Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-01

the old ones were overhauled. The fire.
alarm telegraph system was extended and
improved. and n new steamer was ordered
for ce.ivefy this year.
The Police Department also sustained
ITS splendid reputation. and its efficiency
was augmented by the introduction OF the
patrol-wagon system.
THE cITY's HEALTH.
The health OF the city was good, the
rate OF mortality being 22s2 per 1900 per
annum. calculated upon the basis OF a
population OF 5000 as WAS done In 1892
The present estimated population 81 Rich
mond' Manchester. and suburbs Is. how
ever. li.5oo-an Increase over 1892 OF $500.
There were 1881 deaths IN the city, as
against 1876 In lSs2.-a decrease OF 4s. OF
the total number OF deaths 500 were white
and 1901 colorcd. The coroner made H2
examinations and incurred no incidental
expenses.
The public-school system expanded DUR
ing tho yenr. The enrolment of pupils
was il.72G. against II. al in 1S92--an in
crease OF 9Sj. Two new schooi-buildlngs the
Navy I'm. with Seventeen rooms, and the
Nicholson-streex. with nine rooms--were
erected. and a handsome structure to take
the place OF the old Central sehool-bulll-
ing was commenced and will be completed
in February. In 1863 there were 81 public
schools in Richmond. having 2. 400 pupils
The present number is 24G, and the number
Of teachers $50
A MEDICAL CENTRE.
The private schools. male and femal>.
did well and what with the establishment
OF new medical coilege-the College Of
Physicians and Surgeons-the city prom
ises 10 become centre Of medical educa-
ton. Both the new college and the Medi-
cal College OF Virginia have hospitals and
disSensaries, and the Retreat for the
SICK, ST. Luke's the city Hospital, the
Eye and Ear 1unrmary. and the West
End Dispensary are filling well and ex-
tending their spheres OF usefulness.
The homes orphan asylums missions,
and other charitable institutions were
nobly sustained by the people, the con-
tributions 20 churches increased over
those Of 1892. and the general religious
statistics emphasize the claim Of the
city to be a church going community.
In the fall Of 1893 the Virginia Agrtcul-
tural and Mechanical Society held an
exposition. which. notwithstanding the
hard times. was very successful.
JAMES RIVER.
The James-river Improvement work
was prosecuted vigorously, and it Is ex-
pectcd by December 1894 to have on
Richmond bar channel 80 feet wide and
IS feet deep al low tide. The depth of
water at Rockets at high-tde IS l6 IL
feet. In 1876 it was 10 feet.
The retail trade for 1893 responded to the
influences which affected all other depart
ments of business. but on the whole
continued in healthy condition
THE NET DEDUCTION.
The net deduction from the years ex-
hibit IS that Richmond has taken no
permanent step backward. This position
any one must concedc who viii examine
in detail the statements and tables the
Dispatch presents to-day. and give due
consideration TO the unsettled state Of
trade and finance elsewhere in the coun-
try during the past six months. what
we lost in trade in 1893 was not taken
from MS by any competitor, and the man
ner in which we weathercd the storm and
our present condition afford assurance
that the city will move along the high
way of progress with renewed vigor when
the signal shall have been given for
general business revival.
That such signal cannot be long delayed
no one doubts who has studied the his
tory Of the cycles of depression to which
the country has been subjected. We
therefore bid our friends look cheerfully
10 the future, feeling that TO wish them
n prospectus and happy New ! ar
will not prove an empty form.