Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-31
RECORD OF THE YEAR.
Many important Enterprises
Have Had Their Birth
FUTURE A BRILLIANT one,
The City Stands Now In The Full Light
Of the Electrical Sunrise.
POWER, RAILWAYS, sHIP-BUnDING
The Union stocIs-Ynrds ana the Pace
AbattOir-Growth Of Tiuuncial In
POWER, RAILWAYS, snrr-BumDrNG

How stands tho record OF the dying
year"
In days to come, when Richmond shall
have reached the commercial eminence.
towards which she seems TO be so rapid
ly progressing, the year 1899 viii loom up
as the beginning Of her spotheosis.
The history OF the past points to no
such record as that established durir
the last twelve months. Gigantic Ell r
prlses have been inaugurated. many new
industries have been introduced, public
improvements have been numerous and
far-reaching. and feeling Of hopeful
ness has sprung up. which leaves no
doubt as to the future. The building
trade, the pulse OF a city's progress, has
improved Of late TO n very remarkable ex-
tent. the demand for operatives exceeds
~ for thu supply. there arc lever va
cant stores than has been the case for
very many years. and new buildings arc
sprlnging up in all directions.
THE ELECTRICAL SUNRISE.
Richmond stands in the full light OF tho
electrical sunrise. The development Of
the water-power OF James river IS one
Of the factors that points most clearly
to her future growth. for it is an ac-
cepted theory that a city win expand TO
the limits Of her available power. and tho
Harvesting Of the James means that there
will be enough power here to run all tho
machinery in the State OF Virginia.
The great work carried on by the Vir-
ginia Electrical Railway and Develop
ment Company has already made it's in
duonce felt throughout the city. Tho
plant alone Will. when completed. cost
iu the neIghborhoOd of $,000WO, and IT'S
construction has furnished work for hum
dreds OF hands during the past few
months.
The conduit system, which IS part OF
the same enterprise, seems destined 10
be one OF the greatest public improve
ments ever introduced here. The cobweb
of wires that has overhung the city for
so many years-a menace 10 life and
property--wil be removed At last. Tho
work of LAYING these conduits will be COM
pleted within a very short time.
The building Of the Richmond Peters
burg and Carolina railway into the city
means the expenditure OF a vast sum OF
money. but, what is more important
than this. IL means the connection OF
Richmond with a great railroad system
1900 miles in length. and the establish
ment OF this city as the northernmost
terminus Of the new Seaboard Airline
system.
THE LONG-EXPECTED VIADUCT.
The long Contemplated viaduct OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway is no long
ftff a nd of d {
The giant piers have already made their
appearance ia the bed Of James river
and the work is TO be pushed forward
with all possible speed. The outlay on
this work Will be between 2,JoO,voO and
100000.
The alliance OF the stockholders OF tho
city. after months OF negotiation, has
resulted in the Union StOck-Yards, one
Of the most important OF the new en-
terprises OF the year. The yards are
thoroughly modern and up-to-date. and
they are built with a view 20 expansion.
The present capacity OF the yards IS
large, and the managers expect that 1t
will be greatly increased as time goes
on. The catte-pens occupy twenty acres
OF land 10 the northwest OF the city. with
much space available for development.
The great Pace AbattOir is situated
little distance TO the southeast Of the
stock-yards. The plant, which is now IN
course OF construction. will cost not less
than 10000 IL is proposed 10 carry on
here a large pOrk-packing business, and
inasmuch as Il Is the first enterprise OF
the kind established in this part Of the
country, there can be little doubt that
It comes 20 supply long-felt want, and
It's prospects Of success 10 not seem by
any means remote.
The Kingan Company IS building
large slaughter-house in the vicinity OF
the stock-yards, which is TO be followed
by the removal thither Of their pork-pack-
ing and curing establishment, now located
on east Cary street
Considerable additions have been made
10 the abattoir Of the Valentine Meat
Juice Company thereby increasing their
capacity very considerably
THE sHIP-BUILDING ENTERPRISE.
The development Of the Trigg ship
building enterprise has been phenomenal,
and its future seems to be secure as its
mast has been unassailable. The contract
FOR the torpedo-b0ats and destroyers has
been followed by a much more important
contract for a cruiser and Mr.. Trigg be-
ueyes that the time IS not far distant
when he will build a batteship In the
James.
one OF the most benehcent results OF the
new enterprise is the almost sure and
certain hopa that the channel OF the