The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-22
2irhmond lispattlr.
JANUARY %, 1872
SG THE CIRCULATION OF THE DIS
PATCH rs LARGER THAN THE COMBINED
CIRCULATION OF ALL THE OTHER DAILY
OF THE CITY.
A r.etter from the OH Region.

IlrCSrLLE, PA, January 10, 1872.
Editors Dispatch: Perhaps a few lines
from this section from the pen of former
resident of Virginia will not be uninterestina
to your readers.
This city is considered the metropolis OF
the oil region, and well does it deserve its
name, rs from small hamlet somo twelve
wears ago you will find Il city now of some
1900 inhabitants, which, for business saga
city, energy, and perseverance, will compare
lavorlhly with any in the Union.
There is AL immense business done here.
This city boasts of some as fine stores rs you
find anvwhcrc for It's size. four banks and a
few more opening soon, opera-house, machine
shopS, two daily and one Sunday newspaper,
five schoo-EouScs, about ten churches, and is
considered. for the number of its inhabitants,
one Of the richest in the Union. There are
several citizcnsliving here whose income, 1t
is said, exceeds 500 per day.
The oil wells are still producing what
seems to be their incXlla,lstible supply; and
while few old ones give out, new ones are
sometimes struck Ivy the side Of them and
enrich their owners. The daily average pro-
duction for the month Of December was
1851 barrels. There is still great speclla-
ton in oil land going on; and whist tew
succeed in making fortunes, the majority lose
all they have.
/ have never seen a city improve as rapidly
as Titusyille. Yankee energy and thrift are
everywhere apparent Handsome residences
that would be credtable to "Big Richmond
are springing up as if by magic. 1t is now
almost impossible to rent comfortable
house in the place; the demand SO much en-
oeeds the supply that great number ol
mechanics are forced to rent houses for their
families in the neighboring towns The price
Of labor ranges from $3.50 to SO per day.
We had last week quite destructive
fire in the heart Of the city, destroying
some eighteen stores and about S125,00t
worth Of property. Your correspondent,
came very near being burnt out, and the
building was only saved by the energy o.
the citizens and fire department. The latter
have two steamers and one hand-engine, an(
do good service. Whilst some individual:
are heavy losers, the city will be the gamer
as in place of the wooden buildings burnt
fine brick stores will be erected.
There is great speculation in real estate
here, and fortunes are rapidly accumulated
The consequence is that rents are enormously
high; stores that rent in Richmond for $500
rent here for from 81 800 to s., 2,000-the Latter
sum is about all the property sold for some
five years back. The owner Of one Of thu
buildings burnt, IS by 80 feet, who paid 8
few years ago $500 for it and received {
yearly rent Of $1,000, was offered go, ,00(
since the conflagration.
The climate is not as cold as T expected tc
find it. We had good deal Of snow, bu
not deep enough for good sleigh-riding. Tht
weather is not rs cIrangeable as with you II
Virginia, and there is All abundance of ict
stored away for the summer. j. L. W.