Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-01
conditions of business were mora satisfac.

conditions of business were mors satisfac-
tory. There was a slight increAse In the
amount OF capital in business and the
sales for the year were S0,ls9,5t or 1885,
CA more than in 1894.
In the late spring there was a strong
advance in the price OF raw Material OF
all kinds. and for awhile trade Seemed to
be on high road towards activity. In
most branches orders Increased and with
the advanced values the volume Of busi-
ness enlarged over the correspohding pc
riod of the previous year. While this
activity did not continue throughout the
| entire year. there was a STEADY demand.
and trade was normal.
There was more conservatism shown by
merchants during the year. and probably
less money was lost by bad accounts
than ever before in the history Of the
city. The regularity of collections shows
that the country people have been able
to meet their obligations, thereby en-
sbling their local merchants to do like
wise.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
In 1894 the manufacturing enterprises of
Richmond showed n decline; the figures
for 1896 show a revival of business. The
number of establishments increased from
SCI to Ss9. and the number of operatives
from 1880 to 1873. The amount of capi-
tai in business in 1894 was $l5ii5,No; In
1895 there was sic. $4,000. The aggregate
of sales was 1872, O26.0oo, or sS4l9j0 more
than in 1891. In no other branch of busi-
ness are the, working people so largely
employed and interested as in manufac-
turing.
The report Of the Collector for Customs
for the year shows an increase of s6.slo
I'm imports. but there is falling Off In
exports. as result Of change with
reference TO what business is credited TO
Richmond.
OUR MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
The new assessment made in the early
part of the summer, in accordance with
the law of the State showed the value of
real estate in Richmond to be sii,09ol65.
having made the handsome increase Of
si62S.573 since 1890.
The work of the assessors was conf
pleted about the 1st Of August, and, as
their valuations embraced new houses
erected and other improvements made
up to that time, no accurate statement
can be given Of the number of buildings
erected during the year The Commits
sioner of the Revenue has only as
sessed such as have been erected since
that time. There has been. however. a
good deal of building. Most of IT, with
the exception of the magnificent Jeffer-
son Hotel. was in dwellings. splendid
new headquarters building was erected
for the Fire Department, 10 take the place
of the old Washington Hail. known in
recent years as the Broad-Street Engine
House.
While the new assessment shows an in
crease of nearly $4,000 over 1890. 1t does
not mean that we have that much more
in taxable values than we had last year
The increase is made up in some measure
Of new buildings. ana these the Com
missioner of the Revenue assesses each
] ear. The real increase in realty values
rom 1894 to 1895 is s77S,26O. The gain in
Dy taxes is Sl3,6iJ.2I.
X LOW MORTALITY RATE.
The rate of mortality in Richmond last
sar was very low, showing the sanitary
cooiition of the city to be good Although
o. population is growing steadily, there
We fewer deaths than for several years
Ony 1,i57 persons died in the eleven
moIhs up TO December, as against l.6l2
III l@i iand 1897 in 1898. The bonded debt
of u city is 1888. 1890. or sol, 40 more
than was twelve months ago. The out
put 10. the gas-works was larger last
| year itan for the year before, and the
work q laying larger mains TO better
accumulate the western part of the
| city vs. begun. The water-works, as
usual. Welded good revenue to the
! city. The Fire Department did good
years sryice, and made progressive
steps IN The betterment of its equipment
and Accommodations. The Police
Departmeli made a good record for eff
cheney and attention TO duty, and the
scope OF the service of the patrol-wagon
was greatly enlarged.
postal AND REVENUE.
The post-oihce had successful year.
and there Wa gratifying increase in
the sale of stamps and cards and in the
receipts from rostage on newspapers and
periodicals.
The hternai-ieyenue collections in the
Eastern Virginia District, with headouar-
ters here, were Considerably larf-er thu,
In 1894. There Was a heavy increase in
the sales of STAMPS for spirits. cigars
and cigarettes. especially and while there
was consideralle falling off in the
receipts for tobacco stamps. the wears
statement Is high'y encouraging. The
total gain was Sl.462a
RELIGION AND EDucATIoN
The statistics from he churches show
poth growth ana Prosperity. Broadus-
Memorial Baptist church was organized
! as result of the work Of the City Mis-
sionary Society, and nearly all the other
! churches received accessions There are
now SO churches, with membership OF
q. .a8I. and The collections aggregate SEA-
4iS25. Old-Market Presbyterian. church.
which will be known In future as the
Hoge- Memorial. has begun the erection
of a handsome edincc on franklin street
into which the congregation viii move in
few months The figures from the
Unitarian church. which ds sons 50 men,
bers, were inadvertently omitted in the
preparation of our table. ana the eg5
members given Beth Ahaba Synagogue
only embraces heads OF families and male
adults.
The Richmond schools are all flourish
ing. and there are more pupils receiving