Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
ACTIVE PRODUCE MEN
THESE MERCHANTS WORK HARD
FOR THE cITr's GROWTH.
DRAWING FROM NEW TERRITORY.
The Volume of Trade Increases
steadily, Prices Compare Well with
Other Cities, and Large ORDERS Are
Being Placed Here-Grafn Trade.


duce commission business in this city for
tho year 1897. as compared with the year
lSsC, the views that 1 express are not
based upon any record of this years busi-
ness, as compared with the previous
year. but simply upon my Impressions
of the years work, as an active particle
pant In It's labors and results. The work
OF the commission men OF the city OF
Richmond for the year 1897 deserves. in
my opinion. to go on record as a red
letter year for hard work. resulting in
big profits for the express and railroad
companies and I'm but little profit 10
themselves. Among no other class OF
merchants I'm our city is the same amount
Of energy and perseverance required or
displayed as is requisite in the produce
commission business In order TO insure
success, and I assert, without fear of
contradiction, that through their efforts
a larger and more extended territory Is
made TO contribute 10 Richmond's pros
perity than through the efforts Of any
other class of businessmen among us.
Each succeeding year is being made TO add
TO this scope OF territory i'm which the
names Of Richmond's commission mer-
chants are being made known. and their
reputation established for fair and hon.
est dealing.
COMING FROM NEW TERRITORY.
The past year Qs90 has by no means
been an exception TO this rule, for not only
have our commission men pushed into
every hamlet. and almost into every
| home of our beloved State, and claimed
| full city, but with untiring zeal have in
vaded the States of Florida, Georgia,
Souths Carolina, North Carolina, West
Virginia, Tennessee. Pennsylvania, New
York, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. and,
as a result OF their solicitations, have
! received and sold on this market large
! consignments of fruits, early vegetables,
| potatoes, beans, etc, etc, at prices which
| compare favorably with any other market
| in the Union.
IL is a fact which think can be easily
proven. that the tonnage coming into
Richmond over our various transporta-
ton lines has within the past few years
been more than doubled by the efforts OF
our commission men, and this fact OF IT.
self, without any other consideration.
goes to prove that the commission BUSH
ness Of Richmond Is very important
factor i'm the commerce OF our city, which
! is destined at no distant day to rival IL
not excel many, If not all. of her COM
petitors. Already Richmond. as a mar
ket and an important distributing point.
being acknowledged and brought to the
front by the fact OF large orders for pro-
duce being placed here, which in former
days were placed I'm Baltimore, Philadel-
phia. and Greater New York
The volume OF business in the produce
| Lag I ha
far in excess of that for 1896. and while
at times our market has been depressed
in prices. owing to general conditions OF
trade which affects all markets alike at
| times the fact remains that our produce
merchants have. upon me whole. been
enabled TO make as satisfactory returns
to their shippers as any other city I'm the
| Union, and as an evidence Of this, have
continued TO receive the patronage of ODD
friends, as well as many new ones. who
have been made acquainted with the ad-
vantages OF our market.
HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE.
As 10 my opinion OF the outlook for
the year 1883, / will say that / am no
believer in good fortune or good luck.
but prefer TO depend upon hard work and
good pluck to insure success. and upon
this principle i see no reason why the
year 1898 should not be made 10 add an
increased proportion 10 the laurels, as
well as the profits of business 10 every
class of our merchants and manufac-
turers. Upon this principle, the future
of Richmond for the year 1898 and all
succeeding years is already assured as
bright and prosperous. Then let us all
lend a hand TO the good work. am
satisfied that all our people want TO see
our city prosper, and yet hundreds OF
them send orders 10 other cities for
goods that could as well be filled here
without any disadvantages 20 the buyers,
either as regards quality or price. All
of these senders of outside orders would
be distressed to hear OF Richmonds
failure. and yet they take no thought "a
contribute 10 her life and prosperity. III
, for one year our merchants ana manu-
facturers could sell to our people all
the goods they buy. this city would 90
such a business as II has hardly done IN
any quadrennium OF its. history. L ask
nv fellow-citzens 10 think on these
things. and not continue 90 fritter away
I'm minute divisions that wealth. which,
II properly kept together among our
selves. would give US power for good
which we can never possess while the
present waste goes on.
Very respectfully, c. r. RICHARDS.
President Richmond Produce Exchange
OFFICERS OF THE EXCHANGE.
The Richmond Produce Exchange was
chartered June %, 1893. Officers for the
year ending April 30. 1898. are as follows:
President. Mr.. c.. T.. Richards; rlrs'
Vice-Presldent, G. NJ. McMinn; SECOND
president, william Jenkins, Jr.'
Secretary and Treasurer, Captain H. A.
Jacob. Directors-W. w. Spratley, ID. j.
patton. J. d. McIntire. Douglas Rider
and X. T. Briggs.
Richmond Grain and Cotton Exs
change.
The Richmond Grain and Cotton Ex'
change. which has its rooms IN the
columbian building. corner OF Thirteenth
and Cary streets was Incorporated June
"a lss7 Sales every day from IL A. NJ
to 12.2O T. NJ. The officers for the year
ending June 30, 1895. are Mr.. Norvell Ky
land president: S. G.. Fairbank, first vice.
nresident. J. ID. McIntire. second vice.
nresident: Captain b. X. Jacob, secretary
and treasurer; Rodolph King. grain IN
spector; John Wheelwright hay inspec'
tor Board OF Dlrectors-Edward Alvey
+ IT Deane. T. ii. Elicit. S. II. Gates
George A. Haynes, John i. Jacob. w. *
Johnston. George T. King. J. s. Lear i
l.. Moore, ]. r. Palmer, w. +: Richard,
son. Jr., n. Y. Savage, L. Todo' anc
T. j. Todd.
REGENTS for the year ended December
a 1857. are as follows: Wheat, o'hsp'
bushels: corn, l.fl0OSS bushels; oats
7e5 900 bushels; rye. 1852 bushels Io'al
2s1.55i bushels. decrease OF N-'s'-