Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-19
RiCHMOND's ENvIABLE RECORD.
An Article from MIR. Herrick's Pen in
Bradstreet's.

Mr.. Howard j. Herrick, superintendent
Of the local branch of the Bradstreet
Company, contributed the following arti-
Gle on Richmond as a Business City to
the January 18th issue Of Bradstreets
bulletin:
"Richmond. the Queen City of the South.
made for herself an enviable record in the
year 1897, and yet that record is but
precursor Of better things TO come The
jobbing trade for the year was fairly sat
isfactory. The sales amounted to nearly
$30,OO0000. In some lines there was a
decided increase. One firm writes that
they are S95 900 ahead Of 1896 and that
was a red-letter year. Not only was the
volume of business large, but collections
were uniformly good. Very few COM
plants have been heard as to payments.
Take it all in all, when we consider the
low prices obtained for many Of our pro-
ducts in the South the showing for 1897
is remarkable. on December IS, 1896
cotton was selling for 3-l6; that on De-
cember II, 1897 brought only O. rs. To-
bacco, on the other hand, has done well;
Fl has weighed better and prices have
been good. Loose sales have increased
and will continue TO increase in 1898 That
is the greatest need for the future.
our merchants are branching out more
than ever before. Richmond statesmen are
travelling from West Virginia 10 Texas.
A still greater area will be covered in
1888. In fact Richmond sells goods all
over the United States In New York
and the New England States a large busi-
ness has been built up in several lines.
Our merchants seem to be determined
that Richmond shall be the commercial
capital Of the South
There were ffty-four failures in 1897
The liabilities in five Of these amounted
10 nearly $6O0,000 in a total of about $1,000,
COO The bank clearings for the year
showed an increase of $l.SS $685. over
1896. Total banking resources December
Is. 1897, amounted 10 $l7727, 1905; in 1896
they were SIG, 1892. The receipts of the
post-ofIice in 1896 were $2i3.5lS.54; in 1897
they were S2lS,77l.SS The manufacturers
Of Richmond had prosperous year.
THE SHIPPING FACILITIES.
our shipping facilities are excellent.
The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac. Chesapeake and Ohio. Richmond
and Petersburg. Southern railway. Peters
burg railroad, and Norfolk and Western
carry cur goods in every direction. The
Seaboard Airline will shortly build
road from Ridgeway, n c., TO Peters
burg. thus giving our shippers another
direct route 70 the South. The direct
communication by water with New York
and other ports is also a decided ad-
vantage. giving very low freight rates.
II Is a weIl-known fact that the falls of
the upper James afford fine water power.
An electric company has recently been
chartered TO utilize this power for manu-
featuring purposes
As 20 1885, there IS this TO be said:
There is business 10 be done The ques-
ton is. Where VIII it go? why not to
Richmond The record of 1897, while not
brilliant, Is an incentive for better re-
cord IN 1895. But II Is work, not optimism.
that wins. The outlook IL favorable, but
the realization should be better. Conser-
vatism has long been peculiarly charac-
feristic OF Richmond, but to that has
been added unity and coherency Of pur-
pose. and It is an suspicious augury that
the merchants Of Richmond are more
united IN their efforts for the building
up Of trade than ever before.
IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP.
fhe establishment OF small manufac-
tories would be great help toward Rich
mohd's development and future growth
They are always most desirable additions
10 business community, and with the
great advantages Richmond can offer
there should be very perceptible gain
IN 1898 Advertising the facilities and
advantages Of our city ought TO mate
rally help in bringing new Industries 10
Richmond. The recent steps taken by
the Chamber OF Commerce should prove