The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-01
1894. 1895.
The Old Year Has Gone,
the New is Here.
The RECORD OF OUR CITY
During the Twelve Months that
Have Just Gone By.
1 PROPHECY ABOUT THE FUTURE
Gathered from Men Of Careful and
PortsseiDs Minds.
RICHMOND HAS ENDURED The STRAIN
P0haps Better Than Any Other City
Of the South.
INTERESTING FACTS And FIGURES
Which Give a Complete Record Of tho
Dead Year.
PROSPECTS NOW LOOK BRIGHTER
And'it IL Believed thst Ere Another Year
RoIls Round the whole Land will Again
LIT its n cad in Peace and Prosper
ity. aud that Richmond Z. Par
ticslsr will b., = Bright
Star In tho CONNER
eiai Firmamsnt
General Rec
ord Of the
Year.
PROSPECTS NOW LOOK BRIGHTER

The Times to-day presents It's many
readers, with a large amount of iniorma-
ton SHOWING the condition OF the manu-
factupes and industrial enterprises in the
city ior the year 1894, the condition of
the 3obbins and tobacco trade, together
> WIFI the reports from the varous mu-
nicipal departments. and other informa-
ton Of great value for reference and
comparison
No aevelheaded business man thought
for a moment that the figures presented
to-day would run up to the standard
reached in 1892. or even in 1893, when the
terrible financial depression was well un-
der way In its merciless sweep across the
country. Yet Richmond has done, per
~hay,s.~ as we'll as any city of similar size
IT, the United States. and far better than
most OF the southern and western cities.
Nothing but that Old Dominion persever-
ance and determination which has done
so much for the capital city OF the
Mother of States kept the standard up
TO its present figures. which are extreme
~ gratifying when all the damaging in
taken into consideration, and glance at
the condition Of business in this city at
present together with a little reflection
upon the favorable prospects for a very
bright future. cannot fail to encourage
the manufacturer, the jobber or the
banker who considers all the various
factors which make themselves felt in the
business world.
- HKAvY DISADVANTAGES.
III must be remembered that the year
the, has been a year notable i'm the his
wpry OF bdsness all over the world Not
oksk Richmond and Virginia. but the
whS.e of the United States. and most of
the Old World, suffered more perceptibly
than for many years. Large manufac-
turing industries shut down for want OF
capital, thousands and millions of peo-
pie all over the country were thrown out
of work, and the general financial trou-
bile. which commenced away back In 1892
and was well under way a year ago, seem
ed to reach a climax several months since
and even now II may require period
OF several months to exhibit any material
increase in "a situation which appears to
be drifting slowly into a brighter future
There were many causes which served
to bring about this unhappy state of af-
fairs In the business world here IN Rich
mond. well the rest of the United
States.A long, and even exasperating
contention over the tariff, producing an
unsettled feeling upon business men gen
orally strikes and lock-outs i'm various
parts OF the country. floods and forest
fires. the expectation OF gold. the Chinese
Japanese war. and many other powerful
influences made themselves felt through
out the commercial world. and did not
fail to bring about uncertainty and con-
servatism In the way of investing. All
this could not fail 10 have powerful
effect upon capitalist and laborer alike.
GRATIFYING FIGURES.
When a comparison of the figures or
1875 and those OF 1894 is made, the result
speaks in the most iattering terms for
the thrift and enterprise of the business
men OF Richmond. In 1895 there were in
this city 9l5 manufacturing plants In
operation, with 2093S hands employed; a
capital OF $l6.5i9.750 and sales amounting
10 SOS Sl0.SS9. In 1894 the number of plants
was SCI. hands employed 1880; invested,
$l5.44s.S0o. and sales amounting TO $Sl,tsi,
go
In the jobbing trade for 1898 the capital
invested was $500. 500. and the sales
amounted 10 Sc, 725, $50. while the capital
invested In the same trade for 1884 was
$77s6.oo0 and the sales amounted TO s29,-
2ls.Sso.
The number or failures In Richm0nd
for 1893 was 81. representing assets TO the
amount OF 81. so. ard liabilities 10 the
amount OF S799.loo. For 1894 the number
OF failures A.. with assets TO the
amount OF $3.50. and liabilities 10 the
amount OF $4,000.
The bank clearances for 1893 were Slli,-
1922. while the clearances for 1894 were
3li3.S27.S $50.
The figures represent ne the comparison
between the failures and bank clearances
OF 1898 and those OF 1894 are very encour-
aging TO business men. and show how
vigorously the war between enterprise
and general depression was waged.
Et NEW BUILDINGS.
During the past year there has been a
large amount OF building In the city
The real estate men speak In encouraging
language OF the prospects for 1885, and
II IL believed that the real estate business
Will take on new sife before many
months. large number OF dwelling
houses have been erected In the eastern
portion OF the city. and In the western
portion OF the city the growth has been
quite remarkable. considering all the con-
Qitions In operation. Many handsome
oalences have been erected on Grace