Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
MANCHESTER HAS HAD A FAIRLY
PROSPEROUS YEAR.
MEETS ALL HER OBLIGATIONS.
This Is Done in Face of Extensive
Local tmprovcncnts-Thc old En-
terpriscs Held Their own, and New
Ones start I'D.

Manchester has suffered much, but not
more. ana perhaps less. than many other
cities OF her size in the south during the
past twelve months.
The year 1896 was a blighting one 10
every business interest In the city but
the worst came and went with that year
and II is believed that during the past
tWelve months she has been slowly and
surely recovering. \ new sap is rising
in the industrial tree, and 1t Is hoped by
her strongest and best and wisest ousl-
ness-men that the ife-siving tide Will
reach every brunch.
Despite the business stagnatlon. Trea-
surer Bronaugh says he thinks tho city
will make both ends meet She has
taken no radical retrenchment step; her
officials have all been paid the salaries
promised. and. indeed. several of the
more poorly paid have received increased
concentration. The city has taken care
of her poor. and recently made a hand
some donation TO Joseph +. Johnston
Camp OF Confederate veterans for their
INDECENT members. The city schools have
been and will be continued through the
prescribed session of nine months with
out any deduction of the teachers pay
and an assistant principal has been added
10 the teaching corps Of the white school.
When. therefore. " is considered that the
citv has met all its obligations, and has
paved Hull street, every citizen has a
right to be proud Of the past and hopeful
for the future.
The year has been marked also, by
the establishment of the free postal de-
livery service.
WEALTH IN THE SHOPS.
Notwithstanding that the great county
of Chesterfield surrounds Manchester,
and that good roads. like great arteries
OF transportation. lead 10 it from every
section Of the county, the broad state
ment will remain u~ndisputed that q
chester lives by her shops. IS helped py
the county but little, and helps the couh-
~ but little in return. The Southern
shops and the shops of the richmond
and Petersburg are located IN Mahches-
Ter. and give employment TO the majority
OF her operatives.
Manchester ought to ave a beet-susar
refinery. canneries, tanneries, furniture
factories. wheel and aXle-Works, anu
every species Of manufactures for when
Chesterfield can supply the raw material
The record shows for the few existing
tanneries. furniture-factories. and wheel
works a year Of great success. and, with
perhaps one exception, not a DAY OF luie-
ness.
A Manchester gentleman. whose stand
ing in Richmond and Manchester as a
businessman is high and enviable' sald
q few days ago that the great need oil
Manchester. Chesterfield. and
Virginia was more producers ana less
middle-men. and a clean and clear Ilu-
dance forever of the idea that legislation
Of any sort will give them money, unless
they have something 10 give in return
for II. Fastories which can use the raw
material Of Chesterfield ought TO start
nm and ought to work the Chesterfield
farmers ard woodmen half 10 death 10
keep them supplied with material.
Times greatly changed and immeasure-
ablv better would come. for the money
for Chesterheld's raw products, mace
useful and m-erchandisable in Manches-
ter's factories. which come with them
A PRACTICAL REVIEW.
subloined is a letter from a weli-known
real estate and insurance agent OF Inc
soutbside city. in which he tells of the
wears business dealings. and indicates lne
efolr made on all sides TO promote the
activity which marked her progress IN
former years:
10 the LIiiUl Va AAN
Manchester passed successfully through
the wear 1897. during which time some
memorable events have taken place WIN
I'm her limits. one of the most nolaple -
the establishment of the long-distahc7
telephone. The Southern Telephone Com-
nanv has also established a local telephone
exchange. with terminals connected with
those of the Richmond Telephone COM
many. The telephone is one of the great
est conyeniences Of the ase. and Man
chester is well supplied, and enjoys an al
most perfect service.
In making a review of the past year
trnth compels me to say that the year
has not been one Of great progress. IheIe
has not been much building. and real es-
tata has not been very active, all or winch
is attributed 10 the general depression IN
the financial world. There have been Few
failures in the past year, but an xmas on
businesses have felt the influence OF the
longest and most far-reaching depression
This country has ever known. IN past
vear has brought us an untold blessing
Tor Hull street is paved and the street
railway Company has doubled tracked II,
and now we ought 10 have a hrS'-ciasS
car service.
The cotton-factories along the water
line have not been running regularly TINS
year and il always entails distress upon
The operatives when such Is the case:
Uarney Moore Company's large milling
establishment has been busy all the year.
The great shoe warehouse Oh Stepheh
putnev & co. has done an immense busl-
ness This is the largest shoe concern
In The South. and their well-appointed
warehouse with every facility at hand
enables the firm to handle the STOCK WIN
the greatest dispatch.
The Donnan Hardware company aiSO
have their warehouse in our city, and DO a
very large business. The railroad rum
to their doors. giving the greatest Iacli-
tics for the easy handling OF STOCK. We
Cordially invite others to inspect these
snternrises and come and settle with US
vhere eligible sites can be gotten at low
feures on the line Of the railroads. A
laree amount can be saved IN drayage
alone.
The Mechanics and Merchants Bank
has been prosperous under the manage
ncnt of SIS efficient cashier. MI. ). II.
Patteson. We have a well-organiZed
fire company. and which enjoys the repn-
tation OF putting out FIRE as promptly rs
any company in this country. Our water
Department Is well managed, and we
have an abundant supply Of pure wafer.
our railroad shops have been az work
most Of the year. which has been a great
Messing 10 our city. Belle Isle IRON and
Nail-Works. though strictly speaking be
longing TO Richmond. oxcites a kindly IN