Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-31

been eminontly satisfactory, and pros
porous from January until December. The
warehouses whore bright and dark to-
bacco is handled have done much
larger business than last year. A great
stride forward has been made in the sale
of bright loose tobacco and thousands
OF pounds have been sold each week. Tho
sale of sun-cured tobacco on Change
has increased ever since 1896, and the
past year has been very good one Tor
commission men
Every factory has been running at fun
blast, and the United States Tobacco
Company has been organized with bright
prospects. There has not been failure
in the trade this year.
PRODUCE AND GRAIN.
Produce merchants have enjoyed a
steady run of business all through the
year. The shipments have been liberal.
and there has been no difficulty in placing
goods at fair market prices. The home
consumption has been largely Increased.
q fact that is attributed 10 the new manu-
featuring plants established and TO the
large number OF men who have been
given employment Car-lOts. formerly
marketed elsewhere. have been brought 10
Richmond for the first time during the
past twelve months, and the reputation
of the city has been enhanced as a most
reliable produce market.
The report OF the Grain Exchange
shows that 26l39GG bushels have been re-
ceived here. with 13O,3O barrels Of hOur
20 OIL tons Of hay, and 5139 tons OF mill
offall. Tho above would make train or
loaded cars forty-nine miles long. While
the crops have been smaller the receipts
i'm Richmond have been larger, and the
trade seems 10 be widening.
REVENUE AND POSTAL RECEIPTS.
The receipts at the internal-revenue Of
fee show an increase over the collections
Of 1898 Of S7g7,OOl.l1 with grand total Of
50, 5S2. Si7. A. The items showing an in
crease ara tobacco, Documentary stamps
and beer There has beeN a decrease in
the sale OF cigarette stamps The post
office receipts last year were tho lars 81
on record, being Aj.slG.O-an increase Of
$lG.0lLA over 1888
The amount OF import duties paid al
the customs-house was S4G02Q; the NUM-
Der Of vessels entered and cleared, DO.
REVENUES OF THE CITY.
The city Government is sharing in the
general prosperity. Much has been done
during the past twelve months I'm the
way Of public Improvement, and the
financial condition of the city was never
better than at the present time. The
revenue from the eas-works was derived
from the sale of 2i2 088.9e6 feet Of gas; the
receipts Of the water department were
$l3i SOB.
The real estate and personal taxes paid
amount 20 81 O6 05L70. and the license
t..-- Tf- Q1- Tna Efafa taxes egniIfE
shows that tho value Of real estate per
souai property, and Incomes asSesse1 Dy
the State is SCI lsG655.
The health Of the city has been excel
lent. and tho death rate-lo.@ per thou
sand-tels its own story There were
! ia6 deaths. compared with 1GfG the pre-
vious year. The ratio OF mortality amongst
the white population was only ni2, and
2L11 amongst the colored. The Coroner
investigated the causes Of ll5 deaths du-
ring the year. and there were a inter-
ments i'm POtter's ie!d.
The meteorological report shows that
the climate OF Richmond IS even and
heaithful. Tho mean temperature was
highest in July, being H. and lowest IN
February. 329. The rainfall was highest
I'm September. but less during the past
twelve months than any year since la-
The city departments have all been I'M
proved with the exception Of the gas
works, for which an appropriation Is 10
be made in 1900.
FIRE: POLICE; SCHOOLS.
The Fire and Police departments have
answered all expectations, and have de-
monstrated their claims TO be considered
among The best in the country. They
have done faithful and efficient service.
The Fire Department responded 10 ~
alarms. The number Of alarms was ID
per cent. i'm excess OF last year, but me
total loss was 30 per cent less.
The police arrested 17j5 white offenders
and 1903 colOrod. while 22s2 persons were
prosecuted for ordinance violations.
The educational institutions OF the city
are all enjoying unprecedented success
one of the results of the city's prosperity
is tie promotion of the sciences aud ths
arts. and by a necessary reaction the
arts and sciences, in their turn, @tunniii'e
Industry, enlarge the sphere or social
happiness. and embellsh every scene OF
social life. During the year the N'rs'h'@
Union University buildings nave been
built at a cost Of about $4,000, ana a
science haII and dormitory building have
been added to Richmond College. Iho
publie schools were never in better con-
dition than now.
MANY NEW ENTERPRISES.
The vear has been a prosperous ore r.
building circles. There are lew vacant
houses. and the demand for property eX-
ceeds the supply. Factories and houses
are springing up in all directions. Among
the largest of the new enterprises ere the
Trigg ship-yards. the Virginia electrical
Railway and Development Company, TIE
Union Stock-Yards The Pace Abattoir
Rovd's tobacco factory, American To-
bacco Company's new factory, United
states tobacco-factory the underground
conduits. buildings at the colleges aD.Ne
mentioned. the sheep dip manufacturing
plant. the glass-works, the hlhsan
slaughter house, the ether-"oIhs' ailu
the bag manufacturing plant OF the VIZ
ginia Chemical Company.
OURS A CONVENTION CITY.
Richmond is year By year establishing
more firmly her claim 20 be considered
the principal convention city IN TINS
country Among the organizations that
met here last year were &c baptlsl
Young Peoples Union OF America
Daughters Of the Confederaey, Pan-Pres-
bvterian Council. Episcopal Council,
Christian Church State Convention zap
tist General Association. Southern Rail-
v,av Surgeons. international Association
of Railway Surgeons. Health Oihcers OF
the United States, the Medical Society CT
Virginia. and other important bodies.
ST. Andrews Brotherhood Is TO meet
here IN 1850. and efforts are being made
10 bring the Grand Lodge OF Eiks here in
1901. A number Of business ORGANIZATIONS
viii also meet here the coming year.
From the foregoing IL will be seen that
there Is not a blot on the record Of the
mast wear. The New Year is crossing the
threshold with no uncertain tread. lna'-
vidual enterprise win accomplish much In