The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-01-01
GENERAL COMMISSION.

Inc general commission business
OF tho port, not including cotton and
coal, is valued at about 81, 800. 900.
There is u large and lucrative trade
In butter, eggs and general country
produce. Tho merchants OF this
line sell for the farmers, truckers
and poultry raisers of Virginia and
North Carolina, and all stock not
taken by the local trade is shipped
North vim the various fast rail and
steamship lines. The business Is in
most healthy condition.
FLouRAND MEAL.
HE VIRGINlAS, in 1884, estimat
ed the flour and meal business Of
this port at Sl60,00O. at that time
there were no local mills and much
smaller population to feed. During
the last ten years three mills have
been erected, ono grinding exclu.
sively wheat aud making high grade
tlours at the rate of 100 barrels per
day. This mill was erected With
Northern money and has been o
phenomena success. The corn mills
are also doing well, principally sup.
ply local demands. Norfolk now
has on export trade in flour valued
the past year OF nearly 5000, GOO.
lie entire business for the past
twclve months, retail and Wholesale,
foreign and domestic. is valued at
81, 49,, 600, showing increased gains
during the last decade.
BUILDING MATERIALS.
Daring the past few years the
hum of the cav and the cIauk of the
hammer has been Increasing, The
building OF the beautiful town of
homes in the Fifth Ward and manu-.
featuring town III the Sixth Ward,
also the stately mansions in Client
have drawn heavily for building ma.
tcria!s, and the trade IN This particu
lar limo las been very active.
Under the geueral head of build
ing materials, there are many arti-
| cles TO be found in various branches
of trade. a careful compilation in
1884. before the era OF grea, indus.
trial activity In Norfolk, put the
business ut $500, 900. An estimate
for the past year, equally US couserv
alive, fixes tue aggregate at 81, 800,
| UUU.
a GREAT HORSE MARKET.
Norfolk now stands o. the head of
all the Southern cities as market
Tor the sale OF horses Of ali grad s
and conditions. In 1851 the trade
was so limited as not to be counted
IN the general estimate OF business,
In 1884, 81 ,0O00 will not cover
the amount OF sales for this year.
These animals were received from
| Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee,
illinois, Ohio and Kentucky. The
large majority of them were ordi-
nary work horses, but many were
the best Kentucky thoroughbred
riding and driving stock. The pur.
chasers were from New York. Balti-
more, Washington, North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia.
The trade ls increasing rapidly.
One firm expects to do business IN
1895 of $1,000, 900, and it is snte TO
say that the present proportions will
be doubled IN the next two yenrs. A
shipment OF 800 mules was recently
made to Cuba, and with proper at
tention to the West Iluies it is be
lleVed very valna BILE commercial re-
aUons can Ee established.
KNITTING MILLS.
Norfolk does not alone depend
upon her shipping interests and
general trade. During the past ten
years there has been great develop
ment in such manufactures Us are
especially adapted to this section,
and it is matter of congratulations
that these industries have pros
pered in no small degree. The first
knitting mill was hullt III 1880. 1t
stood alone for nine years aui sue
cessfuIiy tested the ability OF Nor
folk manufacturers IN this particu.
lar line, tho making OF over aud IN.
derweor Tor men, women aud
children, and between 1859 and 49,
three other mills were added.
These four mills havo been almost
constantly IN operation, employing
100 persons. abont 40 per cent being
females. The gross output Of the
four mills will amount to 81, 900. 900
annually. At least $3.50, 0UO Of .his
amount goes to labor. The cotton
Is purchnsed OF locGl dealers aud IN
the factories goes through all the
processes OF maaufactnro from the
raw cotton to the completed gar
ment. The mill property. including
machinery, cost not less than 5000,
600. All of the buildings are OF
brick and fitted with tha latest i'm
proved machinery.
Tho Norfolk manufacturers, owing
to location, mild climate. reliable
and honest labor, une&cellcd facil
tiles for shipping, cheap coal and
cheapraw material (virtuaily "manu
featuring upon the hlli"J, have been
able to meet all competition and sell
goods IN every State and Territory
III the Union.