Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-01


extended TO q junction with the Norfolk
and Western at Farmville.
Richmond is tho central point of an cr-
tensive railway and steamboat system. IL
has great facilities for reaching markets
whetc our natural customers are, and tho
railroad companies and the business CON-
nuuity have fow disagreemcnts. This Is
one OF the advantages We offer 10 prospsc-
tors; II Is thing of inestimable value.
With II We can rise 20 commercial great
ness. Without it We would perish like
tree at whose roots the axe has been laid.
MAsUFAcrUEYs.
No belle blooming in youth and beauty
anc heir to graces of mind and charms of
fortune is more sought after by the beaux
OF the season thanis theprospecting manu-
! facturer by competing cities.
The spectacle was recently presented of
hundreds Of agents, representing as many
cities and towns. besetting the burned
ont Lynn manufactures in the midst of
their smoking factories. Offering them free
sites, free gas, free water, free taxes, and
in some instances free buildings. But 1t
wasall to no avail. The shoe-men remained
at Lynn. 1t is an evidence, however, Of
the rivalry Of the times.
Richmond. which did nothing of this
Kind for years. is now. through her Cham
Der of Commerce. doing much TO adver-
tise our advantages and to induce new
corners 10 settle here. We can and will
offer as many substantial inducements as
any other city-not the least of which ore
to be mentioned mild and healthful cli-
mate, water-powcr already large, but capa-
bic of infinitely greater development; ac-
cess to markets the best OF church and
school advantages, and a reliable popula-
tion Of skilled mechanics and laborers.
Fame already won, fortunes already
made, prove that these are not idle boasts.
In tobacco and iron we have long had
leading places, but smaller industries are
sprineing up, many in which women are
able to earn good wages.
Big aud little we have in operation 72i
manufacturing establishments, which show
for the year 1889. compared with 1858, an
increase in number of hands of 7lG; in
capital, S6s4,s69; in sales of products,
s., 2,137, ,5l9-as follows
1898 1889,
Number hands employed... lg,.S 2O,,53
Capital in business. ..fi27ts,sS Sl3A9s'15
Annual sales. ssS ,AN e3,0oo,YtJ
"a very gratifying exhibit indeed for 1899,
and hopeful augury for 1890, as in many
cases enlarged plants which were but
barely put into operation last year will III
1890 be under full headway.
The truth is Richmond IS forging ahead
as a manufacturing centre. Our nearness
to the iron-ore beds and TO the great Vir-
ginia and West Virginia furnaces: our cx-
tensive railroad system; our waterway
from Richmond TO the sea (only 127 niles;
our geographical location, together with
attractions as a home whichno other city
can surpass, are bound to bring rs to the
front.
THE JoBBING TRADE.
The Richmond drummer worked hard
last year. He had many competitors. lie
met OH the road rivals from Boston and
Chicago. New York and St. Louis, CIncin-
natl and Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Louisville. and Atlanta, and he had much
talking to do, but he did it well and
handled his samples successfully. He sold
more goods than ever before. He extended
our trade in new sections. He kept our
old customers in the Virginias, in the
Carolinas, in the farther South and West.
lie brought large sums of money into
Richmond that would otherwise never
have reached this city. rs the readcr will
clearly understand when be is told that our
jobbing trade sales last J'ar amounted to
$29, 100000.
Think OF thatl
1t shows what the drummer-boys are do
ing.
The aggregate of jobbers sales for the
past two years is as follows:
looVV
Increase for Si,13j,OOo
The year now just entered upon will 10
doubt see many new iobbing-houses OPEN
ed here. The more the merrier. The
larger the market We have the better for
the seller; the better for the buyer; the
better for the drummer-the man who,
whether representing manufactures or job
hers. is doing as much if not more than
any one else to make Richmond wealthy,
prosperous, and progressive.
In this city of monuments the time IS
coming when the drummer will have his
statue on some orowning emlnence. 1t
will be an erect and manly figure and q
speaking likeness" and he will holdin
hand instead Of the battle-breatblng
drum, satchel of SAMPLES.
THE EIyEa
Very good progress Is beng made IN the
Improvement Of the James river under the
plan which contempletes opening a chan
mel of twenty-five feet at low tide from the
city TO the sea.
With depth of water that Will enable
larger vessels TO come TO our wharyes, we
will have cheaper freight-rates.
Besides beng one Of TIE most picturesque
streams Of the cou2try, the James teens
with historic assoeatioIs from the time
Of the landing ati Jame'town until the
day of the evacuation Of Richmond. when
the Confederates blew UP Their IRON
clad feet in tha;5iver lis practical COM
n,ercial yalueistlhi: That aslonga we have
tberiver we hav4 competition for the rail-
road lines.
In other words, the water route forces
low prices on tbe rail lines.
So it is that not only Richmond, not only
Virginia, hut Pill the country soutn ana
west of us Wig sse nearest sea outlet Is the
James. are interested with us in securing
reasonable appropriations from Congress.
y STw HOUSES.
The numb OF new houses erectc" III
Richmond &nd Manchester last year
was aboutHjx hundred. Many of them
were of elet5ant desien-for instance. the
two blockg on Floyd ayenue-while on
Broad street many splendid business
houses wjre built. and that broad and level
thorough fare, 50 much favored by the re-
tail trsdf. is rapidly lengthening out west
wardlykowards the Ezposition-Grounds.
Amors the imposing buildings now IN
coursq9,f erection arc the City Hall-an
edifos{rand in design and admirable in
constyc|, ton; the splendid Masonic lem
NE. Re due West-Main-Street Baptist
Al ,,ob nalatial residences as