Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-31
RICHMOND REVISITED.
and far moro imposing buildings occupy
the sites Of those burned.
PRESENT PROSPERITY


the sites Of those burned.
PRESENT PROSPERITY.
Richmond, together with Manchester
and their suburbs. has TODAY a
population Of about 125.00. it en-
bTaces within its corporate limits
S'Iol acres. Its parks cover $50 5-l00
acres II has wcll-nigh perfect
sewerage system. 1t owns It's own water
works and gas-works. Is beautifully light
ed by both gas and elcctric-lights. the
pumping capacity OF its water-works is
ziVW.WO gallons OF water per day. its
buildings number 2.oC0. and Il has nearly
one hundred miles OF electric street-car
tracks, and a complete telephone, teic-
graph, and nre-alarm system. The pres
ent Police and Fire departments Of Rich
mond are among the best in the country.
The private schools Of Richmond were
famous In ante-bclum days. and are
famous now. while the public school
system has been developed into one OF
the best in the country.
Richmond College which was sacked
by Federal troops after entering Rich
mond. aud nearly every dollar OF whose
endowment was lost by the result Of the
war has had career OF steadily-increas-
Ing prosperity, until 1t IS now in an
every way prosperous condition, cata-
>
students it has ever had. It's beautiful
campus and elegant buildings contrast
most pleasantly with those OF 1866
There are two well-equipped medical
colleges, where hundreds OF students
gather annually; the Womans College
has grown TO be a great institution:
the old Mechanics Institute was burned
during the great fire. but a new one
has been organized, and is conducted
most successfully. and Union Thcologi-
cal Seminary is TO be removed TO
Richmond. and will have elegant build
ings on the beautiful grounds given
them by Major Ginter.
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS.
Richmond has been long noted for
the number and efficiency Of its
churches, and the steady increase CT
its moral and religious forces. II num-
bers now about eighty churches. with
a membership ot about 4SO0l.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion is IN a most hourishing condition.
and has a fine building Of its own, with
all modern appliances and improvements,
and there are a large number Of hos
pitals and charitable societies, which the
Christian workers OF Richmond, especial
~ the noble women. sustain.
The State Library with its 1000 volumes.
the Rosemary Library Of G,0O0 volumes,
the library Of Richmond College. the
Young Mems Christian Association libra
ry. the library Of The Virginia Historical =
Society. and the library of the Southern
Historical Society. all contain rare and
valuable books and manuscripts which al
ford special advantages to students and
writers.
have not space to tell you in detail OF
tho rr.ap.ffarfurqe fpIIfpcy frnIo nd ron
eral commerce and business Of Richmond.
The city's material and commercial
growth has been marvellous. The cstaD-
lishments Of to-day are larger and the
territory with which the merchants have
business relations Is much more extended
than years ago.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
have been much impressed with the
railway and other transportation lines Of
Richmond now compared 10 what they
were when / left in 1865. The few broken
down. badly-equlpped railways on which
we used 10 have such precarious trans
portation have been enlarged and ex
pande1 into the Chesapeake an1 Ohio
railway Richmond division, pennsular
division QO Newport News and Fortress
Monroe). and James-River division Cup
James river from Richmond TO Clifton
Forgo). This great company owns and
operates over 1880 miles Of road.
The Southern railway (the old Richmond
and Danyille) controls roads OF nearly
1000 miles. The Richmond and York
River Is under its control and manage
ment
The Richmond Fredericksburg and Po-
tOmac has :hrce daily trains TO Washing
ton and the North; the Richmond ond
Petersburg IS the connecting link with
the Atlantc-Coast Line and the SeaboGrd
Airline TO the South, and with the Nor
folk and Western from Norfolk 20 Bris-
tOl. Richmond has steamer lines TO New
Yo.k, Philadelphia, and Norfolk.
POINTS OF INTEREST.
But you will be more interested per
haps, in the points of special attraction
I'm Richmond, which l have visited.
Capitol Square, in the centre Of the city,
always beautiful, and popular place Of
resort from our boyhood, is loyelier and
more attractive now than ever before. Its
noble trees. green grass. weli-kept walks.
flowers, fountains. tame squirrels, and
crowds of romping children, never cease
10 delight the visitor while the old BELL
House" the State Capitol, the Executive
Mansion, the new Library building, and
the monuments are OF continually deepen
ing interest.
The Dollhouse you will remember was
originally used as headquarters for the
"Public Guard" who did police duty about
the square. and the bell in its tower was
used for fire-alarms, and summonses for
members Of the legislature. During the
war the ringing Of that bell called every
man or boy capable of bearing arms 10
assemble promptly for local defence, and
ft uead TO anuea greatly veterans from