The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-28

There are but few people living an
this city is one of the greatest shipping
Doints on the continent, and as a distrlpu-
Ling centre stands high in the list. More
tirst-ciass tonnage originates at Rlcil-
r1opd than at any other point in the
South
The increase in the freight shipments
for the year just ended over those or
the year preceding, IS something scarcely
creditable, and especially within Inc
past six months. The shiiEncIrts have
reached proportions that are simply
enormous, and are steadily growing One
transportation lines business has, 1or
many weeks. shown All increase OF about
S5.eJO weekly in receipts and this may be
taken as a fair sample Of the business
done by other lines.
S4lir-1nents in many instances are to-
day made in car loads when they were
formerly handled IN smaller conslSn-
anents Hundreds of car loads OF freight
are taken directly from the factory or
the mill TO the car and never pass through
the ordinary channels and routine OF
the freight depot or warehouse
RUSHED WITH ORDERS.
This is true of no commodity in nar:ic-
,liar, but Of freight i'll general. All
classes of freight show an enormous an
crease. and this is especially true OF aron
products. The demand for the manu1ac-
tured article, such as rails, nails, Spikes
and axles and iron for structural Nur-
,,gess mas reached proportions hitherto
unknown Mills are kept busy day and
night, but even when running on doIDle
time find themselves unable TO supply tie
demands made upon them. There Is not
a factory in the city of ltichmoAd that
has not enough of orders ahead 10 IN
sure operation for many months to come.
What is true of Richmond may also
be said Of the country as whole Not
:, manufacturing plant OF any capacity
whatever has failed to experience the
prosperity which the country is now en-
loving. The industrial boom IS epidemic.
rs boundaries are the Atlantic and the
Pacific Lakes ard the Cults.
MAMMOTH SHIPMENTS.
Old transportation lines lind themselves
in a position unable 10 pr~perly handle
the enormous amount of freight with tie
eo,lipr1ent on hand and contracts
amounting 10 millions have been let for
the building of more cars 70 carry = ana
mere engines TO haul IL
The sfli.vards throughout the country
bottoms may be furnished TO supply tie
traffic The fact that the cost 2f ci2-
ttrials has advanced and tha. LABOR OF
all kinds. especially skilled labor. IS at
n premium. has. III no manner. affected
the demand, which shows. even rn6er
,hese conditions. a teadency 10 assume
still greater proportions.
Freight rates have eren ad-anced on
several occasions. hut the demand for
Transportation facilities has il no wise
been diminished.
SOME CONVINCING FACTS.
January has always been considered an
.'otf month";" but even now c>ae bustre<s
done by freight concerns show an I'm
crease ever that of 1S9S and 1879. TIE
total reached during 1888 may be .esar 1ed
as abnormal. both in passenger and
freight traffic. especially the first men
toned. as the increase was due to the
heavy troops movement, but despite. this
fact an increase IS shown III lie re-
receipts of the year that followed, and
now IN the three weeks of the year
iust begun. an increase is again noticea-
BILE.
One OF the various transportation lines.
doing Business in this city. reTor;eG in
January, 1892. forwarding business that
amounted TO about 5000 and of business
received of about 5000. making total
OF Sl-,ttb. 81 1si VIC
urcs to be SET opposite the above are Sll,-
c0nand SGEtk,, making total OF s1I,oN.
Carloads forwarded for January. 1889,
amounted to about A. and received from
competitive points GO; for the three weeks
OF January. 1909. forwarded. 70: received,
~. making the totals Of 105 as against
1G5.
This comparison will practically hold
good fo- other lines. as the increase is.
general.
Passenger traffic, too. shows wonder
i full increase. More people to-day are
travelling than at any time in the histo-
rs OF the roads. This increase is not
confined to either local or through busi-s
ness. hut IS about evenly distributed. In
creases range from. 10 per cent. to 30 and
IS per ceat.
BIG BUILDING RoDsI.
2s Much has been said OF the building
boom which Richmond IS now experience