The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-14
REPORT on MANUFACTURES.
Richmond, October II, 1855


President and Directors Of the Chamber Of
Commerce:
Gcntlcmcn,-In accordance with your i'll
>tructions it becomes ou: duty to report
the condition of the manufacturing interests
OF this city and vicinity: and, after careful
Investigation OF their present operations
and future prospects, we are enabled 10
give most cheering promise.
During the year just ended several large
mills and factories have been erected, and
more are under way, while many Of our
leading firms hay" added largely to their
machinery and tool>.
The superior quality OF Riclmond-madc
wares is gradually attracting the attention
of buyers in all sections OF the country,
particularly i'll the southern States; and Us
The various railroad lines are opened, and
the routes extended, we may confidently
look for Il full share Oi the orders that nave
heretofore been almost exclusively given TO
northern and eastern workmcn
i llrge and intelligent body Of skilled
mechanics nave removed, with their
families. to the city in the last year, and
finding The advantages that are offered by
the delightful climate, pure water, ana
abundance and excellence Of all deScttFH-
tons Of food, together with the kindly well
come extended by all classes Of people, are
now assisting their friends TO get employ
ment here. Compared with the lnanuiac"
turing towns Of the North and East, oul"
possesses many advantages which are readily
noticed by the intelligent W0rkingman and
since the establishment OF the tree-school
system the only objection that could here
tofore be urged against the city has been
removed.
The cost Of power for driving machinery
is cheaper here than at any point on tide
water in the United States, either by steam
or water. The coal for steam IS found IN
great abundance only twelve miles from the
city. and on both sides Of the James river.
The water-power furnished b. the James
river has been estimated by able engineers
to be the greatest in the world, and can be
utilized at very small cost. While the tides
rise in the river up 10 the very doors OF our
mills without interfering 1t all with the ma
chincry, aud III the same TIME floats steamers
Of 800 tons burden, and sail: vessels draw
ing fourteen feet OF water. The railroads
diTerging from thi, city afford prompt trans
portati0n TO all the interior country, andthc
frei-,lt charges are about Is low as those OF
the great lines III the North, except where
naruilel lines cause much competition. The
James River canal now affords 200 miles OF
cheap transpOrtatlon: and We nave reason
able hope that energetic efforts Will DC made
by citizens Of the great western states to
obtain from the next Congress approprla-
tons to build this Important work to the
Ohio river. thereby opening up to the man
ufactuTers OF Richmond an immense cOun'
try which is now entirely supplied BY the
north and east.
The most important Of Richmond lacto'
ries arc those devoted to the preparation o.
tobacco in its various forms, and they give
employment to the largest number OF hands
but the labor being unskil!ed, does moi
rolling mills and machine and cottos
factories. Many Of these factories arr
small, and employ limited number o
hands: so we have not deemed it necessary
t. make detailed report Of them, but give
their capacity in the aggregate.
The tobacco factories use 81 hydraulic
presses, 10 hand-pce7ses, aud give employ
mcnt to 1852 hands. The quantity OF to
bacco shipped in bond for the year endln:
| September 3Uth was S,S00,55S pounds plu: