The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-28

| Bright with prospect IS the year OF 1909
| for the Capital City c. Virginia Virgins
| has shared in the prosperity OF the whola
| country. and of that prosperity Richmond
has had her portion without stint. More
and more Richmond becomes the financial
center of the State and of the South. AS
each year passes the city becomes more
metropolitan. Already more than one
third of the banking capital OF Virginia
is located ir Richmond. and nearly one
third OF the bank deposits OF the State
are in the financial institutions OF this
city
SPIRIT OF PROGRESS.
This is only one of the straws which
show the direction OF the wind Sona
years back Richmonders perceived that
the future of the South depended upon in
creasiug the manufacturing productions
Of the South. Since then there has been
such an advance that it would be called
Il spurt except that there is no cessa ton
Thc squirt is maintained. 1t is progress.
Philosophical and far-seeing citizens.
with brains and energy. invested their cap
lts4l in manufacturing piants.a and the rec
oids show that their energy was not mis-
directed Richmond has grown to be thu
leading manufacturing city OF the South
Her products go to every country and To
every cline.
This is an age Of hustle Richmond was
never content 70 be behind Hustle is tho
r,ile in Richmond to-day. And in the COM
ing year the hustling citizens will carry
Richmond still further along the road OF
nearer the cay when the one
time ca pital of the Southern ConfederacJ
will be the largest the richest. the most
beautiful and the bus.est city in the vast
and wonderful area of country stretching
from the crystal waters Of the Potomac
to the banks of the Rio Grande.
In that magnificent stretch there IS no
city more blessed in its location than
Richmond. Perched upon the banks OF
The James, where that stream takes It's
last leap ere pursuing It's journey TO the
sea through the finest ship roads IN the
world; rejoicing in the, finest water power
on ths Atlantic Coast; with deep water
at her very Threshold: with unsurpassed
surroundings for insuring the health OF
her citizens. and with ctizeEry that ia
devoted TO her advancement and possess
ing the energy. push and brains necessary
to insure her success. one could hardy
irlarine city that had cause to look 70
the future with a surer hope
CLEAR WATER ASSURED.
But Richmond has more causes than
these for rejoicing. Within the year now
beginning there are to be steps taken
that will make the city vastly more at
tractive than now. The national govern
ment has made an appropriation that VITA
insure the deepening Of tho channel and
wa ter navigation TO within the city's ve-y
gates. a new Federal building is to be-
erected that will increase-the .fac'H'ses
for handling the mails and make them
the equal of any city III the land; nud
the city is to have clear water This
last will in itself be enough to make the
coming year one of the epochs in the
history OF Richmond This has been fer
only drawback and now this Is to be re-
moved and released from every tandicap.
the city will so forward like rhe hcrnds
when loosed from their leash
The spirit of combnat:on and consolica-
ton that has been the. Leading feature OF
the Industrial and business world has not
passed this city by.Ethougha its effect has
not been SO apparent here as In some
other parts of the country. Within tha
rast year the Richmond Locoro.sve
Works of this city-h1s been absorbed by
the American Locomotive Company. But
iris fact has worked no injury 30 the
city. For since. as well as bafore. he
consolidation was effected the works have
been as busy as possible. The plant h 8
been running full force and on the last
pay day OF the present year over fifty
six thousand dollars was paid OFT to
the employees. this beirs the largest
amount ever paid on one day In the
plants history.
The street railwayssof the city. togeth-
er with the power and lighting p ants
are now under one MANAGEMENT The
.esult of this has been the great eniar~e-
nent of the power plant Work on this
project is well advanced--ard ere the
,ew year IS old more electrical power
viii be available in Richmond. The tw1
telephone companies are to be conso3-
lated within few days IL there Is net
some hitch in the ne-nt'at.ons that have
practically been concluded
The wholesale grocery trade Is being
gotten closer together by way o, a cona-
oine. One or two Of the largo wholesal4
leaders have withdrawn from the trade
and -thera has been a consolsdat tion 90 S