The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-11
PETERSBURG, February 10, 1868.

PETERSBURG, February 10, 1868.
II isinteresting to note how the centres
of trade are gradually shifting in all our
large cities. In the early history Of Pc
tcrsburg nearly all the heavy business vas
done in Blanford, by the old Scotch mer-
chants, who had also their residences in
that now dilapidated village. At a sub
sequent period it was transferred to Old
street and B~oilingbrooke street, on both Of
which, particularly the former, large for
tunes have beer auassed. At the present
time these streets, as business localities,
are almost deserted. a few leading mer-
chants still remain near the lower end Of
Ola street; and though. there are hume
rous retail stores higher up, they derive
their chief patronage from the cotton facto-
ries in the neighborhood. Bollingbrook has
many desirable residences, which will con-
tinue to be sought after by merchants in
active business in other parts of the city.
By far the largest amount of trade has
of late years centred on Sycamore street.
The part between Tabb and Washington Is
almost wholly occupied by commission
merchants, with a few dry goods establish
ments, china stores, and drug stores. ILLS
only since the war that the dry goods
houses have been moved so high up the
street. Their former location was between
Tabb and Bank, and from Bank to Oid
street, mostly on the west side. On the
east side we're groceries, shoe stores, and
druggists. Bank street, on which all the
banks of the city, except one, were Tor
merly situated, has but one OF these
institutions now; but still, as here
tofore, nearly all the members Of
the legal profession have their Offices
on it, which has been the case from time
immemorial. This would 60 to show that
of all our population the lawyers are the
most conservative. AT an early period the
w establishments were on this
STREET.-THE Jnteui1encer, Southside Demo-
crat, and Express. The Express has sur
vived all it's contemporaries, and is still
issued daily from its old quarters, destined,
we hope, to q long and vigorous life. The
Inder is on Sycamore, and though it has
been established since the war, it enjoys a
fine patronage, and gives promise of a sue
cessful career. Both of these papers are
conducted with industry and ability, each
with full corps Of editors and reporters.
Fifteen years ago the now centre of
trade Of the city was not more than half
DullL. luCEc NcIC " uuulUCl VI foSdlI
lots. St. Paul's church was destroyed by
fire, and the ground On which it stood was
sold to private parties. The improvement
of this part Of the city is to be dated from
that time. Subsequently Powell's hotel
was sold, and the Iron Building" erected
on it's site. There is yet some vacant
ground to be improved, which will be done
in the course of time; but it is hardly
probable that business will ever extend
beyond Washington street.
In the olden time the court end of Pc
tersburg was High street. 1t has, however,
long since lost its prestige. The upper
part of Market street, Sycamore, and all
of Franklin, with several other localities,
arc now embellishcd with elegant private
residences, erected at a comparatively
modern date. These are all surrounded
by ample grounds-some of them highly
ornamental. ..