The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-03-12
RICHMOND.
GROWTH AND PROGRESS OF
WRGINiA'S METROPOLIS.
RAILROAD SERVICE, COM
MERCIAL NTAGES
AND CITY IMPROVE
MENTS.
Altogether an Interesting Artf-
Gle On the Prosperous
Capital of the Old
Dominion.

Richmondis one of the most favored
cities of the South in all those advan-
tages that bring growth and pros
perity. That this fact is recognized,
not only by her own people but also
by the public at large. is evidenced by
the steady growth of the city and the
many important and substantial i'm
provements that are continually being
made. Richmond is most favorably
located, geographically. Her latitude.
37H degrees north, is all that needs
be said to declare it most eligibly
situated as to climate and for work
She is located about midway be-
tween the North and South lines of the
United States, and is the farthest in
land town to be reached by water route
from the Atlantic, being about 1873
miles almost due west from the sea.
The fall in the river at this point is
I16 feet in five miles, which, by safe
investment, could be made to yield
over 10000 horse power. Richmond
is nearer Chicago than New York
40 miles nearer ST. Louis than is Bal
timore; $50 miles nearer than Phila-
delphia, and 24I miles nearer than
New York. She is 1877 miles nearer
Louisville than is Baltimore; 2IS miles
nearer than Philadelphia and 3o8
miles nearer than New York All
points south of line drawn from the
mouth of Delaware Bay to the Lake
of the Woods are nearer to Richmond
than New York. All points south
of line drawn from Annapolis to
the northeast corner of Montana are
nearer Richmond than Philadelphia.
ALI points south of line from the
boundary between Maryland and Vir-
ginia on the Atlantic and the northern
border of California on the Pacific,
are nearer to Richmond than to Balti-
more. From these comparative loca-
tons it will be seen that, SO far as
distance is concerned, Richmond is
within easier reach of a greater por-
ton of this country than either New
York, Philadelphia or Baltimore, and
her system of railroads extending in
all directions, and her outlet to the sea,
make distributive facilities of the first
order.
Not only in location but also in
resources does Richmond possess
advantages for becoming great city
and large manufacturing centre.
Already in the latter particular she
surpasses many cities of her size, and
her opportunities are greater than in
most of them. 1t may be truth
fully said that in the abundance and
variety of building stones and mineral
building materials, of fertilizing mine
rails, of the ores of the most useful
metals, and of mineral fuel, Virginia
holds front rank among the States.
1t would be impossible here to
enumerate the resources in this di-
rection but all are familiar with the
great and rapid development of the
riches of mother earth in the western
part of the State Richmond, midway
between the mountains and the sea, is
in situation to be greatly benefited
BY these productions, by being the
nearest point where deep water car
be reached and by being SO favorbly
located for their manufacture into ar.
tieles of trade for the world. Here
is the power waiting to be utilized
here are the ready railroads stretching
out to every section of the country.
Here is the natural gate to the South
here snow and ice offer no obstacles
to traffic, and here is freedom from
epidemics and disasters SO often founo
in other parts of the South.
Besides the great store OF mineral:
within her reach, Richmond has in
close proximity that which is so nearly
exhausted in the North and in foreign
countries-namely, untouched forest:
ofnearly every variety of timber. Lo
cation. climate, supplies. resources
all are here, and men who have brain:
to run successfully large manufacto
ries must certainly succeed in Rich
mond
TRANSPORTATION.
Richmond is practically the meet
ing point of four great railroad sys
tems-the Atlantic Coast Line, thu
Richmond and West Point Terminal
the Chesapeake and Ohio, and thu
Norfolk and Western, which finds al
entrance into Richmond from Peters
burg over the Richmond and Peters