The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-01
OSPERlDlDS YIEAR
IN MANCHESTER.
The New Century Begun Under Fav-
orabIe Conditions.
THE PAST YEARS PROGRESS.
Gentlemen of the City Unite Concern
ing Its Advancement. New
Churches Erected. Bank
Prospects Good.

the beginning or the new century.
her people are thankful for the man
ifo8d blessings received and achleVe-
mentS acquired during the past year. All
exhaustive statement or hef SoHoltloh
was carefully prepared and elegantly pre-
scnted to tue pubic through the columns
OF The Richmond Times in January. 1900
Since then our progress in all our va
nous industries and business enterprises
have steadily advanced and become more
stable.
Our people. who for the most part are
Woodworking, industrious ard SOBER
minded. have employment OF some kind
and are earning fair wages which, OF
course. makes the merchants prosperous
and happy.
Many are engaged in working on the
various improvements in progress along
both sides the river front and on the
bridges and viaducts being renewed and
built along the course OF and across The
Noble James,
The health of manchester is. as 10 be
expected account OF its superior geo
graphical position and location on the
south side OF the river and surrounded
by a high and healthful, woody district,
very good.
We have all the advantages that go to
make u heaithful and prosperous city,
such as splendid pure air, good shade
trees, "PIl-UIdlilEu streets dIL dlleA s.
good water Except when the James has
to bring to. the WaShngS from the
upper districts) good sewers, the best
gas light that is known at present with
an economical municipal government.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
Our Council has decided to put a fixed
amount every Year into permanent i'm
provement of the streets and its effects
are already seen in many sections of the
city.
The Business Mems Association has
been taking an active, earnest interest
in the upbuilding and development of the
city and its influence for good has been
recognized by the business men OF this
and other cities. That Association has
a bright outlook and the entire commu-
nifty wish it success and contineud pros
perity.
Our churches are all alive and working
tremendously. Three beautiful structures
have been erected the past year for the
accommodation of the enlarged congre-
Sat:ons in which to worship Him who
has 50 richly blessed them. The new
Methodist church, on Thirteenth and
Porter Streets, is the most beautiful! in
the city, with the Presbyterian church.
OH Tenth and orter Streets, a close sec
ond. The new Asbury Methodist and the
new Oak Grove Baptist churches, in Marx
Addition. are beautiful and COmmOdious-
all showing their fourshing and spirit
ual condition.
Tie schools are steadily advancing
their standard and efficiency. They are
among the very best in the State.
The bank reports a most prosperous
year and its influence and efficiency are
broadening and its usefulness is becom-
ing more and more felt Its officials
are most courteous and tobliginS out
exceedingly careful and absolutely trust
worthy.
Our Fire Department is a prize winner
and not single house has been allowed
to burn down since their thorough equip
ment
Our car service has been greatly i'm
proved and will soon be much better
as the Special Committee of the Coun-
Gil are looking after the city's interests
with eagle eye.
All the old business plants and manu-
factories are flourishing many having
more than doubled their number of en-
ployees.
THE INDUSTRIES
Prominent among these are the Rich
mond Woodworking Company. the STAN
dard Oil Works, the Dunlop Flour Mills.
the Stacy Mattress Factories Standard
Spike Mills, the Manchester Paper-Twine
Mills. the Allison & Addison Fertilizer
Company, the Stephen Putney Company,
wholesale shoe merchants: W. S. Donnan
& Company. wholesale hardware; the
Linton Coated Paper Company, J. r.
Johnson & Co, the largest car-a1le fac
tory in the South; A. D. ShotweIl &; Co.,
tanners; Toler & Sons, furniture works:
the Virginia Leather Co, the Eureka Fur
niture Manufacturing Co. and Frank s.
Son and B. D. Charley & Co.
Many others could be mentioned. Last
u we mention the splendid railroad facil-
tiles for shipping that this city enjoys
by way of the Atlantic Coast Line, Sea-
board Air Line and Southern.
forest Hill is in easy reach-in fact. a
suburb of the city. and is one Of the
loveliest spots in this country
W. T. MATHEWS.
President Business Mems Association.
4 GOOD YEAR.
MIR. A. L. Adamson. in speaking OF the
past year, has this to say:
VIVA: sort of q year have I had? Very
good. In fact. my business has been bet
ter during the past year than it has been
since 1880. and l ana satisfied that our
people are more fully employed and in
n,etter condition financially than they
have been for number OF years.
The greatly increased demand for la
Dor OF all kinds has not only given plenty
of work for our people, thus giving
them ample means to live comfortably
and in better houses. but also has been
the means of bringing large numbers of
strangers to our city. the result being
that instead Of having several hundred
vacant houses. every dwelling is occu-
pied. and rents are rising. Naturally
this makes real estate more profitable
and in better demand.
There have been quite a number of
sales during the year of city property
for while prices are low good many OF
our leve-headed people are investing:
They know that real estate is too low
and will inevitably increase in the Very
near future.
Yes. our industries are all in d pros
porous condition, a large number have
Increased their capacity. several new
plants are about ready TO start up, and
am glad TO say there are several quite
large industries that contemplate locating
in our city during the coming spring.
MANY NEWCOMERS.
Yes, the demand for timber land and
farms during the year has been good;
there have been more people from the
North and West coming to this section
than 1 have known before for several
years. And right here let me tell you
that there is a very much larger percent
ase OF recent settlers who are satisfied
with their new location than has been