New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
THE OLD DOMINION CAPITAL.
STEADY GROWTH OF ITS MANUFACTURES
NORTHERN CAPITAL AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
rAgr MAKING IT AN INDUSTRIAL CENTRE.

,,oprurRN CAPITAL AND BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
p.gr MAKING IT AN INDUSTRIAL CENTRE.
Richmond, Va, Dec 21.-A lapse OF twenty-throc
49, since I visited this " bed Of the Southern
Crfedcracy proves to that the capital and bust
os enterprise of the North have done more for tho
south than those who are unwilling to admit that So
cession was a failure and that Jefferson Davis Is no
President OF the southern Confederacy are goou
enough TO allow. My last visit here was soon ai'er
the surrender of Lees Army to Grant, and the one
nrcvous to that was from August 10 to September D.
seo a. an involuntary recipient OF the limited hos
,u,lities Of the prison camp for Union soldiers on
Belle Isle. r,..d
nrcsented a desoatc appearance It's business por'oi
was in ashes and there had been little II any insurance
rron the property Destroyed. The ruin was so thor
ough that IT'S streets impossible Tor Vehces Ano
city had through the results OF war; met "lth ms
fortunes that seemed nsurmountable; utter rum
sra,ctalv was the rule Indeed II It had not oceh ioI
the entcrprisng business men of the North VINO cAo
here 10 rebuild and invest, and to loan money W
Others It is doubtful II It would ever been "ha' IL
is to-day-a commercial and Manufacturing ceh'ro'
ro-aav Richmond shows business quarter handsome
and substantially rebuilt avenues OF palauH resIuono'
| than which there is handsomer In the Nor'n -
and along the banks of tho James RIVER from
which the happy and musical voices OF the negroes
enployed I'm the tobacco works, the sound OF the nam
mers and the Of the furnaces OF metihg irou III
the Trcdegar and other works, give lie ana ousuo
equal TO any manufacturing community In any other
part of the country.
Before the Cvil War Virginia was an agricultural
country. At the close Of the war tho OLD FARMING
lands wore known only as the Of great battles
and the abolition Of slavery told hard upon tho ohoo
r,osn.rous nlanters The recent state Exposition
held in this city however, showed what great stndo
toward recuperaton the people OF the stare, aioeu
by ex-Union soldiers who settled In virginia. nave
made 1t was grand exhibit of virgina's products
and industries Among the most interesting was inc
great tobacco exhibt-tobacco in the leaf, In Tie
Niger hcadp in cigars in cigarettes, in all forms
and shapes-proving that the State had recovered
thoroughly In the growth and manufacture OF thiS
product Then there were vegetables gralh Hui's'
wines ard branGes made from the fruits, machinery,
manufactures OF all kinds in wood ana IN iroh' coai
and other minerals cotton in the raw state ana man
ufactured, works of art, etc. In fact IL WAS as
varied and interesting exhibition as ever occurred
| at the annual exhibits Of the American Institute IN
New-York, and that Is saying good deal
Looking down Broad-st In this city, blrdseye
view takes in Fords and other large hotels and hand
some stores where all sorts of articles and goods may
be purchased. The electric streetraiway SHOWS nia'
Richmond is in advance of NeWYork in this particular
The new CITY Hall being erected on Broadst and
opposite Capitol Square, at cost Of about S7Oopoo'
IS on the site of the old ouiiuihg
The material Of its construction is the beautiful
James River granite The 100000 Appropriated Ds
the Government for the enlargement OF the custom
House and Post Office will give another handsome
structure to the city. Among the many historical
buildings in the city, not the least Interesting Is Liboy
Prison, for many years before the war the snip
cbandlery Of Luther Libby, but which has been used
Since the a guano factory. IL IS down near
the banks Of the river with high board fence quilt
around Il. II was recently sold to DR.. D. d. Brambe'
of Cincinnati. who. 1t is said intends 10 maAo
museum of IT, 1t looks much as 1t did when Colonel
Streight and sixty other Union soldiers connned
there burlowcd under the street 10 vacant lot op
po,itc ana escaped under Of the darkness OF a
stormy night The iron bars an inch IN diameter at
al of the windows remain they did when the IN
terror was crowded with Union prisoners ~
The population OF Richmond which In 1850 was
81 0IO 70,045 In 1883, when the last census
was TAKEN Is estimated to be about $4,000 Inc
value OF rs property is S4 00o0 0O and personal
property S15,0OO,O0O. The Aggregate capital Oi the
Richmond banks Is nearly S4,OO0,OOO. The city has
an immense and constantly ncrc asuG wholesale tTae
and manufacturing interest reaching nearly Soo,ooo'
Of In 1eoI.