davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01

md the consolidated plants will turn
cut some eight or ten miNon pounds.
Tho charter for the Spencer Brothers
Company has list becl, obtained, ana "
will DO Il consolidation Mt this point OF
the business Of j. .. Spencer, OF Dnh-
4ti)lc; D. IT.; Spencer and Sons. of Spencer,
and Spencer Brothers., OF Mnrtihsvil!c,
They have mnde4no announcements f the
details Of tlier. plans, but It Is understood
that this company will have ali, annual
OUTPUT Of five or SIX millions Of pounds.
Tho leaf lnartct In NlnrtinsvllIa is keep
ing pace with its manufacturing ilitor-
ests. and is going rapidly to the front ms
ono Of the big leaf markets Of the South.
1t is expected tina ut least twenty MIL
'ion pounds will DO sold on tho ware
.houss floors here tho coming year.
B Work is progressing rapidly on the
new Federal building.
'rhe dispensary is nm institution only q
year and d half old, which has worked
Wonders for the material prosperity, az
we'll MS moral benefit. OF Martinsvlllc n
BS1 It has enabled tho municipal govern
meilt to go forward with many important
works OF Improvement, tho most recent
being nh excellent nlacadam pavement
m the principal streets. With electric
lights (Which arc expected this Year,
added to splendid water and sewer sys,
TENS and her excellent mncadam pave
ment and broad brick sidewalks, Mar.
tlnsville will DO up to the standard or
modern, progressive towns
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01

Ing the Alexandria National Bank. tho
capital OF which Is $1,000 # &. (, AZ 4.
q One Of the finest properties IN ting c w
has bccii purchased for no notne o. q, Wy 4
new Institution. and tile directors ,ire e X
pending 100000 iii improvements upon ~, ~.
q Four or i've hundred acres or Ia ~ lust
outside Of tho city have been rcccntly3p ~,
chased by tic several rnllrond companies,
md 1t Is their intention IN tho nehr ~ ~.
.ture to erect a. union depot ana greatly
enlarge their yards.
< 'rhe United suites Government has OK.
pended $50, 900 III erllarglng tho governments
building here, and wheli completed IL VIII WI,
be ono of the finest, for the size OF the
city. III tho United states.
King street. tho business center OF inc
city, has been rcphvcd with V1lrllled
brick at All expense or about $4,000. r
rho Robert 1oortner Brewing Company
has purchased the old cotton factory ana
hns expended $4,000 In making 1t tho
largest bottling establishment IN the
country
37Ihe depth Of water in tho channel Of
the Potomac from this city to the Chesa-
peake Buy has Increased from eighteen
to twcnty-six fcct, 80 that now the largest
ocean vessels can como to this port.
#$yvlien55the new iron bridge that the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company Is con-
str,lcting across the Potomac, and tho
< highway bridge which the government is
going to construct. IRE complete. It is
the Intention Of the electric railway 70
double track Its road to- the bridge and
run trains between this city and wash
6ington every ten minutes III f
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
FREDERICKSBURG.
Municipality and People Have
sCauoht Spirit Of Improvement.

3 especial to The Times snatch") l,
FREDERICKSBURG, a., Ice. 81
Tho year Just closing has peen ollc u ~, w
most prosperous in the history OF ms
CITY. M only has the city itself made
substantial advancement III the line OF
,nyer streets and grunolithic sidewalks,
hut individuals have caught the splrle
and have improved their premises Es.
nrcially is this noticeable In stores OF
tile principal branches OF trade owned
gby the leading merchants. Thcse I'M
,,rovnments have been SO pronounced
that Fredericksburg now co,, " eanr 70
vorably in it's equipment and conVe-
dances Will, other cities twice and three
times It's size. ~.
Among tho city's advantages are It's
geographical situation at the mead o.
tidewater with water transportation TO
Chesapeake Bay and a line OF steamers
p]yIng between this city ana Nofloik,
touching at all intermediate points. with
two railroads, one the great trunk Inc
ycnnnnctinr the North and the South,
known as the Washlngton-Sout and
The other. the Potomac, Fredericksburg
and Piedmont connecting with the
Southern and Chesapeake and ONO kali
rn,ds nj Orange The city draws trade
from n large surrounding country, when
comes not only by steamboat and ra!l-
reads, but by private conVeyances from
every direction.
1t has city water works, city electric
light rlant. city gas works, city sewerage
a splendid public school system and 4
first-class college, unsurpassed telephohs
facilities, with the long distance conncc-
ton, owned by the Bell system, ana tax
able values are increasing each year.
IT'S manufacturing enterprises arc SUP
stuntial and varied, including q SILK mllt'
WOODEN mill. spoke works, wagon WORKS,
njckle factories, canning factory, excel
sior mills, flour mills, tannery, sumac
aud extract works, shirt factory, shoe
factory, foundrles. ice factories and
number of ether smaller plants
All of these manufacturing establish
,nerys have done well In 1903, and are
now in II thrifty condition. The mer-
chants did a larger volume OF business
this year than ever before. Among the
changes during the year has been the
consolidation of the Morrison spoke
J Works and the Lnndram Wagon works
into one big incorporated company, with
Increased capital, additional buildings
ana largely improved facilities. Well
| satisfied with the results OF the year
! 1903. fredericksburg looks forward to
! the New Year with high hopes for IN
creased prosperity.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
KEYSVILLE.
Largest Town in Charlotte Does
Credit to the Country.
fsnnclnl Id The Tlmey. plspatchD

Especial to The Times DlspatchD
i KEYS WILLIE. VA. Dec. Sl;--lhey1Yilie
is the largest town8in Charlotte county,
with d population Of about one thou5sinu'
Is midway between Richmond ana D a..
Vile, on tho Southern Railroad. ING ~.
town is built up With substantlal brlcN
stores, many Of which will compare IA
.yorably with those Of GONE OF our large
Houses Houses, and and IL fine market Tor leaf g,
bacco. A planning and finishing mill doeg ~.
a large business, and during Inc pnstt SIN
months the 1<eysvillc PloW Works nave
built q large foundry ana already the yoe
mand for their manufactured goods ~
greAter than the supply. kcysv.lie mas
two high grade educational instltutlons'-
the &"Virginn Home School. TOR tne
whites. and ."rhc 1<eysyllc Mission ana
Industrial SCHOOL, for the, colored people.
The town offers great inducements 70
any one Wishing to engage n. the rnh my,
featuring business. and sufflcent5land " II
be donated for all necessary purposes.
There are five churches--Episcop Meth
odist> Baptist Fund two colored churches.
The merchants do a larsc supply busl.
of debt, and with few exceptions their
farms are self-supportinR.
A we'll and spring OF very valu bic lr'in,,
cral wnter has been recently disco'erci
for The cure Of dyspepsia. kidney Lnd
stomach troubles, and are known as t.Ine
Scysville Tonic SPRING." under wnlcn
name they will be developed, and large
hotel will soon be opened for guests.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
MARTINSVILLE,
Year Marked by Establishment
Mammoth Tobacco Concern.

Especial 10 The irlmcs-Dispatch.)
S1ARTINSYILIE VA, Dec 3l-Iha
industrial Year In Martlnsvllle llas peen
chiefly notable for tho birth Of two mann
moth tobacco manufacturing enterprises
the Ruckcr and Wilton Tobacco Con-
pany's enlargement and the formation
of the Spencer Brothers Company.
The Rucier and Wilton Company nus
been, indeed for two years past ono Or
the biggest independent plug Manufacture
ing concerns in the South, with an annual
output from this place Of some four mil
lion pounds. Their plant at Mt. AIRY, n,
c., also turned out several million
pounds. The present enterprise Of this
company is tho erection pf new factory
buildings hcra adequate for the making
and storage of this product. covering
some three acres Of ground which will
be pushed forward to completion early
in the new year. 1t means the removal
Of the Mt, Airy business 10 Ibis place
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01

&tnnnorn. rem, Is ono Of tho big planta
that have moved here during the past
year. ii, order to avuil itself Of the trans
lpoilntion facilities Of the port !.
q The factory Of this concern is located
OH The Belt limo Railway, which IS n ~
t,irally tile center OF the manufacturing
district The company floated sone SS,l- :
nm of IFS bonds in Portsmouth alone boz
fore making It's move. 1t IS uolnE
great business.
p,he steel Shutter Works In Berkley IS
another. of tho large industries 70 colne
during the year just past rms plnht y
now in operation and Is III y most
prosperous condition.. It's product ls chip,
ped all over the United States ana
aboard,
rlc great lumber working plants OF
their facilities during the year. as nave
lie ship railway and repair plants OF
which there arc many hercabouts
Tie rebuilding of the entire plant nt
tic scaboard Air Line Railways NAN
lions in Portsmouth has been the crown
ms achievement In the Industrial woIla
and are again In USE employing larger
force than ever before and equipped Win
the most modern facilities for hanullns
almost any quantity OF work.
rtn Merchants and FARMERS peanut
scont,,nv has erected on tho Belt Line
Railway, a great peanut cleaning plant,
the largest OF the kind in the world l I y :
ships It's products East and west, nnu
Tie export trade is by no means moon
siderable. a., !
Immediately opposite this plant IS the
site lust purchased by the I'. ;, fos vs.
G,lano Company for the erection OF
great manufacturing plant for the con- :.
version Of the valuable hy-products %, or
its many plants scattered throughoeut IN my
South into marketable shape.
Newnort News and Portsmouth cnpital-
lists are also moving to build y brewery !;
1t is, anticipated that their plants VII ~
materializc early III the year.
Air. John TYLER Dickson, u former resi-
dort of Norfolk, where he was born
sixty-threo years ago died in ~, New w 1of rs
rest in Mount Hope Cemetery, that city,
at noon to-day
Mr.. Dickson had many friends and nc
Ia was n brother Of Mrs. Eugenla d.
Nurdaugh, of Portsmouth.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
sTAUNTON.
A Year Of Prosperity, With New
Enterprises, and Enlargement.
Especial to The Times Dispatcl.)

(Specinl to The -Dlspntcll)
sTAUNToN. VA. Dec. 31.--staunton's
prosperity during the past year Is ni, es-
tabishcd fact, and all Of her enterprises
have made rapid strides towards success.
In several instances tho larger Industries
have doubled their capacity to meet tho
demand ~ .ls
Tho Putnam organ factory ono Of the
largest manufacturing plants hcre. has
increased It's force nearly double during
the last year, and still the demand upon
this company for its musical instruments
Is so great that they are far behind in
o. ders. al sag
The Virginia Carolina Chemical Com
paliy's new branch which began active
operation hero Il year ago, has gradually
Increased it's capacity and when the
srrng season opens will very nenr double
its force at tho works. They arc working
about 100 hands at present, slJs
f. Tho White Star Mills, with its capacity
OF five hundred barrels per day. is run.
ming both night and day aud distributing,
as fast as the cars can be secured. It's
flour In all parts Of the country.
The staunton Overall Company which
has some OF the richest capital. in this
section behind it, is working increased
forces and will have to build an addl-
ton to their factory in the near future
in order to meet the demand for their
goods. Mr.. Fulton, Of the firm, has Just
returned from the West, where ho made
very large sales.
The banks have made a splendid show
ing within the last year.
rho Staunton National Bank with a
capital OF one hundred thousand dollars
has recently been established
The Augusta National has recently
lnedo a number of improvements in their
bank This building, which Is large
three-story brick, was some eighteen
months ago purchased for $4,000.
Tho now National Valley Bank building
w..l DO ready for occupancy within few
weeks. This is q handsome building and
las been under construction about eight
months.
The Farmers and Merchants Bank has
recently elected Mr. CIR. Caldwell pres
ident and Is prospecting.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01

Hh T. / Il.
by Anderson and Cownn; 1nnies Strong
LltmbetN Companys plant, Will, y capacity
or 100000 feet daily; j. a. Wilkeiisoi,'s
extensive lumber yards md wood WORKING
plant: ADAMS Bros. Company. wholesale
building ninterini dealers; Spaigor nj
Company, important additions to plnnt;
Sums distlllery; Bristol Herald ~ daily
newspaper; Rodgers and CompnnS,s pants
and koveralls factory, otc.5 Among tho
companies lust organized is the Crystal
Ice Company. which will establish, h3lnod--
tcrn Ice pant "A +. ~
The oidwuy plant. which Will BIO put
In complete operation carly IN January,
will nnnufactrrc twisted and decorative
hardwoots. and tho Ordway racking
chair, MI III accordance with exclusive
patterns or designs This promises TO be
one of tho most wonderful enterprises
eSer established in the South, and It's
puossibili9es seem ainost unlimited.
There Is every Indication that Bristol
has another prosperous year Just ahead.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
.oNANcoc'K.
Land and Water Give Forth a
Fine Increase in Acconac.

I. Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.J
q ONANCOCK. VA., Dec. 3l.-Thc year
about closing has been a prosperous one.
The yield OF tho crops was an average.
and high prices, as rule, prevailed.
Water products, fish. oysters and gamss
also sold well. The gross receipts OF the
county from land and water was some.
thing over three million dollars.
The Produce Exchange did business
OF orc million four hundred and ntt2
thousand dollars.
Farms are being divided and improve Z
ments can be seen on every side. During
the year at least four hundred houses
have been built, at an average cost OF
$1,000. Land is advancing In price. ana
the "a rmer can DO said to be at home.
There are seventy four+a posto sflcessa
tho county, twenty-five OF which Issue
money orders The public <chools have
one hundred and forty five teachers en-
The last bank statement showed abou,
seven hundred thousand dollars subject
to check.
cornac. and probably to Wachupreague,
via Onley, Is looked for the coming year.
,rte business for 1t Is here, and lis
construction cannot DC longer DELAYED.
Indications point to another favorable
year. More extensive preparations than
ever are being made by the farmers.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
SOUTH BOSTON.
Largely Increased Business and
Tobacco Sales Doubled.


Especial to The llmes- Dspntch.)
SOUTH BOSTON, VA, Doc, 3l,--The
volume Of business for the last twelve
months has outstripped all previous years
4 the history OF the town. The five banks
ttavo made money. and will have the
usual dividends for stockholders.
There have been rapid strides III bulld-
5ings for business purposes, ana many ec-
giant residences have been erected Tho
Virginia Vehicle Company erected during
the Year an immense factory for tho man-
ufacture of carriages and buggles. The
wagon factories, planning mills and brick
yards have been kept busy all tho time,
made money. There have boon two
failures, however. Of some magnitude.
This is q tobacco town. and nearly all
business is based on tho sales Of tho
weed, During the year 1908, nearly twice
as many pounds were sold than In any,
previous year. Fifteen Million pounds ut
an average of over nine cents, All tobacco
warchouselnen are looking favorably 10
1904, from present indications It Is general
~ believed that over 2o,0oO000 pounds will
be sold. New territory Is being canvassed
with bright prospects.
There are six large brick sales houses,
an Increase Of one during the year. The
prospects for traffic in every depart
nent WAS never brighter than It IL Just
now. 0 tsl
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
BLACKSTONE.
Great Strides Have Been Made,
Manv New Buildings.

Especial to The Times-Dispatch)
BLACKSTONE, VA, Dec. 3l--Rlack-
stone ha scnjoyed great success during
the past year, and is Justified in expecting
even greater strides during thfz, next
twelve months.
The bank reports show large increase
of business. The merchants report pros
porous year. and manufactures have been
kept busy ana largely :n.toasad their
outputs. Much building has been done
both OF business houses and private res
licences. A fine brick business block has
taken the place OF a wooden row utstroy-
cd by fire in February The handsoncst
residences lii the town have boen con-
structed during the present year. A new
Presbyterian Church has been completed.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
BRISTOL.
The Border City One Of the Most
Prnaressive in Whole State.

ID. +
Especial to Tho Times-Dlspatch,)
BRISTOL. VA.-TENN., Dec. al.-The
advantageous location OF BRISTOL, va
Tenn. Wit. reference to distribution, mas
brought It rapidly into prominence WITHIN
the past fey years as both q commeFclal
and Industrial center. the RAPID deVel
cpmcnts in the coai fields ana at the
iron mines, as VOL ~ In the great for
csts of timber. has opened to Bristol an
inviting field. and the cntcrprisng buss-
ness men and manufacturers have not
lost the opportunity.
Within five years tb, volume OF bus.
ness has Increased at least by five times.
Bristol being the headquarters Of the
Virginia IRON. Coal and Coke Company,
The Virginia and Southwestern Railway
Company. tho South and Western Rail,
way Company, The Cranes Nest Coal
Company and other important conf
panles, has had every advantage In tho
way Of q stimulus to industrial enter
prise.
New industrial; plants and new COM
merciai houses have arisen. and for at
least five years 1t has been one contln-
nous march of prosperity, The business
streets have been paved, granolithic side
walks have been exetnd,od to every part
| OF the city and many other conYeniences
1 have been provided. including the safe
guard of a well equipped fire depart
| rlent.
The year, from the standpoint Of build
| ing has been most successful ono.
| New and commodious structures Of brick
| and stone. now line the principal streets.
| including new stol, and Office buildings,
| hotels aud q handsome new union pnsscn-
| ger station. These improvements cost
| several hundred thousands OF dollars.
| The architects say that, Judging from
| the plans already applied for, and for
| the numerous INQUIRIES, the year 1901 bids
/ fair 10 he fine building year also,
| Within five years Bristol has doubled
! her population, having now a population
| of about 1900, To her industries there
| have been added number Of substantial
/ concerns. Among the most important en-
| terprlses 10 have been completed In 1903
/ are the following:
/ Ordway Manufacturing Company's
! plant, at cost Of $4,000; Extract plant,
'Ss asR addition to Dixie iannery; Canncry.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
ROANOKE.
The Most Prosperous Year in


Especial to The Times Dispatch. /
ROANOKE. VA, December 3l.-Thc
past year has beer the most prosperous
in the history Of the Magic City. All the
enterprises with the exception of ono
the cotton mill. have Increased the ca
pnclty OF their plants and capital stock.
The high price Of cotton shut down the
cotton MILL Eli
The Virginia Bridge and Iron Company,
one Of the largest enterprises In the city.
expended about $4,000 In improvements
of the plant. and Increased the captal
stock 500 OoO. The company builds bridges
all over tho country, has erected several
in foreign lands, and is now the only
bridge company In this country bidding
on a, bridge for the Chinese Government
The Stone Printing and Manufacturing
Company, owners OF one OF the iaise s.
printing plants in the South, added 70
their building ana put III $4,000 OF new
The Evening World added $4,000 Of
improvements in new machinery; the
Norfolk and Western has spent over
$4,000 improving yard facilities. ana the
Street Railway and Electric Company.
which passed into new hands this year,
has spent about 100000 on equipment.
power-house parktn and casino. The VirT
ginin Brewing Company has made a
$3.50 addition to its plant.
Three now enterprises have been added
during tho year-a large candy factory,
silk mill and hosiery mill-all of which
have done we'll.
Over 100000 have been spent on new
buildings. \ A new building has been erect
ed for the Railroad Young Mems Chris
tian Association q: a cost OF slb,COo Tril-
ity Methodists have erected a new church
buildng Eat nsgcos ESGof $50 900. Five large
storehouses have been erected on the
principal business streets. The Elks
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
RADFoRD.
Has New and Flourisl1ing Man
Observation-Disclosures Year.

= O. N
(spcciul to Tho Times Dispntoh)
BRADFORD, VA, Dec. 31.--tSadtord IS
forging ahead slowly; but surely. Tho
venr Of 1909 has been n good ono for tho
town. and the prospects for lOu'l are
bright and promising. All OF hor plants
arc in active operation except the iron On
furnace, which closed down for repairs
/, few %wc,als ugo,sand a number Oh new
Industries will shortly DO opened. \,
Rndford- Portsmouth Veneering Company,
which will open shortly after January
list for the manufacture OF veneer ana
thin a cut lumber. Capital of Rudford
trnnch $50 900; number Of employees,
about forty. They have in their yards
several hundred thousand feet OF Top
lar lumber.
], Another new enterprise Is the New
River Sandstone Brick Company, COM
posed Of capitalists from tho Flat Top
coal fields. Tho capacity Of the plant VIII
DO 10000 bricks daily, manufactured from
lime and sand by steam process Ihclr
plant ia being erected on the farm Of
Judge George T.. Cass.ell. ss$#55s
Still another new factory Is the Nor
gan-Prutt Manufacturing Company, an
Ohio concern, for tho manufacture of
butchers skewars, hammer and sl e., So
handles This firm has orders five years
ahead and will do a thriving business.
Among the old firms are the Glamorgnn
Pipe and Foundry Company, tho Theresu
Iron Furnace, tho Radford Water Power
Company the Radford Industrial Works,
Radford Woolen Mills, and Radford Ice
Company, all of which close a prosperous
year. s5i .S.
Thc general prosperity OF the town is
evidenced by the substantial brick busl-
ness blocks erected during the year the
fact that there are no empty houses IN
town, and other ulmstakabl.s signs Of
prosperity. Both wards have q first
class. up to-datc hotes with q. large COM
Emerclal patronage. st. Adams maintains
its old high standard, and there Is q
Weakening UP in the public schools and
churches. The Southwest Virginia Agri-
cultural and 1.-Two Stock Associations
exhibits have added to the prestige Of
the town, and, on the whole, the pros
poets for 1901 are most encouraging.