Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-01
YEAR In THE STATE.
THE PROGRESS AND THE PROS
Poets OF OTHER CITIES.
SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS
New BuiIdings-Munici Debts
Manufactures - Wholesale Trnde-
Health Tfgurcs-Export Exhibit of
Newport NcwS-othcr Figures.

PETERSBURG, VA, December 81
Especial Petersburg is a city Of about
2s.ooc inhabitants. It's bonded indebted
ness is Si,26l,ooo. q large portion of which
was created for railroad improvements.
Its taxable values. as shown by the as
sessment oflS96. are:
Real estate ..........................> go -VO,0l0
Personal estate ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. o,S-o'VV
Total ............... ...........s.' S9o4o'0l'
The rate Of taxation IS Sl60 per 500 OF
values These values show slight in
crease. as compared with 1898.
In 1851 the Common Council established
q sinking fund for the gradual retirement
OF the city's debt, and since that time
bonds TO the amount Of SOS, 2e6.69 have
been retired by this fund. In view Of the
fact that the citys bonds Of all issues
command q high premium and are there
fore, regarded as such desirable invest
ments, few Of them are placed on the
market. else the sinking fund would now
have a much larger amount 20 its credit.
The city's credit Is No ].
The trade Of Petersburg is as diversified
rs are the products OF the soil. It's prln-
cipal trade is in tobacco, cotton peanuts
and the cereals 1t has its great factories
for the manufacture Of tobacco and cot
ION cloths. its mills for the grinding OF
corn. and its factories for the handling
and cleaning Of peanuts-al OF when
have been In successful operation during
the year. giving employment and support
20 many thousands Of people.
Petersburg is one OF the most important
tobacco marts in the South. IL is the
greatest export tobacco port IN the couh-
Try. In 1885 IL shipped 90 foreign ports
$3.50. 80 pounds Of manufactured tobacco
In 1896 its export shipments were 6,oOlWV
pounds. In 1879 the intenal-revenue tax
pald here was SOP 33f: in 1896 the tax was
Sl69ST5. which figures represent several
millions pounds of the weed manufactured
for the domestic trade.
The output Of the cotton-factories in the
various classes Of cloths. &C. during the
year was about the average, with steady
market for the goods
The peafut dealers handled about 10000
bushels OF Spanish and Virginia nuts.
less quantity than in previous years, IN
consequence Of short crop and smaller
area planted. Prices for nuts during the
year were unsatisfactory.
A THRIVING INDUSTRY.
A thriving Industry in Petersburg, built
up in comparatively a few years, is that
Of the manufacture of trunks. Three large
factories are engaged in this business,
whose output finds a market in every
State IN the Union, and returns vast
amount Of money TO the city. The amount
Of lumber used in this business is almost
jncalculable.
The wholesale grocery trade Of tho city
during the year compared favOrably with
that Of the year previous in bulk, but
with closer margins, and smaller profits
were realized.
In real estate but little was done during
the year The peculiarly hard financial
stress kept this business at loY point
and also prevented improvements TO pro
perty. and building of new houses TO any
extent. The building Improvements in
the city during the year viii not exceed
10000 in value
The wholesale dry-goods trade as
whole was very satisfactory during the
year, with marked Improvement over last
year. The aggre gate is said 10 be larger
than in any previous year. The losses
resulting from bad debts were small. The
losses in this respect IN other branches OF
trade were also small
While it is true that the productions of
the sections tributary TO Petersburg have
prices, yet the average is about the same
as for five years past.
The Old Dominion Pants Manufacturing
Company puts out 100000 pairs of pants
year, or a pair in ten minutes. 1t employ
go hands, has seven statesmen on tho
road. and ships its goods North, South,
and West.
A FAIR SHARE
Petersburg has done its fair share OF
trade during the year IN all branches OF
business. The retail trade has kept up
well and our merchants generally eX-
press themselves as well satisfied with
the years work More economy is eXer-
cised in the country and business has
been conducted more generally on a cash
basis than heretofore There have been
10 business failures Of consequence during
the year.
on all sides is expressed the belief that
times will improve I'm the near future
and that the coming year will show
largely increased business in all depart
ments of trade.
A0RErnVE