The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-10
Commercial
GERMAN FARMERS HERE.

l GERMAN FARMERS HDRE
A. party Of forty-three Land propretors
| from Germany reached New York May
2nd and began tour OF the country for
the purpose Of studying our agricultural
methods. They were placed under the
guidance Of an official of the Agricultural
! Department They will return to New
| York June oath, after having travelled 20
4S0 miles.
LIFE INSURANCE. BOOMING.
The assets Of life insurance companies
fayo increased during the last year to
| moro than 5000, 000, 900, the years in
crease being $1s2, SOC, 240. Their disburse-
| ments for the year were 1902 OBJ 555. AL
most a half million new life policies
were issued during the year. These fig
ures are from the New York State Insur-
/ ance Department, but cover practically
the country, as all important life COM
panies have offices at New York city.
CENSUS REPORT ON COTTON.
Tho United States Census Office pub
lished final figures of cotton production
Monday. based on four years reports
from the ginners. It appears that in
1902 11,07S. 1872 bales were ginned, an in
crease Of 1868. During the two proceed
ing years there had been q decrease of
several hundred thousand bales. The
Increase occurred in all states except
l.
by drought and boil weavel. The value
Of last years crop is over sSo0,000,0 900.
| making It the second in Importance corn
being first and wheat third. Five hun
dred and thirty cotton seed oil mills have
been in operation.
TIMBER Pt,4 land sALp.
A syndicate or American and Canadian
capitalists, hcldcd by Henry Melville
Whitney, of Boston, has purchased 2,00O,-
900 acres Of timber pulp lands In New
foundland with the intention Of Develop
ing 1T on large scale. Over 100000
was paid for tho land.
GREATEST COAL BASIN TAPPED.
Tho Reading Company began work Tues
day on shaft at Pottsville, Pa, over the
vein Of anthrac cite coal believed to be the
largest IN America and to contain one
half the entire unmined anthracite in the
world. Tho shaft will go to sen level.
The Reading will spend $9o0O000 on this
and other collieres and has ordered the
construction Of starage bins with capacity
of 900, Co., 900 tons to avert coal famine
In the event of future labor difficulties.
ST. LOUIS HOTEL PROBLEM.
From all parts OF tho country, through
the medium of the press warning words
have been hurled at the people Of St.
Louis and the Purchase Exposition man
d6CAS III pdlIACuloA dpOuIE VIC QuoSllOI Ol
entertaining the Fair guests next year.
Tho experience Of those who attended the
dedication last week is responsible for
this outpouring. The Fair city appears
to have been completely swamped and
even Governors and high officials have to
pay exorbltant prices for inadequate shell
ter. Colorado's representatives have for
mally threatened to refrain from parti-
cipation In the Fair unless promises OF
better treatment than they received are
made.
TWO RAILROAD REPORTS.
Annual statements for the year 1902
have been made public by tho lake Shore
and Nickel Plate Railroad systems. The
former shows a surplus Of CO per cent on
the stock above dividends, although net
earnings decreased on account OF increased
cost Of labor and supplies, The Nickel
Plate had a decrease of 40 per cent in
freight traffic due to minor strikes and
failure of grape crop.