The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-13
RICHMOND AND IRIS PROSPECTS FOR
THE FUTURE.

A stranger in our city, who had not visited
II since the year 1914, WINS recently calling our
attention 10 the marked Improvement which
has taken place here since his former visit
He particularly noticed the great increase Of
business on the principal streets, the scores of
new and elegant edifces which have been
erected the broad and finely graded streets,
which have been laid out and lighted with gas;
the new railroad and steamship facilities
which have been introduced, sc. &C., all with
in the space of eight years, and said that he
could hardly fancy himself in the same p lace
again.
There can be but little doubt that these inn
provements are to be continued for series Of
years. Such will be the necessary result ofihe
connection ofthe eastern with the western sec-
lions of the Old Dominion through the medi-
nm Of railroads and canals. Its agricultural in
terests are yearly improying-its mineral re-
sources are becoming more fully developed and
brought into use-ihe excellent water-power OF
its numerous streams is fast being appropria'
ted for manufacturing purposes--and, as
matter of course, its commercial interests Will
reap the benefit, and flourish ''like green bay
tree"
The advantages of Richmond for place of
residence, as a healthy location, are ably
shown by writer in the April edition of the
Southern Literary Messenger. in the eleventh
number of a series of excellent articles entitled
the History of Richmond" He alludes to its
central position between the North and South,
lying midway, also, between the mountain re-
gion and the sea t,and in the position most
favorable to health and long life. The varia-
lions in the temperature of its climate are also
shown, by meteorological observations fur
nished by Mr.. David Turner, of this city, for
the Smithsonian Institute, to be extremely
small-the annual mean in the range of the
thermometer, during the years 1850 and 81,
being 60 degrees, minutes; Of the barometer,
29,94l inches. For its size, Richmond is pro-
badly as healthy city as there is in the world.
The number of deaths average only about in
20, while in many other cities fthe same pop
ulation they are one in IS. The writer re.
marks, while treating upon this point, as fol.
lows:
philadelphia loses l in 45 every year; Glas-
gov in Al ; Geneva in 43; Boston in Al
London in 40; New York l IN 81 Charles.
ton in Sc; Baltimore / in So ; Paris in 80
Madrid l in %; Naples in % +; Rome in
%, and Liverpool in -. Nearly 600 persons
die annually in and about Richmond, and as
there are about hundred prac titioners of me-
dcine in the city, the small average of six
deaths 10 each physician shows either that the
faculty is more humane here, or more skilful
than in other places!"
With all these advantages, who wouldn't
live in Richmond As we remarked at the
outset, her future destiny will be progressive
"ExCELsIoR" is the motto of our enterprising
men ofbusiness. They are always ready to
greet their customers with capital bargains for
small profits, and our friends in the country,
especially, may satisfy themselves of the fact,
whenever they visit the city,by giving those
who advertise in the Dispatch call.
INCREASE OF POPULATION IN SOUTHERN
CITIEs.-The late census returns show that
the population of Richmond has increased
from 6,055 in $780, ~ 1882 in 1850, at the rate
of more than 1000 per annum for each oftwen.
tyyears. Below we give the population of
some the principal Southern cities in 1880,
An