The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-10
RICHMOND And THE SOUTR.
Gateway 10 a Rapldly-DeVelOpinS Section
Of the Union.
UNSURPASSED FACILITIES FOR TRAFFIC
.,.,,r.I Advantages of the Beautiful Cisy ON
the James-Statistics OF Trade MAR
ufaotures and Resources.
,r-ocsred by the Chamber of COmmerce.l


..s.B.hern trains are announc ed, indicating
A.. RI rhmond. Va. is the gateway to the
,,rat rapidly developing section OF the Union.
M -eachinc this objective point over the
,..t,,opd fredericksburg and Potomac rail
~, nod only VIII the Atlantic Coast Line
Ie Immediately before him. but by looS-
,n- uron the map he will observe that IN al
rr.- tne Richmond and DaDNile the parent
t n fhe Richmond and West Point Ter
--.ra. svsteiu and the Chesapeake and ONO.
e.. Iastern Connection Of the Cleveland, On
..f Chicago and st. Louis system. radi-
sto l-on this CITY. and that the Norfolk and
Wes-ern is reached 10y a short ride OF only
r..,fv-saven minutes 10 Petersburg, va.
h.so corporauOns control IL 1854 miles Of
-os1 They operate IN close connection with
NAM, of the lcslng trunk lines OF the coun-
,-r reaching hv the shortest routes the most
i..n.ff.nt centres and sections OF the Lake
ct,te- ON the north those watered by tine
MISSES pp on the west, the Gull and South
lt.nt.c states on the south. and all especi-
s. Fl. desirable points within that vast bound
Ky aul many beyond H. ..
In addition 90 these unsurpassed facilities
fr overland traffic this beautiful city. IN her
i..a-i0u upon the hills on the bank OF the
James river. is peculiarly fortunate, for IT Is
here chat the tides of the ocean meet the full
l.rfuauce u the many mountain streams
~
s..1ls over the last of its series of falls and
,-..t.s the rare conjunction of power for
Misunderstanding Industries on the one hand,
an. .l the other a channel OF commerce with
Le world for It's products.
Richmond has 0ut-rown the proportions of
boom town. and the progress she has
made was bv no such process but by gradual,
healthy devel 1pment and the inevitable as
.r alton from her natural resources and adj
,.rtales Indeed. her citizens may be 10
s.r extent the legitimate subjects OF cTlt-
rsm for their failure 90 advertise and push.
a- mu D. as they might have done her inter
e-ts as community Her antiquity. how
ever and the conservative character OF her
PEOPLE rendered it almost essential that
time should adjust her relations 70
the changed order of the day and launch
her fairly upon the tide OF modern
progress he the South. But taking stock now
Of Der situation, even her most unentelp1s-
ING citizens are awakened TO the opportuni-
fe. of the hour and the promise OF her
future and % hasten the development Of her
resources aud increase her facilities, wealth
and population. the Chamber of Commerce
and Lei citizens generally invite the attention
Of investors. manufacturers, skilled mecnau-
g.. and ware-W0rkers 10 the still unOocup.-d
fields tor tle profitable investment OF capital
sud auIr and 10 the ATTRACTIONS OF the CITY
as q home aud place of business.
The character OF this publication Will only
permit brief reference 90 many points. but
enor.a u.H le indicated II is hoped % ex-
cite further inquiry which must precode sub
s,WuN investments
Richmond. The capital city of Virginia was
FIRST sett ed by small body colonlsts from
jamestown lu lt03 lu 1887 10 WAS lad OF IN
streets audi0ts by Col William Byrd; incOrpOr-
ared u 1872 and becSme the seat OF govern
meu' M l7la. The people OF the state for the
most part devoted to agriculture OF 20 PROBES
j. nr.fr art
that OF Northern cities, where, though less
favored by nature. under the protective
policy " the Federal Government. the ten
delcy was 20 manufacturing pursuits. which
resulted 10 large Accommodations of wealth and
population in the cities and towns.
The system of internal improvement how
ever. prior to 1860 cOnverged 70 this centre
and but for the long stagnation during and
consequent upon the war. the growth and de
velOpment here would unQuesuOuably have
been much greater. We thus find that her
historic surroundings her monuments TO
great men and events the traditional lntell-
Ceuco and virtue Of her people are the most
valuable legacies she enjoys from past genera
tons. but oil esq are objects of the greatest III
ter-st 10 tourists and visitors and subjects Of
pride and inspiration 10 her citizens. Their
impress upon The present Is also marked in the
following facts that with an urban population
~ q0 900. there are seventy-tye churches at
tended bv 3g. 721 people seventeen public and
other schools attended by 1929 scholars
eeamosvnary institutions which. though not
generally endowed boy public benefactors
of large means are supported by the active
sn1practical sympathy of the many. the affairs
o.. the city are admirably conducted the good
order. industry and happiness of the popula-
tor rrOveruisl the society OF the place re
fined and hospltable.
But turning 90 the material aspects of the
case we find for cosmopolitan development
Richmond Is favored II an eminent degree.
a b.llte1us supply OF pure water exists for
al purposes. wide ana unduaung streets
create excellent cOndl6Ons for ventilation,
sewerage and surface drainage "a situation
midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Blue Ridge aud the Allegheny Mountains eX.
empt- 1t from the violent Billiards and storms
ot Jess sheltered situations. tempers the AIR
and renders the climate salubuOus and de-
.ghuul
The following statistics in reference to its |
manufactures. trade and facilities viii best /
Indicate the present situation IN business |
point 0f view
With the exception of New Orleans it is the |
largest city south of the 3sth degree of lati- |
t1de and east of the Mississippi river. rs |
corporate limits embrace 325119 acres. us |
public parks 3j6 acres. It's streets extend |
over l0j miles, and its street-car lines larger |
part trayeIsed by electric cars and double |
tracked extend over thirty-seven miles.
Population with Manchester and suburbs is |
10000. The number of houses erected in cor
lo-ate limits in 1890 We're $685. The capital
subscribed u building fund companies over
JI00@9 suburban property Land of for
binding, 3,li4 acres taxable values under
u aeIate assessment. sH 1l6l9j; city pro
ltr'y. including public buildings parks gas
and water works, over 10000, 900, tax rate,
city ,lfO. State 40c on the 500: banking
capital, s4.G300s2; bank clearngs SI12.-
jog manufacturing establishments. 1883:
iA-d- % factories, 2l,6l3. including over 1000
females. capital invested in wholesale
ua1e and manufactures. S24 041 500 iObbers
sales, c32 0i2 900, manufactured products.
s85-0 ga. water-power used, 1880 horse
power water-poweT uudeyelOped il 100 horse
power suitable sites for factories on water
line. = miles. on railroads 20 miles. number
Oh ompeulg rail and water routes bringing
G "a o. Richmond, making IL one Of # not the
.eanest coal market on the seabOard 6.
number of railroads diwgving from Rich
non4. over which raw material If received
taI supplies distributed, mileage OF
railroad systems entering Richmond, IT,.
l4 mileage of those projecting lines
% Richmond. AIDS. steamer lines 10 Rich-
nold and Us ports OF entry. West Point and
l'rwuort News in cOastwise trade, - in for
e-n trade, 4 depth If channel to Richmond
~ Doc increased 10 25iE feet, now 10 feet %
west Point. ~ feet: 10 Newport News 20 feet
lhese figures represent healthy develop
Hent for 1870 all along the line Of from TO Y
per cent notwithstanding the severe financial |