Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-16
Then and Now.
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch ;

TO the Editor Of the Dispatch
For many years it was the habit OF
strangers visiting this city to comment
on the rural aspect of 1t. The long I'M
broken lines Of shade trees on each side
of its broad and, at that time, ungraded
streets, creating that impression to such
an extent that one was momentarlly eX-
pectant of the so-called ozark Of the
squirrel and the sweet notes of the VIZ
ginia mocking-bird that had been de-
coyed hither by the shade OF these
trees-in fact, foated out from the
throats of that saucy and exultant bird
as it fitted from tree TO tree. In the
deep gullies that trayersed the city
in every direction, the timid hare land
what is more timid than this wild-eyed
little animal?) found therein safe re-
treat. and made them their homes, and
even to this day the progeny OF these
little adventurers can be kicked up IN
the grassy plots of ShOckoe Hill and
HOLLYWOOD cemeteries during the sum
mer, and can be tracked in the snow to
their hiding-plsces during the winter.
All this and much more that smacked Of
the auiet country "sleepy hollows and
ancient hamlets was true OF this stirring
city less than five years ago. Then the
hum of machinery was confined to only
the lower section of Main and
Cary streets. The widest visionary
then never dreamed that in the year
1890 these gullies and depressions IN
old Mother Earth would not only be
filed but covered with stately resi-
dences and crossed Ivy well graded and
paved streets, and that the City
Council, the fathers of the city, should
find themselves in grave consultation
and considering propositions to prevent
the steam whistling OF the many manu-
factories that are now established IN
every section of the city instead OF being
confined to the central districts. Ten
years ago there were only two reputed
millionaires IN the city, and citizens
worth over one hundred thousand dol
lars could be counted on ones fingers.
To-day one hundred thousand dollar
men can be counted by scores, and OF
milllonaires there are perhaps a
dozen. Upon the site Of the old
blacksmith-shop immense foundries
and machine-works have sprung up.
Where the carpenter had his
workbench and showed the jack
plane immense sash, blind, and wood
work establishments make the ground
tremble with the pulsations of quick
ened life, warehouses, and wholesale
stores have usurped the sites OF what
we're mere shops. Sewers occupy tho
gullies, which have been filled and
levelled; quagmires have become lawns,
and scrub-towu roads are avenues; and
instead of conventional wooden houses
bricks and mortar aud stone worked up
into the finest architectural designs have
become the fashion. Then the idea pre-
vailed that fools built houses aud wise
men occupied them. Cheapness pre-
vailed, and the "wise man waited for
his neighbor to die to buy his house.
Then a house built costing 5000 or
more as an investment was thought to
be the height of folly. Now 1t pays to
build blocks of Queen Anne houses
, costing from $40, 200 to $40, 900, and the
wealthy citizens erect for their own oc-
cupation residences costing from 500, 900
to sl00.0 900. Thus it is that the mighty
oak is growing from the small acorn.
STAMPING BRANCH.