Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-18
xnrdn h ir slithcnls 70 IMAGINE more .


Among tho industries of Manchester al
ready established may be mentioned;
Two eotton-mills--the Marshall and the
Old Dominion.
A paper-ynill.
The celebrated Dunlop FIGURING Min,
whose -four brought the highest price IN
the Brazilian markets this season.
The Dsnyilie railroad-shops.
The Petersburg railroad-shops.
The Old Dominion Nail and iron-
Works.
The Standard Spike Company's Mill.
Two large tannerics.. 80,
Two sumac- and bark-mlls.
Oii-workA
Five bfiok.yards.s
A tile.works.
A large mattrese:faotory.
Two planing.millg
Fertilizing. works.
A fnrniture-faotory.
Several elwright-shops.
Granite-yards.
Johnson's iron-works. an old plant re-
moved and enlarged.
An icc-machine manufacturing company.
A cigar-factory.
These industries In the busy season will
employ some 4,toO hands, the majority
Of whom live ia Manchester and suburbs.
In addition 10 this there are number Of
granite-Quarries in the neighborhood of
the city, many of the workers in which
sre Manchester residents. The mapuiac-
tured products OF somo of the city's in
dustries are shipped as far south as New
Orleans.
IN IMMEDIATE PROSPECT.
This week 10 was decided 10 erect an ice
factory IN the city. A satisfactory. employ
ing 400 hands and another iron-manufac-
turing plant, employing 300 hands, are be-
ing negotiated for, and inquiries are daily
being received seeking Of Manchester men
information as TO the inducements offered
for locating new enterprises there. The
Richmond and Danville Railroad Company,
whose chops occupy several acres; are
greatly enlarging their facilities, and the
Petersburg railroad shops ore expected "
remove at an early date 20 new Manches-
ter location in order 70 acquire room TO do
the same.
THE wkTEB-PowER.
Much of the splendid water-power OF
Manchester is already utilized, but there
is still a large surplus. and there is nc
place in the country better adapted FOL
storage water-power. A plan TO take ad:
vantage of this has already been mapped
out, and its naturalization IL not only
possibility, but q probability OF q few
years.
RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.
Two of the great railroad systems of the
South pass directly through Manchester
the Atlantic Coast Line and the Richmond
and Danvllle system-giying the city con.
nections with all sections of the country
and enabling her to ship manufac-
tured products direct from the doors
of her plants and receive raw ma.
terial without rebandling. A spur OF
the Danvillo road gives Manches-
80, q l,oI fap AZ lnp
etts, while lust below the city the tOpOPra-
phical conditions and the trend OF the river
are such as would seem 10 point unerring.
ly TO the building of a series Of docks and
wharves. Manchester will partake equally
with Richmond of the benefits OF the lin.
provement of James river now in progress
The location referred TO as so well adapted
for wharves and docks is also a natural
centring point for railroad lines.
FREE MANUFACTURING SITES.
What is known as the Belt Line, connect
ing the RichmOad, Fredericksburg and
Potomac and the Richmond and Peters
burg divisions of the Atlantic-COast Line
passes around Manchester from station
Just above Boulton, on the north side 70
CloptOn's on the south side OF tho james
This road crosses the river just above The
city on a handsome iron bridge and skirts
the natural extension of Manchester on
the west. The city owns some magnificent
manufacturing sites along the line which
they are Offering free TO capital desiring to
establish new or remove Old industries.
THE RETAIL TRADE.
The development of the retail trade oI
Manchester within recent years has been
almost phenomenal. The sales during last
wear are estimated at over $4,000, 900. and
the merchants are universally prosperous.
When Manchester's accessibility TO Rich
mond, with which the city is connected by
several bridges, is noted the figures given
constitute q remarkable showing. How
ever, this is only an earnest OF what may
be expected in the future unless all signs
pointing to the increase of the industrial
population of the city and suburbs fail.
POPULATION.
The population of Manchester has more
than doubled during the last ten years, II
being now put at between ten and eleven
thousand. The population of the immedi.
ate subuxbs is estimated at three thou
sand-or a total, say, close TO fifteen
thousand. When il is remembered what
proportion of these are wage-workers and
the families Of wage-workers 1t is easy to
see that an enormous amount of money Is
put in circulation in the place every Satur-
day night.
BANKING.
There Is one bank in Manchester, the
Mechanics and Merchants, which is in an
exceedingly prosperous condition, and
which recently increased its capital stock /;
also, two loan and building companies, and
agencies for several others. One Rich
mond company has loaned in Manchester
for building S55, 200, which Is pretty good
evidence of the faith the Big Sister has in
the city's prosperity and progress. There
are also in the city real estate agencies.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The CITY government of Manchester is in
conservative hands. There is good fire
and police department, and the cOmmu-
nity Is very orderly. The city debt is
bonded, only S272. 200, floating $1,000 The
city tax proper is Sl.40 on the 800, school,
tax 20 cents on the 800, making total OF
$3.50. The property assessment, however,
isyery low. The Council are determined to
halt at no step in the way. Of municipal
Improvement that can safely be taken
without being onerous TO the taxpayers
and in this they are heartily supported by
the people.
CLIMATE.
Manchester suffers neither extremes OF
heat or cold. and its health record is splen-
did exhibit. The air and water are pure. IL
is the market for fine trucking region and
il has a charming social life within itself.
natural barriers from the manufacturing
districts, but easily accessible to them, and
the more elevated portions of tho town
afford beautiful sweeps of river and other
scenery. Two street-car lines connect
Richmond and Manchester, bringing the
different portions of the city close together
and establishing communication with the
suburbs and outlying parks, and another
connection will soon be completed.
PosT-oFFIoE, &o.
The post-offce receipts OF Manchester
entltle the Office TO rank as hrst-class, and
the efforts TO secure for the city q public
building which were defeated in the last
Congress will be pressed before the next.
In the essential Of halls for meetings OF
orders and for social gatherings and amuse-
ments the city is well supplied, one of the
largest of these being in the handsome
building in which the Manchester Leader,
thriving and enterprising evening paper,
Is published.
Manchester can stilfpoint to some quaint,
old residences, about which cling the sug.
eestion of the earlier days of the republic
II not the colonial period, but as a rule the
general impression the city makes Is OF