Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-01
DiNNILLE
steady Growth--The Tobacco and
Cotton Industry.

IOttOn
DANVILLE. VA, December 31.-(Spe-
cial)-The year 1896 has been one Of steady
advancement and healthy growth along
all industrial, commercial and material
lines in Danville, Notwithstanding the
general depression prevalent throughout
the country.
one Of the notable achievements Of the
year was the union of the city Of Danville
and the town Of Neapolis. or North Dan
vile. into one municipality. The effect of
this union Of what was already practical
~ one city was the formation of COM
pact corporation with a population OF
1920 people.
Danville has not yet built up a jobbing
or wholesale trade, save in the grocery
and milling produce lines. The develop
ment of such a trade is assured, however,
Just so soon as the commercial skies be
come clearer.
TOBACCO.
Tobacco and cotton-their handling,
manufacture, and sale-are pre-eminentiy
the source of Ddnville's life and growth
and development For many years the
city has been prominent as a leaf-tObacco
market. and especially in the sale of the
fine bright grades of the crop. Far Ilom
a decadencc of this industry, DanVille IN
1896 has shown notable advancement as a
leaf-tobacco market, and as a manuiac-
turing centre for the finer grades of plug
and smoking tobaccos. From January i,
1896. to January /, 1897, there were sold in
the warehouses of Danville 4, 1929
pounds of leaf tobacco, at an average or
rs cents per pound. There were manu-
featured during the year just closed, 1861
936 hounds The labor employed in its
manufacture was paid approximately
s2SOOO in wages. Yet the manufacture oil
tobacco is but a small feature Of the TO-
bacco trade of the city. The most nota-
BILE growth during the year has been that
of the export trade. While exact figures
ON this are not attainable. 1t is conserva-
tivelv estimated that the export of leaf
tobacco from Danville will reach almost
twenty million pounds. An army OF en-
ployees are engaged the year throughout
handling and shipping this tobacco. In
addition to the export trade proper, all
the leading manufacturing firms or the
United States have buyers on this market.
In the leaf-tobacco year October /, 1870
TO October l. 1897, Danville promises 10
excel all previous records in the sale of
loose leaf. and it is anticipated that the
sales will reach nearly 5O,WOOoO.
COTTON.
The cotton manufacturing business is
extensively carried on by the Riverside
Cotton-Mills, home corporation, char
tered I'm iSS2 Beginning with small mill,
100 looms and $3.50 capital. the company
has now grown TO four immense mills.
25Sl narrow and broad looms, with
capital of two millions, and employing
more than 200 operatives There has been
no shutdown or interruption Of operation
during the year. On the contrary, the
company has enlarged its plant and capa-
city. and is now building railroad up
the Oar river 70 valuable water-nower
sites owned by It, where extensive en-
Iargements are in contemplation. u per
cent. annual dividend shows that the COM
pany has not been seriously retarded by
hard times" The plant is the largest
mandatory Of colored goods In the South.
The highest grade Of cotton fabrics are
manufactured White labor is employed
I'm the mills, and the annual payroll
amounts approximately to half million
dollars.
Building operations have not been so
extensive as in previous years. Among
the notable improvements In this line du-
ring the year are: Atlantic and Danville
storage warehouse; iron bridge across