Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-01
THE HILL CITY.
A Distinct ADVANCE Along Many
Lines.


LYNCHBURG. VA, December 81
(special)-A review of the Industrial and
commercial conditions of Lynchburg for
1888 is exceedingly gratifying and is con-
ducive to a more hopeful feeling as to
the future prosperity Of the city than
has existed. certainly since the flush
days preceding the collapse of the disas-
trous speculative period which had its
ending in the now famous panic OF
1872 49,
Lynchburg for a number Of years, UP,
TO some ten years ago. enjoyed a wide
reputation as a manufacturing tobacco
centre, but a large part Of This trade, fer
some reason or other, was allowed TO drift
TO other localities, and for a time the
city's future, from a manufacturing
standpoint, was a serious question.
1t is an ill wind" however, that blows
no good. A retrospective view now
seems to indicate that the downfall Of
the tobacco business has naturally led
10 a diversity of the manufacturing in
terest which at no distant day, il is
believed by the far-seeing businessmen
OF the city, will place Lynchburg IN The
front rank of southern cities as a manu-
featuring community.
The Glamorgan IrOn-Works. the pride
of Lynchburg in a manufacturing way,
is constantly widening its scope and in
creasing it's utility
The volume of the leaf-t0bacco bust
ness of the city FOR the yea, ending
October 1st was something oyer 23,00O.000
pounds, which was sold at a higher ave
rage of prices than has been the case
for several years 1t is predicted 10y
,,.,1.. -.
forecast that the sales of leaf Tobacco
on this market for the coming year will
reach fully 100000 pounds. This line
of business is I'm a healthy condition, and
is controlled by some Of Iynchburgs
shrewdest and most active BUSH ass-mCD,
and will not be allowed 10 suffer.
The banking statistics. as -hoWn by
the last published statement, represent
| ing their business as Of December LIST.
show the gross assets of lynchburgs
six solid financial institutions TO have
been upon that date. IN -odnd hgdres,
$5,0OO,0OO The deposits in these banks al
that time aggregated H,9S2,OOO, which fur.
nishes ample proof Of the abundance Of
available capital I'm our midst.
The post-ofIice receipts. an unerring in
I dex of commercial activity. show a
marked and gratifying increase.
The railroads centering I'm the city,
representing the chief trunk lines Of the
State and South, all report an increase
| I'm their traffic
But it is as jobbing and commercial
, centre that Lynchburg Is now attracting
most attention. The aggregate Of mer-
chandise distributed by her entorprlsing
merchants amounts to something like
S5O0O0O annually The city boasts,
without fear OF successful contradiction,
of being the most important mercantile
centre of any city Of its population in
| the country.
All branches of business are well
represented here, but the wholesale shoe
business is the city's especial pride Is
this a wonder, when II is borne In Find
that in 1888 the reliable statistics of the
Shoe and Leathtr Reporter accredited TO
Lynchburg something less than 10000
cases OF boots and shoes for that year,
and for 1898 the same journal reports
the number of cases handled by Lynch
burg's three enterprising shoo-houses.
from eastern markets. to have been
1O6601 cases? Add TO these figures the
shoes received in Lynchburg from sources
not reported by this trade journal, and
we have the total number OF cases of
boots and shoes handled here during TIE
year just ending at not les than 10000
cases, an increase IN ten years VI dpOut
100 per cent, record which no city
I'm the United States equals.
Furthermore, 1t can be stated as a
fact that, in proportion TO the city's
population. IL distributes more shoes
than any other market In the United
States.
With the rapidly reviying iron ana
other mineral interests OF Southwest Viz
GINA, of which Lynchburg is the natural
gateway, a bright future seems In store
for this enterprising city.