Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-15
A ,Jereniad.


The following letter complains of the
editors. merchants, bankers, and what
not of Richmond. We have read it,
and accepted cur part of the blame laid
upon so many persons, and now turn it
over TO our readers in this city. We
have had both editorials and locals on
the subject, and supposed we had done
our part
TT Industrial Conyen,ioA- Richmond City
Crops Tobacco. &c.-A New Town in En-
bryo.
BRAKES BRANCH, !
CHARLOTTE COUNTY. VA,
March Ii, 1885.
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch
This fourishing young town has
caught the inspiration of the new
movement" and bids fair to take her
position at an early day as one of the
most important industrial centres in this
section of the State. New buildings
are constantly going up and new enter
prises started. We mark brakes
Branch as a live town. We have two
large warehouses. one pricing and hand
ling establishment, five stores, one
foundry, plow- and wagon-factory,
and the usual assortment of shops. &c,
Before the end of the year there will be
one or two tobacco-factories in operation.
More than million pounds Of tobacco
will be handled here this year. For
nerly nearly all of this tobacco went to
Richmond; now nine hogsheads go to
Danville, Lynchburg, and other markets
for one that goes to Richmond. Why
is this? Not because the Danville rail
road discriminates against it, but the
contrary. Freight to Richmond, eighty
miles, 10 cents per hundred-weight; TO
Danyille, sixty miles, % cents per hun
dred-weight to Lynchburg, 10 cents to
Junction, and 0 cents thence to Lynch
burg; 6 cents to Petersburg. The Nor
folk and Western railroad, by charging
half the freight for double the distance,
gives Lynchburg and Petersburg All
equal showing with Richmond. let
Richmond recollect that in these degen-
crate days it is only "the early bird
! that catches the worm.''
A good deal of interest is beginning
to be manifested in the Industrial Con-
vention. A good delegation was APP
pointed at our last court to represent
this county.
Some seem TO think that the Execu-
tive Committee made mistake in select
ing Richmond as the place for holding
the convention. Two months have
elapsed since the call was issued, and no
movement has been made by its citizens,
though each ward is entitled to two
delegates. The papers do not seem to
think II Of sufficient importance to pub
lish the address to the people Of the
State. IL was hoped that they would
sound the keynote, and then we might
expect the press all over the State to
take up the tune,
Some think il would be better now
to 60 to Petersburg. That gallant
"Cockade town." which has always
opened wide her arms and lent financial
and material aid to every movement Of
this kind, says come Let Richmond
look well to her laurels. Through all
the yicissitades Of peace and war this
section Of the State has ever been true
to Richmond. This county, once rich.
but now poor, has te thank Richmond
merchants and bankers and insurance
companies for getting away with a large
part Of its earnings since the war. Bal
timere is reaching out its hand to US
now and says: We viii furnish you
the means to recuperate your fortunes
and chssgc only q per cent. The high
rates OF interest zen have been paying
have broken the farmers FIRST. and then
the merchants and bankers. Is there not
9 deal Of truth in thiss 4sa
The outlook at, this time for fall
seeded grain is bad indeed. The oldest
farmer has never seen il so badly killed
out. Spring work is backward; to-
bacco selling fairly well /; labor plenti-
tifuI and very unreliable. The political
pot begins 10 simmer, oflice-seckers very
actise, aud prospect for . ffuit-crop |
very good. JUvESIs.
-
Tar MEcKLENBuRo coMMlr-
xEE.-THomAs WILLiAas. ESQ.,, !