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

yond its actual mark value In order q
realize a tax sufilcientto meet current ex
penses.
BY putting an end Y money being spent
In uncalled for improvements I'm isolated
sections Of the city. for the purpose OF
| pleasing some ward councilman, and
leaving neglected the more conspicuous
streets and avenues. which neglect makes
anything but a good impression upon the
visitor. destroys the faith, and dampens
the zeal Of our owl people.
| BY arousing the Jeople TO an .apprecia-
ton OF the fact THAT the affairs Of the
| city can only be successfully conducted
IN the hands OF men of intelligence and
some breadth OF tnought--that ignorance
| and contractednes3 never did and never
can make safe leadership
BY our citizens who have money In
vested outside calling in the same as
speedily as they can, and with those who
have money here. invest In manufacturing
enterprises, the conduct of such enter
prises TO be reposed in men Of experience
and talent and not selected on account Of
kinship outside influences.
BY each merchant carefully studying in
his line of business what articles there
are which might be manufactured In
Richmond, and calling attention TO the
same. There are some who might en-
bark In manufacturing had they an idea
OF the quantity Of certain articles sold.
ASHTON STARKE.
Wealth Greater Than Ever Before.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
have closely observed Richmond's
general trade for nearly fifteen years, and
peculiar advantages have given me an
insight into the same. L have rot only
made close study Of the volume of bust
ness, but results and general conditions.
The business may be divided into manu-
featuring. jobbing, and retail all sepa-
rate and distinct branches.
Looking back this long period and
coming along year by year. there has
been almost an unbroken line Of advance
ment in all Of these branches. While
the manufacturer and jobber were once
content TO hold the territory few hum
dred miles around Richmond, and do the
bulk Of their business therein, now they
not only go into the entire southern ter
ritory, but many make large sales
throughout the United States, and some
touch every part Of the civilized globe
The retail dealer has also kept pace with
the advanced spirit of the times, and /
venture TO say that two thirds of the
shopping that was formerly done In the
North by the Richmond people Is now
done at home. In all, there has been an
accumulation of means, and to-day the
wealth Of the business community of
Richmond is greater than 1t ever has
been in its history
The depression in general trade which
has existed for some years is not pc
culiar to Richmond, and the idea that
Richmond is going backward is a mis-
taken one. The conditions of business,
haV oh MOI ari
of late, and already many Of our mer-
chants have discovered this, and are
conducting their affairs more successfully.
While | would like to see many new es-
adjustments come here and new indus
tries opened up. and believe that every
thing that possibly could be brought here
should come still, it is my observation
that if there was the same extra united
effort and push made for business that
was shown by some Of the Richmond
houses this year. there would have been
better results and more satisfactory
trade. To hold Richmond's trade, and
make the advances that have been made.
and can be made, more energy, capital,
and intelligent action will be required
Those houses who have done near a salts
factory business have worked harder
than ever before to accomplish results
the past year. and tell me there is hard
work yet ahead.
Ii seems that the old-time methods Of
long credits must go, and business must
be done on shorter time. The enter
prising merchant is now looking for the
country store-keeper who can take ad- |
vantage of inducements to buy on shorter |
time, and business is done more salts |
factorily with a reasonable guarantee |
that goods shipped will be paid for. There |
fpnn In hn Of no
trade, perhaps, when more orders were |
turned down than in the past year, yet |
the percentage of failnfes Of late as far |
as the Richmond trade is concerned has |
not been small. There is still room for |
a closer scrutiny Of credits and some
country store-keepers are not only learn
ing the art of securing credit from the |
jobber and manufacturer without suffi-
cient basis for same. but are also in |
some instances wilyly practicing decep-
ton on the mercantile agencies. While
the volume Of trade in Richmond I'm the
past year compares favorably. still the
general results hardly correspond. The
houses who speak encouragingly Of the
years prosperity just now are not many.
and the main trouble of late has been
the low price OF cotton. IT is thought,
that this cloud is likely to pass
away, and that the general tone towards
the early spring will be more satisfactory.
The outlook In the tobacco section is the
best. and prospects in that section are
brighter. The general retail trade of
Richmond in the past year has been a
fair average one, and while the balance
on the right side Of the ledger Of the
general trade has not shown up as large
as desired still Richmond has done her
share OF what business was doing, and.
with united effort, is likely TO keep ahead
IN the list Of the Atlantic seaport cities.
J. II. Witty.
Give Manufacturing Interests More
Attention.
TO the Editor of the Dispatch:
We extend 10 the Dispatch and the city
If Richmond our congratulations for sue
,essfully pulling through the seven years
If depression, and to-day we have all the
.igns here Of prosperity in the future.
Our banks and trust companies, as 10
heir last reports, are in splendid condi-
ion and have plenty of means TO accom-
nOdate our merchants and manufactu-
crs We learn, also, that all manufac-
urers and merchants of Richmond have
lone well I'm the past year.
What Richmond needs, we think, is 10
,ay more attention TO the manufacturing
interests. and it would be well for our ]
eople 10 assist the deserving small facto-
les and start new ones.
In looking back over the seven years
f depression il is to the credit of Rich ,
nond that about 80 per cent. OF the losses ,
we're made In investments away from