Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-01

tfaAFtUf ~ ~ tUtItAVft0 Dlfdttfit w " tJtt
TO say TO employer. employe. and all ctbers
Interested that this years figures exhibit a
heal,y condition Of business, and that, too,
IN the lace of cutting competition. While 10
some branches. owing 10 low prices prevail.
ing, sale. have fallen or In value, Others have
increased, and'the net result is more than
could have been hoped for, and Il gratifying
indeed, as the following comparisons will
show:
Number Of establish
Nnmber Of hands io,9s0 1877
Capital in busino.s go. i2.26o5ig ss5
annual sales. ............f fH,hSi,SiJ t25,vol,4Al
Showing gains ns follows
IN number Of eetsblishments.......". 20
Ia capita invested. 8Si, ,Ss9
IA sales ot products. O5i,lUl
A number oi new manufactures will be
opened during the coming year, many Of the
old ones are preparing TO enlarge, and the
promise IS OF great activity IN nearly all de-.
pa7tment..
The more mechanics and lgborers there are
employed here the more property will ad-
vance in value, the more the stores will be
palrOniZed, the more the genera good viii be
forwarded, and the higher rank Richmond
will take in the list OF great cities OF the couu-
try.
TIE JoBBERs.
Not many wears ago the jobbing business
OF Richmond was lnconsiderable. We bad
customers and good ones. but they were not
numerous. Other markets were cutting into
our TERRITORY. Trade was floating awav from
us. We heard OF New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, and Cincinnati drummers, but
rarely Of Richmond 1rummers. Dur mer-
chants Atter awhile saw that this sort OF
thing would never DO. They theTeupon be-
gan enlistIng little army OF commercial
travellers and finding that these useful and
Industrious citizens were successful In in
creasng trade, added TO the number. Year
after year their ranks have been swelled, and
now II there could be general muster-day
and all cOuld be present our city could pa
rade regiment OF men whose sole Occupa-
ton in life IL TO "talk" Richmond, Rich.
mOnd houses, and Richmond goods, and
OF The last showssamples. Some OF them
ore occasionally seen away OF on the Pacific
coast; others have become familiar figures in
New-Englhnd tS0ns; the Mississippi
country is well-known ground to others
OF them, while IN greater numbers and more
frequent visits they make themselves at home
in Interior Virginia, IN North aud South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama. and all our
southern sister States, and IN West Virginia.
Kentucky, and Ohio. They sell leaf and
manufactured tobacco, machinery. proVi-
slons, dry goods, drugs, hardware cedar
ware, bags and bagging, ground glue, paper
aud wooden boxes, nails and spikes, horse
shoes, stoves, paper, liquor, harness, thu
ware, clothing, underwear, blank-bOoks and
stationery. cotton goods, CONNECTIONS, iurni.
ture, and almost even Iything else that modern
civilization requires
To show what these drummers do look
at our jObbers' annual sales. and remember
that in great degree this mass OF trade Is
brought here and kept here by the activity
and persuasive powers OF the travelling sales
men.
The figures for 1887 and 1888, here given
in comparison, tell the story:
Amount Of sales in tho job
bling trade 95,29O.OOO t27,4oNOOO
Increase, f2,1l5,000.
In 1885 the sales amounted to $4,000, GOO;
in 1856, S22,0O0,0O0, in 1887, S25, 100000.
OUR GOVERNMENT.
There were in the year past two notable
elections wherein Richmond people took
part. In the first the Democrats recovered
possession oi the city government In all Of its
branches; in the second the Republicans
elected their President and a majority OF the
members OF the House OF Representatives.
The one brought US Joy; the other sor-
row.
OuT municipal affairs are in good hands.
The lnslces are carefully administered; the
police (lately increased from 81 to 100 officers
and mem are a credit to our community; the
Fire Department now managed by Board
a. the police nre) are effective and prompt in
their work; the Department Of Public Build
ings aud streets is conducted with great ac.
ceptability; our gas and wster.WOrks and
institutions Of charity are operated excel
lently, and in all the city service honest, in
teigent, aud deserving men hold place.
now DISTINGUISHED.
Richmond continues to hold her place OF
emiuence as a church-g0ing and church.be-
longing city, as q community where the per
centage OF crime is phenOmenally low, and
as one OF the healtiest localities In the United
States.
The rise OF the tide at our wharyes is Q!
ieot.
Rainfall here averages 50 inches per an.
nun.
Price Of city gas to consumers is s!.5O per
cubic feet
The most elevated point in the city is 200
feet above tide.
state taxation 40 cents on the 500 value;
city taxation, Sl.4 on the 500.
The public-sGhOOl system has reached
high STATE OF development. and the number
Df scholars enrolled is 1885,.
From Richmond 10 the sea as The river
lows, l27 miles; from the national capital
by rail, ll6 miles.
TIE NEW YEAR.
The Local Events and Neurology of the
Year, herewith published. show that the feet
DOT OF time has been putting bis prints CDou
he city and people IN divers vsys. TO
Ome have come wealth; 10 others political
md social preierment; to. others business
uccess; to others joys Of lie in love and
a! !rriage; in troops Of friends and unre.
lowned and unsnnounced victories OF yar-
ms sorts; while others still have known
.reat sorrows. The general community,
lowsyer, has been greatly blessed. IL has en-
Dyed excellent health. while other cities
we're ieyer.strckon. 10 has been at peace
With all the word. while others have been in
urmo'. 1t has been adding TO It's worldly
.oods and improving IN still, more desirable
espects. and psalms Of praise should to-day
,e az often beard as the honored and popular
which now the Dispatch extends
0 all OF it's readers
"a Happy New Year; may you live long
nd prosper"