The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-01

II Is with pleasure that The Times to-
1av presents its readers with gratiry-
og review Of the manufacturing, merca.
tile. municipal, and. other records for
1895. In addition to these are special ar
ticles which give 10 the outside world,
"a wen as to our own people, a compre-
hensiye knowledge OF the many adyan-
taaes offered by Richmond as place for
tho capitalist 10 invest ana the outsider
to locate.
Not only the educational, religious.
commercial. social. and hygienic adyan-
.,,ss ,-s.ss ese >-.-for-h an this edition Of The
Times, but the historical musical, artistic.
a,.d many other features OF the city are
given attention, such as these demand, In
order to furnish the public at large with
an idea OF kichmOn1s advantages as
nlaca of residence. AS a manufacturing
oentre. she has few equals and no supe-
riors la the South, her commercial dd-
vantaees, transportation facilities, thor
ouehly-eduipped municipal departments
school system. fire and police provisions,
not 10 speak OF the climatic and social
influences that make her one OF the
mos delightful cities in me United
States. are treated of elsewhere Ia this
paper Sufficient 10 say that when all
things are taken into consideration, Rich
mona is the leading city of the south, and
no one who Is familiar with the city VIII
doubt that her future as q centre half
way between the harsh northern cline
, and the oppressive heat OF the south, Is
as bright as that OF any city in the
country of the same size.
HAS DONE WELL.
When the various business conditions
which have characterized the past year
are taken into consideration, t6chmond
business men have done remarkably Well
during 1870. Jney had hard Datue 10
light and many dlscOurdglng influences
faced them. No one Will deny that the
year 1896 has Oeen one characterized Dy
neavy financial depression. ms was hot
confined 10 any particular locality, but
reached beyond our own shores. over
production in some things, lack OF con-
ndence. uncertainty as 10 lne financial Is
sue. ana all the personal feeling and eA-
citernem aroused by an intense political
canvass, were some Of the influences that
helped 10 GemOralize manufactures ana
commerce during the past twelve months.
IL has been hard year. Ana yet hlch-
mOnd business men have stood up against
the odds thar faced them with remarka-
ble perseverance, ana energy, ana the
results as shown ny tne igures complied
present most gratifying condition OF al
MARS. In 1896 there were in kichmonu
~ manufacturing plants, 10 which N,loo
hands were employed and $40 0le5'vJV IN
vested Tne receipts for the output OF
these plants for 1876 were $S2,oZ5,00O. In
1886 there were sA plants, employing
nd. the amount
OF $3.50. 100 The sales amounted 10 SSl-
5sa, ,s6S II viii be seen from these figures
that while there have been nor so many
hands employed In the plants, there have
been more industries in operation ana
more capital employed
In the jobbing trade there was a small
decrease In the amount Of sales, while
the amount OF capital Invested was S',eli'-
0Oo. ana the sales amounted 10 $S0.isso-t.
In 1896 the capital invested was SssSoON'
and the sales amounted TO 81, SS6,V62. The
resources OF the banks show an increase
over 1885. In 1896 they were $l7,ziO.i2S az
compared with Si6.9lS SCI for the preced-
irg year.
The bank clearlngs Tor 1896 were siiis7s,-
SAL For 1885 they were Sl2l.sl0,7s0. For
1894 they were SlSSzl,S&.
The failures were not so numerous IN
1855 as IN 1895. and the amount involved
was much less. In 1895 there were g.
failures. with assets amounting to 1885,
$40. and liabilities amounting 70 $i7si,7i0.
In 1926 there were 66 failures, with as
sets amounting 10 &16,i50 and liabilities
amountlpg TO sl.o9,5Si
TfIE OUTLOOK BRIGHTER.
81 There Is every reason 20 believe that
<1kg7 VIII bring forth better business re-
f<plts than 1896. Among bus mess men gem
1ails confidence Is increas ng. and there Il
Healthier feeling prevalAng Travelling
5ealnen report a bre hter ofsJlook.
Dcks are low. and crops are satisfac-
Ia There is every reesla 10 believe
"a trade will be better and prices more
kfactory during 1887. This of course,
b. that many manufacturing plants
h have been idle win resume opera
and labor viii find employment.
54Il bo seen from q number OF in
W. in to-days ~imes that business
<f nearly all lines feel more hope
Ia the new year and are looking
Id 10 better iifnes. This Is good
s Let everybody 90 their best and
mplklnins. and. as q wcll-known
an palfr ffu.. -