Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-18
CLIMATE AND HEALTH.
Water Supply and Electric
Railway.
S SUBURBAN PROPERTY
A Field for Inyestment-The Outlook
for the Future--Iiearty Co-Opcra-
tIon of All ClasseA

Situated on the south side OF James
river opposite Richmond and In a right
angle triangle, the base Of which Is an
irregular line Of river-ffont, Is Manchester,
one Of the most progressive and promising
cities In Virginia. geographically this
triangle is characterized by an easy ascent
all along its area from tho base tothe apex,
that ascent being especially noticeable near
the western corporate boundary.
The history OF Manchester is interesting.
its very genesis being marked by pro-
pheey Of industrial development which IL
has been fulfilling for years, and Is destined
20 fulfil more completely in the near
future. It's foundation may be said to have
rested on forgo which was drawn in the
Byrd lottery in 1868 by one Harry Moss.
largely of the sturdy Scotch-Irish element.
and though many Of tho names associated
with the primitive days Of tho place, arc no
longer found in her directory the impress
of the energy enterprise, and thrift OF
that element remains to the present time.
ORGANIZED AS TOWN.
Manchester, the evolution Of Rocky
Ridge. was organized as o town in 1869, and
in common with all cities and towns ia
Virginia has had its ups and its downs.
Prior TO the war 1t was tho seat OF many
tobacco industries. After tho war its peo-
pie were, OF course, impoverished, and
though it escaped such q disaster a. the
couhagration that burned the greater por-
| tlon OF tho business-quartef OF Richmond.
| the latter by reason Of its becoming
| early after the cessation OF hostilities th8
money centre Of the State absorbed much
of its trade. These conditions, however,
were only temporary Manchester aud
| Richmond continue TO be mutually de-
| pendent upon aud OF mutual benekt to
| each other, but Manchester has within
| herself the factors OF recuperation. and an
| independent progress in certain directions,
| and these were not slow In asserting them
selves. She had the situation, the water
| power. the railroad connections. tho ell
mate, the tributary territory, and tho VIII
| TO make her a city, and they were oil con-
verged 70 that contamination with sub
stantial and gratifying results.
The retiourishing OF Manchester may be
| likened TO the effects Of grating q now
branch upon an old and vigorous stem.
| The redeyelopment Of the city antedatss
the phenomenal progress in Virginia ia
| the last two years. /; began about a half.
| decade ago. and each year has been ON
| Improvement on the one preceding it,
each year has verified the promises Of its
predecessor. The half.decade has been an
| era OF municipal Improvement, of building
Of residential and business-houses. or
business expansion, and OF territorial ex-
| tension.
MAscHEsTTR OF TO-DAY.
| The Manchester Of to-day Is q place in
| stinet with the evidences OF nineaeenth-
| century city progress, wherever one turns.
The streets are well laid OF. paved and
II daA As..s l..
last year. Throughout the city are cleo
tric-hghts and telephone service. the latter
connecting with Petersburg and Rich
mond, and perfect system OF sewerage
has been planned and will be COM
pleted as once. The water for drink
| ing aud domestic purposes Is drawn
tron the river at point beyond the possi-
blity of contamination. and pumped into q
tower, whence it 10 distribute over the
city in abundant supply.
BUILDING.
Building in Mancn hester during the year
1890 was remarkably active, the value Of
tnese improvements reaching &i47, 40.
| When the year closed 1866 new houses had
been completed and 20 were unfinished.
and as an indication OF what the present
year promises IL Ia mentioned that 1t one
| meeting OF the City Council yecertlv
applications for permits TO build rev
| houses 70 the number Of thlrty-ttree were
received. The buildings erected DURING
1880 and those now under way embrscS
residences, stores. and industrial piants
Many OF the stores are Of the emost subssan-
tial character, while p;eturesque srchitec.
ture and oil the modern convcniences are
features Of the new residences.
caUacaEs AND scHooLs.
The people of Manchester, like thoss "a
Richmond. are essentially Z church -~ossc
community. There are in Ehs civ ~i :
white spd three eolored ehuzckes. asd ~
expenditure on bcnsvolent obisc{s r. sr~~,s'
ton ally hbera. The pubic sehcoIs - ~,
IN number, one white and one coloesi
These buildings are handsome aad co1rsc-
dious structures, erected At cost ~ ~ !
600 each, aud another still hand dxonw xsS
lic schoei-baildinx Is shortly 10 81 pnf rn
Inc private schools are aspls aud q Nh
NprsrEsxs.
The rivsx-front Of Manohselsr = 49,
an tndustyial bee-hive Vhsf vifE ~
milis. iss raalzqa<lshapA and iRnnajs>t5