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

THE NUMBER DECREASED EsOn-
MOUsLY DURING 1890.
A BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR REAL ESTATE
The Yenr just beginning Promises
to lie Even Better Than That Just
Ended-InHux of Strangers Has
Been Very Great.
Been Very Great.

The close Of 1890 sees fewer vacant
houses Of every description In Richmond
than in many years.
This IS especially true Of factories. A
well-known real estate agent OF this city
IS authority for the statement that there
are not two vacant manufacturing plant.
In Richmond. number Of factories
which were idle at the beginning Of 1sg.
are the scenes or busy activity at the
end Of the year.
There are still q number OF vacant Dusi-
ness houses, but there are fewer every
week. The number has been very great
~ lessened since New-Year, 1899. tn,
houses OF this character still vacant are.
as a rule, of not the most desirable char
acter. The buildings are Of a type quite
popular even a decade ago, but in this
fast age they have become antiquated.
The demand for deep, narrow. store
houses has passed. Merchants are seek
ing broad buildings, which admit Of the
best possible display OF goods. The mar
row buildings are good for storage pur-
poses, but they are no longer regarded
80 NNF-AfNbin ~ iififANNto WHO Atrlu il
OF the greatest importance 10 catch the
attention of the public with. samples at
tractiyely shown in the windows.
DEMAND FOR DWELLINGS.
The demand for dwelling houses has
very greatly increased during The past
year. The number OF vacant buildings is
not nearly 50 great az when tho year be-
gan. Rents, however, are little If any,
higher
During the three years beginning with
1889 there was a great residence building
boom in Richmond. More buildings were
erected than the demand JUSTIFIED. Many
Of them have hardly ever been occupied.
Especially is this true Of suburban resi-
dences. When the hard times ret in
houses began TO he vacated Families
doubled up" The householder who
thought himself hardly able 10 rent a
house singly arranged with his neighboI
10 nave them both occupy ths same resi-
dence, and thus cut tho rental IN two
Many men also left Richmond and To-
Gated elsewhere. They were searching
for location which the hard times had
not reached.
The enforced economy Of the financial
stringency also caused the demand for
suburban residences TO decrease. Houses
nearer the business centre could be rent
cd as cheaply. and the daily expenditure
OF several niclels for car-fare could be
avoided. The suburban houses were
probably more modern and comfortable,
but the old houses nearer the heart OF
the city would DO for hard times.
But the vacant residences have greatly
filled up during the past year. This ID
not strikngly true of suburban houses
though the demand for them has mucl
increased. There has been "a great inlu'
OF families TO Richmond during the yea
just closed. The increase I'm poulatioi
from the outside during 1902 promises q
be much greater than during 1899
THE DEMAND FOR REAL ESTATE
There have been several remarkably
good sales of realty in the last few
months Of the year. The prices through
out the year have been better than in 1895
or for several years preceding. All the
agents report many inquiries regarding
Richmond real estate. These are comin'
in from capitalists. both at home an'
abroad. who are seeking investments
They indicate that the certainty Of values