Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-02
RICHMOND AND HER BUSINESS.

|
sion OF the Legislature. The trouble
not with the two houses or either
them. but with ourselves. Richmond an'
Manchester and their suburbs Will sooner
or later be consolidated into one corpora
ton. thus cheapening the cost OF govern
ment and insuring for Richmond ne'
proper rank in the census reports; but
| public opinion is not yet crystailized
| sufficiently TO assure the immediate sue
| cess of tho scheme.
Except in the way Of absorbing Lee Dis
! trict. our corporation lines have not been
extended for thirty years. The conse-
quence Is that there are few vacant lots
in the city. and our overfiowng popula-
ton has built up many suburbs and mas
largely contributed TO the growth OF Man.
chester. A further consequence is that
while other cities have been stretching
out their hands right and left for new ter
ritory and additional population, we have
stood stll-stood still so far as annexlng
new territory is concerned, but not as to
number of inhabitants, or amount Of
wealth and business.
Only one or two cities In all the South
show as much substantial progress as
Richmond. This statement may surprise
many, but II is fact. Our proximity TO
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore. and
Washington robs us of much of the i'm
portance we should have If we were To-
Gated in a section where we would be the
biggest city for two hundred or three
hundred miles around. Richmond, Man
chester. and their suburbs have, we be-
to make up this number we do not have
to go into cornfields to count plowmen,
as has been done in some other cities. |
No; we have here about $4,000 OF urban |
population. In due time-before the next |
census is taken, we hope-all this popula-
ion will be included in the city Of Rich
nond; but for the present there are other
iuties than that of annexation to engage
,ur attention.
Our Chamber of Commerce is taking
teps TO establish fully-equipped bureau
or the promotion of business enterprises
The moment is opportune for this, and
he movement has in an extraordinary
egree the enthusiastic backing OF the
ublic. 1t is an evidence of Richmond's
ublic spirit, and of the determination OF
ur people that if energy and unity OF
ction can avail, our past business sue
esses shall be excelled by those Of the
ear future.
Last year was characterized by an ex-
ting presidential campaign, which
realty interfered with the business of
he whole country; yet we had in opera
on here 9S4 manufactures, great and
nall, employing 1886 hands, and hav-
we were able to do so much when {
mes were so bad, what may we not q
} when we have put forth our best !
forts, and when we are favored by :
tier conditions?
Such bureau as the Chamber of h
'mmerce proposes to organize would
ing together our home capitalists (of I
lom there are many, and other in
stors, and would be the means of G.
ying life and vigor to many hopeful u
terprises
Dur jobbing ard manufacturing bust
sses are already considerable, but il
know the enterbrising, go-ahead men
Richmond. both branches are de-
ned to be much larger. AS we have
d, the amount of the sales of our g.
nufacturers last year was S31, 569. 6e5.
we have only to add that our Job M
q houses sold goods to the amount in
SO, SS6,062 to show the business ac-
ity there is here in the "old capital
the Confederacy." IT.
he people of Richmond have not only
tinguished themselves as the great
of the age, but, cir
Instances considered, they have also b.
tinguished themselves as great home ne
kers and successful businessmen. w
oever comes to Richmond now after - -
absence say of ten years, cannot 40
be surprised at the improvement tn
has taken place here. di
wo of the most promising of the bust Sc
s enterprises in contemplation here -
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway alb
1pany's viaduct and depot and the We
ect for 'electrifying the James WI
r." Both of these schemes are de- lie
ed to early fulflment. There have ~
1 no delays about them, except such alb
re justifable from commercially pru- VIZ
ial standpoints. The viaduct is a sci
engineering enterprise, but is en- q"
y practicable. 1t will be built
1 piers and steel trestles set in
es river, and will enable the COM 90
2 to secure better connections than sbe
exist between its two lines that VOL
D together here. Moreover, it will tho
fy the company in building on Main tag
It the handsomest railroad depot l
cture in tho South. the,
e proposed "electrifying of the
- means that the falls OF the James
TO be made to produce a great cleo
supply, just as the water-power ~
iagara does. And with this done Key
will be-Richmond will have ad- c",
ages as a manufacturing city not .r
lssed by those of any other city ~
is land. bier
, Dispatch refers to these facts at
lime for the especial benefit OF men,
of the Legislature and many other
esidents of Richmond who are now +
To most Of our regular readers Il
are wen Ano"h' thoush they are your
properly appreciated by ALL Rightly off!
stood, they should give us a high ~