The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-10
RICHMOND TO-DAY
IS ALREADY GREAT
Greater Richm ono Is
Now on the Map, and
Must Be So.
FACTS AND FIGURES
TO BE PRESERVED
Some Data That May Surprises
Some People-Banks That Do
Business - Factories That
Make Immense Pay Rolls.
Wholesale Hotties That
Hustle.
BY FRANK s. wooDsoN,
Industrial Editor.

BY FRANK >. WOODSON,
Industrial Editor.
Since last Monday there has been
so much talk about Greater Rich
mond' and tho people I have had the
pleasure OF interviewing, whose re-
marks are recorded elsewhere in this
Greater Richmond edition of the In
dustrial Section, arc so enthusiastic
about annexation and the coming re-
suits of the same, there is some ap-
prehension that the average reader
will get an idea that Richmond was
never great before, That would indeed
be a mistake. The dear old town has
been great all along. and only about
month ago I had something special
to say along this line. So far as
have been able to learn, there has
been since then no material change
in the figures then used. except those
of the post-of1ice, but the local coll
umns have told about that "increased
business" and how the men who en-
larged that business got nabbed and
are likely to spend some years look
ing through the bars. 1t may be we'll
enough to use the same data and fig
ures, barring the post-office figures,
and II ally reader remembers them suf-
ficiently we'll to make the story stala
he has my consent to skip this COL
umn.
then published showed that Rich
lnond's bank clearings for last year
amounted to sS65,0oo.0oo. as against
S299000,000 the year previous, an in
crease for the year Of 81 per cent. The
increase in ten years was lis per cent.
the clearings in 1899 being s166.0o0.
000 Bany deposits showed an increase
last year of Ii per cent. over the pre-
vious year. and a07 per cent. in n
YOn,,l Il
of IS per cent. last year over the pre-
vious year. and IT'S per cent. in ten
year period. Bank capital and surplus
showed an increase last year of 3 per
cent. over 1905. and an increase OF 10+
per cent. over ten years ago.
What the Statements Show.
The statements OF the eighteen
banks on the Clearing House Exchange
published not more than month ago
show that at that date these eigh-
teen banks had a capital of $685.
721.37: deposits. s39,455, $685.: circula-
ton Of the national banks, s2.312.7oo.
These banks have loaned out s4e.215.-
536.6S: cash on hand and due from
other banks. s9.197.6s5sO.
The figures from the banks not in
cluded in the Clearing House ES-
change added to the above would
make them read in round numbers
about as follows: Capital, s7.ooo.ooo:
surplus. s6.5o0,0oo: deposits, $4,000.
900: loans. s49,ooo.ooo: and all this
speaks mighty we'll for little old solid
Richmond.
The above figures do not take I'M
the transactions OF the two banks In
Washington Ward" but those figures
are given elsewhere. and should be
added to this show-up
Municipal Figures.
The books of the City Accountant
are exceedingly interesting to man
of figures. because they show, as no
other books can show, how great a,
town Richmond Is, and incidentally
they give an idea of how great a
town 1t Is going to be, especially now
that Manchester has been annexed.
Accountant Crenshaw showed me his
books, and they told me that the ag-
sregate of taxable values last year
was as follows: On real estate. s60,-
140.TS+: on personal property, s4s.-
522,9S9. These. mind you. were taxable
values. which are always lower by 25
per cent. than tho real market values.
1t is estimated that the increase this
year on real estate values will be
s1.750,o0o, This increase will represent
the new buildings erected last year
and the improvements to the old
buildings.
This estimate in nowise affects the
now assessment now being made by
the State Board, which will probably
show an increase for the past five
years of something like s10,O0O,O0o
A Big Town Government
The actual expenditures of the city
government for account OF appropria-
lions of every character for last YEAR
We're s3,21t.69a.5a. This included the
expenditure of the proceeds from a
bond Issue OF s1,5oo.0Oo. Tho proceeds
from this bond issue were expended
for school buildings and equipment,
sewers and water improvements In
Guiding in part that great improve
ment which has given Richmond clear
water and the best water any city in
the South enjoys These improvements
constitute a distinct addition TO the
assets of the city. FOR not dollar OF
the bond issue was expended for cur
rent expenses. On the contrary, over
100000 was expended from the gem
eral revenue for betterments and the
Increase OF the city's assets. Among
these NAV be named 100000 for the
armory for the Richmond Light In
fantry Blues; s150,ooo Tor street i'm
provements. $4,000 for sewerage. s42,-
600 for water mains and fire protec-
ton, $4,000 for the Hanover Street
School site and for the -hstterment OF
school buildings. and 10000 for gas
mains, etc.
Assets Largely Exceed Liabilities.
The school buildings and grounds
owned by the city are valued at ST. E
100000, The aggregate assets of Rich
mond municipality amount 10 sl6,-
100000; and this exceeds It's bonded
debt by more than five and a half mil
lion dollars, The actual revenue of
the CITY last year, exclusive OF tho
bond issue, was about se,5a0,do0.
Great Jobbns Centre.
Tho capital employed in the wholc-
sale and iobhing trade of this city
amounts TO sla,0oohoOo. aud the fig-
sures show an increase in 1909 OF per
cent over 1908. and IN increase OF "a y