The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-24

Richmond Is in the midst OF an indus
trial boom. The wave Of prosperity that
swept from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific
and reached from the Lakes 10 the Gulf
did not pass by the Capital Of the old
Dominion. and she is now i'm the possess
ion of her share Of the activity which ex-
lists throughout the land. The wheels
that were long idle now go round, and
the manufacturing plants are being rushed
10 their fullest capacity i'm order to keep
abreast with the enormously increased
demand for The manufactured product.
orders for the delivery of goods arc pill
ing In, and there seems TO be no indica-
tons Of a let up for some time to come.
The railroads suffer from the lack of cars
for the transportation of freight. and
the fact that rates We're advanced. and
are to be again next month. in no manner
lessened the demand
But the boom rs not confined 70 any
particular branch or branches of the in
dustrial world. 10 is common to an. Fac
tories are making additions that are riv-
ais Of the original plant I'm size. The va
rious trades are affected. and the scarci-
ty OF material i'm some instances is ex-
ceeded by the scarcity of labor. Labor
IS in demand. especially skilled labor.
MARVELLOUS PERIOD.
Said prominent contractor, ln discuss
ing the improved condition of affairs:
This has been most remarkable pc
ft.d IN
partmcnts off the industrial world SIS nm
known The demand has. in many in-
stances. greatly exceeded the supply, aud
labor is "a precious commodity"
''The value of real estate has been
enhanced, and every inch of ground is
being put Ia some use. This is true of in
dustrisl establishments in particular.
This IS not the time ihat a man viii
build house as an Investment Labor is
az a premium. and the cost of materials
had gone skyward. with the probability
of a SIN further advance. Several years
ago Was The time for making investments
Of his kind. but not to-day. Lumber is
very hard 90 get and hardware is in
great demand. The price OF iron has
gone up 20 "a very high figure, and the
nail industry is NOT the least affected
Structural iron and steel are hard to-
procure at ana figure so "a man. taking
all these matters into consideration. win
hardly start to build unless IL is abs0-
iuteiy necessary
But This is not true OF the manufact-
urng plant The manufacturer wants all
the room Dec can get. and wants the ad-
ditons to the plants erected with az
possible eNpediCncy. The cost of labor and
material while higher than ordinarily
he takes oqly INTO momcnisry considera-
uon. Tor De- knows that the only thing
for him To- do is 10 increase the capacity
OF ms plant and reap the profits. for
the demand Boo nearly every branch OF
trade is exceeding the supply
LUMBER DEALERS AFFET TED.
One OF Che lafsrst lumber dealers in this
city stated that while the extensive rail-
road building which ls now being done
IN various parts of the country was a
good thing tn many respects. and gave
thousands employment. it worked 70 hard
ship on the lumber business. though.
when the enormous amount OF mnoher
which Is used in such work is taken into
consideration. the stat mcnt might appear
as unwarranted
you see.' said ne by wav Of expla-
nation. 'it Is In this way that w ave
affected Several years ago when the
country was I'm the midst OF financial
depression. when business Was az a stand
still. saw mills with other Industries.
suspended operations ana closed their
doors In the meantime times grew bet
ter and men who formerly piled the
trade Of lumbermen sought employment
elsewhere many OF them finding 70 IN
the railroad construction. The result Is
that the saw mills can'g find the men
necessary 20 operate them. neither can
the hmbermon 10 supply them b. OBJ
falned This. YOU see. handicaps us. and
the material that would find a good mar
ket can not be obtained
zone Of the strange things about the
present situation IS the great demand FOR
what is known as box boards and which
ordinarily hnds buf comparatively light
sale Now everybody wants an OF that
kind Of lumber he can get. The cause Of
Il Is the great boom ia manufactures.
ana they want II for boxes and other par
cells for the shipment ~ the products.