The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-31

and refinement Of her people.
The bar of the city of Richmond Will
compare favolably with that Of any city
in America, the medical profession Is far
ahead of that cf most cities OF the same
size. while there are many architects
and scientific men who stand high in their
profession in other parts Of thc country
With one or two exceptions. there are
no cities In this country which enjoy bet
ter hotel accommodations than Richmond.
with excellent telephone service. water
works system unsurpassed I'm the South,
a fire department wh IN would reflect
high credlt upon far larger city. a.
police department which is most eff
ciont i'm its service. wel-paved and we'll
lighted streets and with an excellent
sirect.car system. Richmond has every
reason Ia expect rapid progress in the
future.
BIG DISTRIBUTING POINT
But a is AS a distributing centre that
Richmond enjoys special advantages. She
is the largest city. with one exception, in
the South. She is aphicaily located
SO as a. reach in short periods OF time
fertile and lourishing territories for the
distribution Of her products. She has
three trans portation lines by water and
six by rail- These reach out in every
direction and traverse rich agricultural
and commercial regions. Besides an thc
roads which sho now has there is every
prospect for several more. II is settled
that the Seaboard AIRLINE will effect it,
consolidation plan and make Richmond
tho Northern terminus Of "a splendid trunl
line. extending through 10 Florida. This
trunk line. with its northern connections
viii make through route from New
York 10 the West Indies. il would he
hard to predict the great advantage this
road viii be to Richmond but ID is aG-
mitted by an that it is one of the hest
movements from an industrial standpoiu,
which hss taken place IN This section for
many years. The Richmond and Tide
water railroad seems now 10 be fairly
wei launched 90 become d reality. This
will extend through a region OF country
which has no railroad facilities. bat which
produces something like s. 00o0) worth
OF products annually. Heretofore nearly
an Of these products have been marketed
I'm Baltimore. but after the new road is
completed. they will be sent to Richmond
GREAT MANUFACTURING.
As a manufacturing centre Richmond
has every reason 10 feel proud Of her
self She las made greater strides in
this respect during Tho last tWo Or three
years ana especially during the past
year. than any city IN The South The
number of plants have been greatly in
creased the capital invested the number
of employees and the annual output dur
inc the past year have been remarkably
large There are now more skilled and
intelligent mechanics in Richmond than
in any city Of the South. and there is no
city which has within its grasp more
magnificent opportunities to become a
great centre of industry
The record for 1899 in this line has
been astonishing. 1t was by far the
most successful year during the history
Of Richmond. The number Of plants
m operation here was l.2b. as against
LAP during 1898. an increase OF JOS In
1897 tho number Of plants IN operation
here was l07l, while IN 1896 there were
g4 plants in operation. These figures
show a healthy growth from year 20
year. The remarkable increase in 1893
was largely during The past six months
The number Of operatives employed in
these plants during 1893 was l.222 as
against IG3i7 IN 1895 an increase Of 1896
I'm 1897 the number of operaiiy en-
ployed was 1850. and In 1896 there were
10. SSe Comments upon these figures arc
unnecessary. they speak for themselves
VERY LARGE SALES.
plants during 1899 was SIC, ,732.3 .322. as
AGAINST NC.276.50o in 1895, an increase Of
nearly $4,000. In 1897 the amount OF
capital invested was Sl5Nl725. and in
1896 the total amount was sl627j,75o. The
most encouraging figures will be seen IN
the annual sales compared for the past
four years. In 1889 the sales OF the pro-
ducts manufactured by Richmond plants
amounted 10 s4l. .2e6s22. This WAS a tre-
mendous Increase over the sales OF 1873
which amounted 10 s34s55. 725. The in
crease was more than ss5oo.ooo. In 1897
ne annual sales amounted to So. .334.375,
and In 1896 TO $3l, ,56s 6s5.
EXCELLENT JOBHING BUSINESS.
As in the manufacturing business. so
IN the johbing business. here has been ?
vast Improvement. In the year 1899 the
amount Of capital Invested ia the iobbing
business IN Richmond was &.lio.io0 In
lsN the amount Of cspital wss s7.ss4ife.
an increase during the past year OF tZs6, coo.
In 1891 the amount OF capital invested In