Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01


There are some welcome signs that
business conditions throughout the coun-
try are on tho mend. and Richmond IS
in. the van of the movement 1t cannot
be' said that there is any immediate
prospect OF q great return tide Of pros
periiy. hut the year 1895 promises TO be
better than its immediate predecessors.
lt ls favorable and a happy
thing that throughout the city men are
turning their eyes more confidently to
the future A little more confidence put
into everyday operations on the part Of
our citizens would result I'm an increase
Of business. whose aggregate would be
large. and whose influence toward re-
covcry would be appreciablc.
Reports from the banks from the
manufacturers. from the jobbors, are
20 the same effect Gradually more
money from tho banks is bor-
rowed 20 resume or extend opera
uons; slowly factories which have been
idle are beginning to work. and many
large and important works which have
been decided upon are waiting for The
FIST coming OF normal trade TO be begun.
10 must not be concluded from this brief
review that fun prosperity is an but upon
Us. 10 SIS fairer TO say that the worst
is over. and that hereafter things may
be- expected to improve. The profitable
ness Of agriculture ls yet am unsettled
factor in our problem. 1t is only Ios-
sibio 20 Judge by the event, and if tho
crop indications this spring are good i'm
Oh the different lines there VIII be an
accelerated trade movement I'm all direc-
rons.
THE GREAT ELECTRICAL PROJECT.
no statement of the situation would
be complete which did not refer 10 the
proposition. which has been accepted, TO
harness the waste waters cf the James.
The simple fact that Richmond stands
in the dazzling light OF the worlds
greatest industrial achievcmont-await-
lng the electric touch, which win flash
back ON copper wires tho mighty force
of the river now sweeDing past The city
win serve to- put now life into old ln-
dua,ries. 90 bring others into being. and
10 make it one of the great electric cities
OF the world. Years ago q similar propo-
siuon TO the one recently accepted was /
declined ty The city. and to-day the fac
tories OF Lowell. Mass. stand as an
01joct-essOn to the Queen city of the /
south.
Neither should the possibility of the |
erection Of the governments new armor- /
plate plant Doe passed by IN silence. for
thoash 70 is 10y no means assured that
Richmond viii De the favored spot sull
hue is every present Indication that
ler claims viii receive due recognition.
INTEREST IN CIIY's GROWTH.
The Richmond people are showing a
interest i'm the improve
mcnt ~ tho city; and OF the many causes
y this progress the Chamber Of Com
uerce and the Young Mems Business As
sociauon are not the least AS Jack Fal-
staff was "not only witty in himself. but
.ho cause Of wit in other men," so the
influence of thcse two bodies SIS not mere
81 local. They have fostered the city
lside and public spirit which suggest
Iberal plans and prompt and generous
drs. impra assiy.y putting TO every ciu-
.sn the quesuos "What is it my duty !
r privilege TO do for Richmond?"
Already thrilling with the new life
.aused by considerable increase in
.he population. Richmond viii surely 90
forward with gr.at strides when the full
force Of th, power OF james river is felt.
The death rate for The city is only 1880.
bearing most favorable comparison with
,thor cities OF the same size. This is,
indeed an important fact and the bruit-
ng abroad of The result OF the obserya-
ions now being taken daily by the Wea-
her Service. which stamp the locality as
exceptionally healthy should do much to
attract attention 20 the other natural ad-
,antages. There was % decrease OF 1l7
70 The number of deaths last year. as
.omuared with 1856. and out Of the total
.unber-l. .lo5-only tmrty-six were found
% have been due TO violence. There we're
eo marriages in the city and III in the
.0unty.
COMMERCE. AND REVENUE
The commerce OF the port OF Richmond
s Increasing at rapid tate. and it is
n no wise represented by NM 1850 paid
o. the Collector Of Customs. for hum
.reds Of vessels engaged in the .coastwise
rade enter and leave the port which
10 not come under the supervision Of the
officials.
The intornal-revenue collections for 1897
how q considerable increase in every
epartulent save two-sp!rts and to-
acco. Tie decrease in the spirit tax
! due I'D "a great measure 10 the closing
y tho bonded warehouse aud the de-
rease in the tobacco tax is happily Off
et by the fact that the exports Of that ,
ommodity increased nearly q million I
ounds. as against a falling on Of 10000 !
-ounds IN 1896. I
MORE FACTORIES sPRINGING UP. :
While tho commerce Of tho port Of I
Richmond has been increasing at a rapid I
ate the revenue collections are vastly r
improved and the railroad traffic has !
cen Keeping pace. the city has ]
cen progressing IN other ways. Rich 2
l0nd has Increased her manufacturing I
from 9Si 70 101l during /
be past year, and while there has been
siight decrease ia the number OF +
ands employed and in the amount OF 4
apita invested. the sales have exceeded u
y moro than a million dollars those Of I
90 A