South,
said I. j. Marcuse, president of the
Bedford Pulp g. Paper Co., one Of the
largest enterprises in the State.
IN dQQlIlOH 70 IdbulS all AOCdA
climate, in which labor can work stead
ily nearly every day of the year, in
dustry here is on tide water and
labor is intelligent and efficient. The
du Points began the movement into
this fertile country about 10 years ago,
primarily because of the development
of rayon. Chemically pure water,
suitable for dyeing, bleaching and
finishing of the finest textiles, is neces--
sary in this industry, and they found
that here in abundance. Two rayon
plants are now located IN this area"
The du Pont Rayon Co.'s plant cost
$4,000, 900, approximately, and en-
ployS more than 1000 people.
In addition. the Atmospheric Nitro
gen Corporation has completed ana
has In operation the first unit Of its
plant, representing already an expendi-
ture of $4,000, 600 This will be in
creased to more than $100,000,000 in the
next few years.
population read the English language,
81 are native born" continued Mr..
Marcuse in discussing labor conditions
here. I'VE have never had any labor
troubles in this section, and We do not
believe that we ever will have. The in
iustrial leaders in Richmond believe
that cheap labor in the long run is al
ways expensive"
Just what do you mean by that?"
asked.
American business leaders have long
since come to the position that high
wages means more purchasing power.
That it pays to give labor wage that
viii bring general prosperity to all the
inhabitants of the section affected
That's what mean by saying that
cheap labor is always expensive labor.
Get a high-claSS quality of labor, pay
it well and keep it. It's much cheaper
from the dollars and cents standpoint
in the end than parsimonous policy"
Richmond is not making mistake
by specializing in any one line of enter
prise" said H. w. EllieSon, president of
the Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Co.
and long leading business man of Viz
ginia.
The total capital invested in Rich
molld industry now exceeds $500, 900 600.
The annual production is in excess of
$3.50, O00, 900. Forty-nine different kinds
of industry are claSsed within their ac-
tivities. But first is tobacco, and second
In importance Is paper and paper prod
ucts.
Third in importance comes printing,
publishing, binding and engraving and
the fourth Is iron, steel and machinery.
Why has Richmond, with its favor
able advantages, not grown to be a
city Of million people?" Mr.. Ellieson
was asked.
Railroads have a lot to do with a
city's growth. They had a lot to do
with ours. We were prosperous in a
small way and many of our leading
citizens were contented to let well
enough alone. So the railroads, already
concentrating In other port centers, did
not spend as much time on our prob
lens as upon the problems of other
But now, with the DEVELOPMENT of
our harbor," went on Mr.. Ellieson, land
the further expansion of Chesapeake
Bay (the finest harbor in the United
states on either ocean, as a more i'm
portant shipping center, Richmond will
take its place as q world port Money
VIII be turned into this DEVELOPMENT in
time. But while this is going on. Rich
mond has awakened to its vast posi-
Duitles' ana that Is the hopeful thing"
Credit conditions in the fifth Federal
Reserve district are probably not anv
worse and not much better than the
average throughout the country" said
Gov. Seay of the Richmond Federal
reserve Bank, In discussing business
and banking conditions in his district.
am inclined to believe that the
banks on the whole are in splendid
condition, with plenty Of reserves and
with gradual liquidation of their
slower paper. We look to the future
with considerable confidence"
Gov. Seay has been an officer of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
from its organization. He is one of
the Oldest in point of service of an the
IL Federal Reserve governors. To those
who are familiar with the inner work.
ings Of the Federal Reserve system the
Richmond governor is considered one
OF the most capable Of the Federal Re-
serve of1cials
'Richmond's future is tied I'D with
three basic developments-all in process
OF being completed now" said r. P.
Saunders Of the Chamber of Com
merce
These are: First. The James River
development from Richmond to the sea,
providing an 18-foot low-tide water
depth, which will make Richmond a
world port.
Second. The intensive industrializa-
ton of the James River Basin, In which
hundreds of millions of dollars are now
being spent.
Third Expanding interest in the
historic spots, particularly supporting
the Cramton bill in Congress to pro-
vide for the Colonial National Monu-
ment in the State of Virginia, TO in
clude the historic triangle of Williams
burg, jamestown and Yorktown.
These are Richmond's immediate
problems"
tCopyright, 1880. by North American News
paper Alliance.)
Baltimore Rank CIearinps.