The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-25
THE PROGRESS or VIRGINIA MAN0tAC
II RING, INTERESTS.

II ElNtr IN 1ttfNa9s
A very interesting ana Illuminating state
ment Of the growth Of The manufacturing en-.
terprises Of the state has recently been issued
by the Census Bureau The statistics appS
TO the eight largest o,tes Of Virginia. and
afford opportunity for comparison Of the pro
gress and prosperity Of the various communities
as well as a know ledge Of aggregate values.
II is. If course OF greatest interest to Rich
mondeys that their city should have made rapid
and considerable strides along the path Of com
mercal progress, The figures, which are au-
tboritive. will bring iustihable pride TO the
people Of Richmond and larger realization
of what the aggressive spirit of this city is.
accomplishing.
Comparisons are made between the years
fern4 nm f919 rHo gain therefore represent
Ing The achievements OF five wears.
In 1904 there were 800 manufacturing estab
lis6meuts in Richmond In 1909. $50. an in
crease Of q per cent Norfolk in the meantime
had made an increase Of IS and Lynchburs
of 40 per cent
In 1909. The total value Of Richmond manu-
featured products was $27,74a.oaa. in 1909 the
value was $47.35S, 600, an increase Of Il per
cent Norfolk's gain in the same period was
50 per cent, and I.ynchburg's 1Q5.
In 1908. the average number of wage earners
employed in Richmond establishments was
1244i; in 1909, 14,sfa; an increase Of ~ per
oent Norfolk meanwhile making a gain Of g.
per cent and Lynchburg ~ per cent.
In 1900. Richmond paid in wages $5.275,ooo,
in fao9 sS307 GOO gain Of 81 per cent. The
increase during this time in Norfolk lo2
per cent and in Lynchburg % per cent
I From the above statistics 1T viii appear that
the three largest cities of the State have been
alive to the opportunities of investment and
have been highly successful in finding capital
and locating employees The three cities are
entering upon new period Of development and
the secret of their increasing population is
disocrned in the opportunities Of constant and
profitable employment created by steady com
mercial expansion.
The smaller cities present a larger per
centage of gains than does Richmond. This
is natural and viii be readily understood
when We remember that the original figures q
the Richmond enterprises were so much larger
than those Of the other two communities that
the gain, expressed in per cent, based upon
the original large values does not make SO
conspicuous a showing
We congratulate not only these cities, whose
figures We have given, upon the strides they
are making BUT AT the eftfes Of Virginia Tf-
people Of the entire State seem to be alive te
tho wonderful opportunities Of this new cen
fury and determined to keep pace with tht
onward march OF progress.
The growth OF Lynehburg, In particular, in
the past few years has been nothing short OF
remarkable Denied the geographical advantages
OF Richmond and Norfolk, with no naygablt
stream at her command to aid in the eheaI
movement of freight and with other cities
standing between. and challenging her right
of commerce with the great South. she has
yet become one Of the largest manufacturing
and jobbine centers of the State; and the spirit
Of her citizens encourages the expectation thai
she win continue to reach out after larger
commercial Importance. .