The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-30
JOBB|NG BUSINESS
CONTINUES STRONG
FIGURES SHOW INCREASE IN COM
PARIsoN WITH THOSE FOR
LAST YEAR.
VOLUME HOLDS UP WELL
RICHMOND BECOMING MORE AND
MORE A STRONG BANKING
CENTER-DRUMMER RE-
PORT GOOD RESULTS.

Business in Richmond during the
year that Is now coming to q close
was we'll up to the average. accord
Ing to those who keep tab on fig
ures and statistics. And had the
business In the fall kept pace with
that OF the spring and early sum-
msr the volume for the year would
have been unprecedented.
AS 1t Is business in most lines will
show an increase over that for that
last year in Richmond. Tobacco, in
the 1obbing line. will show up from
10 per cent better, and IL Is
estimated that the shoe trade Will
show at least 7 per cent. increase.
Wholesale grocers report especial
ly good business, notably in the can
ming line. The volume of the pro-
vision business, which includes the
meat packers. was In excess OF the
volume for last year, out the drop in
bulk values cuts down the profits ma
terially 10 the wholesaler. However,
there Is practically no evidence that
the price was any cheaper by the
time the product reached the con-
suIner. The advent of several pack
Ing houses into Richmond during
the year had something to do with
the increased volume. OF course.
ed increase over last year. thus CIV
ing evidence of the growth and ad-
vancement OF the city as perhaps no
other one single item Of statistics
does.
This also indicates that Rich
mond Is becoming more and more a
strong banking center. which gives It
a proportionately strong standing in
the. business world. Time was when
many customers Of Richmond BUSH
ness houses. especially those In North
Carolina and South Carolina. had to
rely on Baltimore and New York for
loans anywhere above the ordinary.
but that day Is now past. Today II
Is possible for them to borrow all
tho money they want In Richmond.
In other words, Richmond Is fast
getting into the class Of the big
money centerS. AS an illustration
Of the growth OF its financial insu-
tutions. 1t 10 said that there IL one
bank in Richmond today which has
| more capital than all the banks Of
the city fifteen years ago.
Drummers for Richmond 5obbing
| houses find that Richmond IL fast
becoming better known as a finan-
cial center throughout the country.
thus making 1t impossible for them
easily than in the days gone by.
| M The basic law of supply and de-
mand applies In Richmond as It does
everywhere else. This il seen In the
price Of loose tobacco which. on ac-
| count Of q short crop in the countr,
contiguous to Richmond. resulting
! from dry weather last summer. Il
| bringing better prices than last veal
| when the crop was somewhat heavy,
Experts in this special line OF trade
assert that dissolution OF the Tobacco
| Trust has practically had no effect
one way or the other. on prices.
| In the manufacturing line, Rich
mond will show up little better than
In 1910. tho increase being estimated
ut from l to per cert.
Figures IN thts and uther business
| lines are now being prepared by ar
expert for the Chamber Of Commerce
and not until he works them out and
complies them will 1t be possible to
| get anything like an accurate est.
matA Of the situation.
| To some extent. Richmond has felt
the general depression in business
negulting from the prevailing low
price Of cotton this season. due t.
overproduction. 1t is estimated thai
there are now fully 100000 bales
| u tHc HecSy QIouuCt WAlSH CAHuu
be marketed at this tuncture because
OF the lack Of demand. Meanwhile
the price has dropped from IL to
centA Approximately
Just now, the business pulse Is I
trife uncertain in view OF. the ap.
preaching presidential ear. with
Senator La Toilette taking tho wal
into Taft's own country, and viii
the Democrats pretty well divided u
to who will be named to head theil
ticket.
Come what may, It II generally ad.
United that the country does not pro.
pose TO have It, business conditions
upset TO any great extent by Wal
Street * any Of it, satellites. however
much they might b displeasAd X I
candidate not altogether 70 theh
! hking = NAMED on either ticket.
Al ) q