Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-31
GOOD YEARS RECORD.
PRESIDENT TRAyERss REVIEW
OF RICHMOND IN 1890.
GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE.
Marked Advances In Mnnufncfurins'
Commercial. md Development
Iines-rmporfant Railroad Enter
prfscs and New Industries.
Com IN ercin

1
Complying with your request OF recent
date. and following the tlme-honored Gus
tom for the president OF the ~hainDei
OF Commerce TO give 10 the Richmond
press at the close OF each year paper
touching upon our city's progress ana
prospects. / beg leave 10 submit the ioi-
lowing:
7 shall not attempt TO name In detaii
numerous and important Industries 'ha'
have been started. or enlarged III 'he
year 1883 Many Of them were hain1u
by one OF our directors, The Hon. D. -
Munford. at recent meeting OF .Ho
Chamber and published the following DAY
by the Richmond papers. "ou'u a."
that the Chambers Committee on status
tcs As now preparing pamphlet, setting
forth in detail the unprecedented develop
ment of enterprise IN Richmond during
the year now ending.
Therefore. l deem il necessary 10 COM
ment only on a few of the most import
am. and TO express certain general views
Of the situation.
THE TIDE or PROSPERITY.
That the tide Of prosperity, which be-
came so marked throughout the Uniteo
states al the close of 1888, would con-
tnue during 1899 and increase in volume,
was confidently expected and predicted
in my paper Of a year ago. and TINS
expectation has, I'm nearly every instance
b.cn realized That Richmond would
fully share i'm the benefits OF this business
revival 10 one doubted, and consequent
ly we are prepared 20 find that our JOD-
Ding trade has increased during the pres
cnt year about 13 per cent, the output OF
our manufacturers nearly - per cent?
he force OF hands employed In our idctO-
rjcs over - - per cent, our bank clear
inrs about q per cent, and that the
volume of traffic has heavily taxed the
facilities Of most Of the transportation
companies doing business here, whose
gross earnings from this ana other
sources have been unprecedentedly large
These general features, showing great
activity I'm our commercial and manuiac-
turing affairs are. however by no means
the most striking indications OF pro-
rress. The number Of great projects now
being developed in our midst, the large
plants for various purposes already under
or being planned. ana lhe
Unusual activity IN building generally are
even more significant Of permanent ad-
RAILROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
There is hardly a railroad company with
terminal facilities at Richmond, when
has not found IL necessary, TO a greater
or less extent, to take some steps Tor
adding to its capacity for handling trat-
ic 1t is especially interesting to
note that the Chesapeake and ONO RAN
way Company is now, in conjunction
with the Richmond. Petersburg and Caro-
ina railroad. about TO construct new
and handsome depot on Main street,
with the costly approaches thereto al
ready under construction, problem
when mas confronted the former road
Tor a number Of years. The Richmond,
and Carolina, to reach this
llain-strcet depot, and to enter "'ch-
nond. is now building an expensive
bridge over James river, TO connect with
ts elevated structure to the depot. This
bridge will make the seventh one span
ming the James at, or near. Richmond,
n addition to the Chesapeake and Ohio
yiaduct. which runs parallel with the
course of the river from point above the
rrcdegar Works until It leaves the bed
)f the river TO connect with It's PENN
sular Division by a viaduct down Water
street, and to reach the Main-street
depot. II may also be mentioned that
The Southern railway is now erecting
new passenger depot, which will supply
a want long felt by both that company
ana the travelling public of Richmond.
Indeed. the bed of James river and its
northern bank present a scene Of the
greatest interest and activity. The value
of the river Is being eXemplifed TO a re-
markable degree by two great enter
prlses. The first is, the establishment at
the old site of the HaXall-Crenshaw
mills Of a plant for electrically develop
ing the great water power of James river
which will afford, hereafter. facilities for
most readily establishing all industries in
which this power can be most cOnyen-
ienty utilized.
THE SHlP-BUILDING PLANT.
The second is. the establishment and
development of the ship-building plant of
the w. r. Trigg Company, now construct
ing three tOrpedO-bOats and two torpedo
hOat-dostrOyers for the General Govern
ment under contract 10 build a govern
msnt cruiser, and IL has been reported
that they have received inquiries from
parties wishing them TO build two 5000
ton vessels for commercial purposes. This
enterprise, undertaken
with a bold but intelligent. appreciation
of the advantages Of Richmond, has in
spired the profound confidence of the
i'm the importance of James
river and has given so great an impulse
TO the movement 10 expedite its improve
ment that it is hoped and believed that
this national work will be pushed with
vleor and probably completed in the near
future
As already stated, other undertakings
of great merit and magnitude might be
referred TO-, but as they will doubtless
appear in your list of manufacturing
ana commercial establishments, and be
especially treated of elsewhere in your
columns. II Is not necessary to make
special reference 20 them here
THE SEABOARD AIRLINE.
II Is pertinent, however. TO revert to the
Richmond. Petersburg and Carolina rail-
road, heretofore mentioned in connec-
ton with the new Man-street depot, but
now with respect TO its projected connec-
ton and consolidation with the present
SeabOard Airline System. which system
has nearly trpled its mileage under its
new administration This is a project
OF such moment that It is quite impossi-
bic to measure its importance TO this
city and its commercial interests. Since
the development OF the old Richmond and
Danvillc railroad into q southern system.
which finally passed from the ownership
and control of its Richmond projectors.
no event of greater Importance to Rich
mond has occurred in railroad circles
As "a system OF over $500 miles, with