The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-01

The year 1901. the one e-hundredtl-and-
sevcntieth of the existence OF Richmond.
finds the city larger. more prosperous and
moro progre ssiye than at any other period
of It's long and eventful history. The re-
cord of the year 1906 is but an epitome
OF progress from the first day to the last,
and along every line. Without the slight
est suggestion OF artificial imitation OF
values or any of the excitement attend-
Ing spasrnodtc boonts. the capital Of the
Commonwealth OF Virginia has advanced
steadily snd rapidly. and In every respect
tits last rear has been CHS of unparalleled
prospe rity The population OF the city
exceeds 900, without including cons
siderable number residing in It's enyfrous;
and. indeed. so rapid has the normal In.
crease of itsv residents been that 1t Is
already problem to find homes for the
newcomers. Despite a remarkable re-
cord In the building of residences and flats
and apartment houses, desirable rental
, property is so scarce that there is little
choice. and home-seekers must in many
cases engage residences long before they
are completed
It is almost Il maxim among political
economists and students of Industrial
problems that iron and steel are the
barometers OF Industry and trade, and
unerrlngly Indicate the prosperity or the
dulness OF business generally. It5iE like
wise true that the postal receipts OF
community are q sure indication of Its
status, and when these are Increased
there Is indisputable evidence that popu-
1ation. business and industry have adj
vanced. Applying both tests to this city,
Richmond Is at the high-tide Of pros
Ierity as IL city. Her steel and iron In
dustries were never more prosperous ac-
cording to their own frank statements
and the fact that il has been found neces-
gary to increase capital to handle the
{ demands for products. and orders are
already in hand for works that will re-
uuire months of the newborn year. The
figures furnished by the local post-oftice
conclusivey indicate advance along every
line OF business and industry, showing q
substantial increase in tht ,'Ftump sales
md In the volume of incoiIN )g mails.
Still another, test may b. applied. The
banks and financial iasti,v tons OF the
+ city show substantial increases in the
amount of deposits ana In the value Of
business done. Indeed, SO much money
4 Is being accumulated that others have
been induced by the opportunities Of
profit offered to venture into banking,
and the ewEinstitutions and those en-
larged are doing a thriving business. All
5 branches of trade do business at the
an evidence Of the prosperity of all lines
Of enterprise. Conservatism has mdrked
all avenues of industry End trade, and
the growth of all has been stable and
normal. rather than stimulated and 8artl-
3 fIclally expanded. a9y u
MOVEMENT FOR
GREATER SRICHMOND.s
The story of the year in the life Of
~ {S1-l
elusive chronicle. in which it Is difficult
to Edifferentiate the several subjects or to
consider one phase OF municipal life apart
4 from others Perhaps l t is natural and
best to review the work of tae municipal
corporation itself, and to show what the
city government has done In legislation
sof various classes affecting tho popula-
tion, and particularly In expenditures
which add the assets of the city and
provide additional urban facilities to the
citizens. s85 IL 8ss8
rough estimate the city has eX-
pended or Is preparing to expend. more
than two mi ioa1nof dollars In public inl-
proven pa2ts, lTe in the nature Of
k,nicipal plant and
.1t Meet. Some of this
the revenues of
,f construction
I is8payahle out
OF out OF the
turing theFyear.S
was tho extern
of the corpo-8
lg desired and
Year ago, but
fact until Do-
t Of tho actlon
Ne Appeals, tho
nlarsed by the
city blocks
litlpnal popula-8
real lty values Of
Nth N smaller
valuation, Tho:
rahlo room for
the population
I'd R'age,) .$5.