Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-18
richmond and Manchester To-Day.

thing more and better to-day. We take O
look et our troublous past; compare 1t
with our prosperous present, and cast the
pcrpective for those years in which will
ripen the fruits Of this generations plant
Sng. The information which we set forth
will be new to many of our own people,
and will be al absolute revelation to the
rest of the world, who having heard but
little "brag" from this city have come TO
the conclusion that we are slowly jogging
along. content 20 "hold our own" and
without ambition to enter into the spirited
race where there are so many other COM
munities struggling.
We propose 10 dispel these Illusions and
establish some potent facts.
As an English settlement, Richmond
dates back to the year of the landing at
jamestown. The incursions of the British
upon the Virginia Peninsula drove the
seat of the State government from VIII
liamsburg here, and here 1t has since re-
manned. Our strategic position, and the
desire OF the States of the Confederacy to
compliment Virginia, caused the removal
Of their cspital from Montgomery TO Rich
mond. For four years we were besieged
city. The arts Of peace gave place to the
actualities Of war. Schools were suspended
because the male teachers and pupils were
needed as soldiers. The neighboring hus-
bandman put away his pillow and mounted
his horse and rode to the army. Fields
that were wont to yield rich barvests be-
came great camping-grounds. Where for
merly burrows were run, intrenchments
were now thrown up. The light Of the
camp-fres by night, the busy scenes
by day, drove the birds and wild an
finals from the woods, and the face OF
nature itself became upturned, where
during 1.-The long and bloody war" the
two great armies contended.
A new terror arose, worse than the battle
with bullets; it was battle for bread.
A time came, when over-crowded with a
population which sought within our gates
refuge from.the tumult of war without;
when with no productive country from
which to draw supplies; when with rail
roads worn out or cut to pieces by raiders;
with starvation within and the besiegers
without, our people reached what seemed
the depths Of despair-but yet had TO
sound lower depth Of misery.
April 8. 1866. the city was evacuated by
the Confederates. The flames kindled to
destroy the tobacco in the Government
warehouses extended in every direction.
in ITS track were destroyed all the bridges
across the james. nearly all the large ware
houses and factories, and mills, and the
business-heart of the city. In the multi
form catastrophe of Internationally all our
Banks expired Confederate currency be-
came worthless paper. There was not one
railroad in running order. The heaps Of
debris that filed Main street from Eighth
to Fourteenth. and out of which came
clouds of smoke, were not blacker than all
our future seemed.
Out of such ashes has our phoenix arisen.
Out of the old Richmond has come new
Richmond.
This is practically new city. In 1870
we had $1,000 population. Now, by the
census Of 1890, Richmond, Manchester,
and their suburbs have'over 100000. Be-
tween 1855 and 1880 their taxables increased
$4,000, 900. In manufactures alone q, 6lS
hands find employment, and their pro-
ducts amounted in 1890 to $S4,5SO, 9l7
Sales Of iron-goods alone amounted to
4,l4s, 700. Flouring-mills had an output
of S2,0OO.0OO. Manufactured (plug and
eInoking) tobacco brought us in S6,6l5, 100,
and reprized tobacco S2.OOO,OOo more; and
cigars. cigarettes, and cheroots. S3,697, 200.
While these are our leading manufac-
lures, there are scores of Others making
goods Of nearly all sorts and aggregatine
in 1890, 72l establishments. The jobbing
trade, (which Is Of comparatively recent
origin here, amounted In sales in 1890 to
So, O42, 900. The ten banks in Richmond
showed for the same year clearings
amounting to ELI, 2O7, 1887, an increase
over 1889 of S2,7Ss,152., The Richmond
aud Danville system centres here. So
does the Chesapeake and Ohio; and the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac,
and the Richmond and Petersburg rail-
roads reach North and South, and are
great links in the Atlantic-Coast Line sys-
tenn. Steamboats, sail from our wharves to
New York, Philadelphia. Norfolk, Newport
News, Old Point, &c., &c.
These are but glimpses. The whole pan
Drama of facts and figures is unfolded by a
msster-hand in our pages to-day.
A great feature of new Richmond is its
suburbs. Most of these have sprung into
existence within the past five years and
H., lno,, ..ros,,ota1 h,v fba eraat ausfar,
of electric street-railways which has
found its fullest development and largest
success here. Many of these suburbs are
picturesquely located and afford charming
villa sites and lots for worhngmen's homes,
while Others, in addition to attractions as
places Of residence, have valuable advan-
tages for manufacturing and shipping.
We do not class Manchester as suburb.
She il "our sister city and has popula-
tion Of about 1900. Six bridges cross the
James, and these and two street railway
lines "a third is about 20 be built unite
Richmond and Manchester, and make the
two cities one 10 all intents and purposes.
While it win not be expected Of Us to
concede that Manchester's water-power is
better than Richmond's justice. al least,
oompels US to declare that 1t is excellent.
The growth Of Manchester has been
astonishing. But few cities in this coun-
Try show better percentage OF gain for
the last decade. and It's people have re-
solved that ls90-i90o shall show even q
greater gain that $4,000.
Richmond and Manchester are at the
head OF tidewater OH miles from the At
lantie). whore the Jamos makes the greatest
westward indentation 10 be found on the
Atlantic coast. Though sea-going vessels
come mp 70 our wharves, the two cities are
perehsd on high hills which catch tho
breezes. alternately waited from the
nountAins and the sea. and which shed tho
sewage and the surfaco-water into the river.
saording well-nigh perfect drainage sys-
TEN.
Below Richmond the river threads its
way seward through lowlands; bat il
reaches here from the Allegheny and Blue
Ridge mountains, and Piedmont Virginia.
sumbling ever rocky bed, ara breaking
Into beautiful falls as il Gears tAs corpo.
rsts limits