The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-01
RECORD YEAR IN
RE TAIL TRADES
Volume of Trade Increases ana
Better Grade Of Goods
Handled,
THE PROSPECTS VERY BRIGHT
Predicted That 1906 Will Be the
Most Prosperous Year in
City's History.

At tile colse OF the year the retail
merchants of Richmondd, apparently
without exception, are enjoying condi-
ton of unusual If not unprecedented
prosperity and are encouraged Ey a pros
pect of notable advances that will make
the new twelve months the most -four
ishng in the history of the city.
In all lines of trade, this is evident.
not alone an expansion of business. but
IL revival of interest and awakening to
new opportunities that means much for
the future of the city. The volume OF
trade has almost doubled in some cases
and in all show gratifying increases.
Merchant after merchant seen Saturday
reviewed the years work with the ut
most satisfaction and expressed great
confidence in the future The outlook
gencrlly, is conceded to he about the
most promising the trade has ever
known. Unless unforeseen circumstances
arise the new year is expected on all
sides to establish a new record for Rich
mond. The merchants are getting closer
together il, an alliance for the reforma-
ton of the existing trade abuses and
the elevation OF business standards and
methods, and other steps are being taken
to develop the trade on Eroad lines.
Enormous Development.
When seen Saturday. a leading mer-
chant said:
go far as i am able to learn, the pros
perity of tho past year has been confined
to no particular trade. Every line o. bus
mess las nourishe.. an. "tftae OPP NJ
of the New Year ali are enjoying u pros
pect of still greater success t. come. 1t
Is my calm and deliberate opinion that
during the next twelve montns, unless
sons unforeseen circumstances inter ere or
the merchants fael to gasp the o. pc tu-
mites before them, Richmond trade wal
show an enormous Developments We can
do thire, four or five times as much bus
mess here as we are now dung a great
wave OF prosperity has swept over the
entire counuy and Richmond is getting
her share of the benefits. The danger is
III aece.}tit-4 THESE increases in trade that
come almost of their o. accord, ana be-
Ing satisfied While we are doing that
some o.ncr city is hustling for Itself
ana is seetins civic cas- lnucn Richmond
goods arc not bought in many places Le-
cause the people there don't know any
thing about them. We have got to brng
those people here, We have got to wake
up and make a strong, aggressive move
ment, and believe that that awakening
Is occurring right at this moment. Th $
IS che reason | believe tho New Year will
DC the most prosperous the city HAS ever
known,
But THERE, said he. us even Il more
sisn'Iifcant aspect Of the trade than the
increase in volume.
The people senerally are buying 4; bet
ter class of goods, and are irdulging more
In luXuries than for some time. This is
an unmlstnsabl sign Of prosperity.
When times are hard and money.ls scarce
the people ecpnoinize by buying cheaper
stuff. During the last year the limo of
goods sold has been Of an exceptionally
fine grades. The Christmas presents We're
more costly. When " person bought u