The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-04
ENJOYING PERIOD OF SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS
FINANCIAL CONDITION Of CITY STRONG
AND GROWTH IS STEADY AND SOLO
Well Equipped Schools and Numerous Churches Add to
Natural Advantages of the Municipality Development
of Great DUPONT Plant Adding Largely to Business
of Gty-Splendid Y NJ {. a. Building Completed

tag Is known to substantiate such an
assumption In addition TO about
twenty special Pinkerton men. the
company employs about seventy-fiva
motorhoats for regular patrol OF the
water Of the James River on the
northern side OF the plant.
Soil and Climate Favorable.
The productivity of the soil and the
extremely modest prices az which land
can ba purchased in addition to china
tic conditions. cause many farm set
tiers from the northern and western
section OF the country to make their
homes here. Petersburg is the market
for q surrounding territory yielding
an almost unlimited variety OF agricul-
tural products II addition 20 staple
products and trucking. this section pro-
duces several money crops I'm large
Quantities bright tobacco market
was established in Petersburg In 1919,
which has grown rapidly and IL is es-
timated that during the present sea.
son more than 3.o90. coo pounds of nue-
CURED tobacco will he sold here. Dark
tobacco Ia also raised in large guam
titles n southside Virginia and much
of II IL sold on the floors Of the sew
eraI Petersburg warehouses.
The Petersburg Chamber Of Com
merce is a commercial organization
composed OF about 55a ct The citys
business and professional men, who
willingly give their time and money
for the upbuilding Of the city The
president of the organization. Z. e.
Kent, is one OF the most progressive
and best known citizens OF south
side Virginia. having for a number O.
years successfully conducted in Pc
tershurc one Of the largest furniture
n IA Ia ha
M. Martin. secretary Of the Chamber
OF Commerce. is probably ono OF the
best Informed men Ia general business
conditions of the country that can
10 found anywhere. Since his assoeia-
tlon with the Chamber OF Commerce
he has undertaken and accomplished
many Things which have resulted bene-
fcialiy TO Petersburg and the south
alds, and iS ever ready 10 grasp any
opportunity for the eet,efment or con-
ditions generally. During TIC past
year MIR Taylor Smith has been asso-
eiated with the Chambe as assistant
secretary, and the interest which he
msnifasts In behalf OF the city and the
Southside warrants the opinion that
he viii ultimately accomplish much
good for the commercial life Of Peters
burg generally There IS also in Pc
rershurg an active Retail Merchants
A@rtSAaAoH WITH "a tFNl &C iAFttiANt EfAif
made UP % practically all the lead
Ing merchants OF the city.
The War Betweae the states WAS
fought to "a finish on the iines aroun-
Petersburg and the surrender 81 gil
the armies OF the Confederacy followed
as "a logical sequence az results here
The city's distinction in the great
struggle between the States rests no
so much on the number Of great bat
a-af
army to capture Petersburg or on
the number OF Killed and wounded OF
the oontsndirg armies III he long siege
of ten months a~ on the Importance OF
the achievements and the decisive re
suit or the military operations which
eliminated in she overthrow and the
destruction OF the southern Confsda-
racy. Petersburg was evacuated st the
end of dreary siege on April .. 1885.
and the surrender Of General Lee fol-
lowed after brief period at Apponst-
tox Courthouse.
Historic roiufx.
Among the points of historical IN
terest IN or near Petersburg are:
Old Blandford Church. established In
ls43
site O. Fort Henry. built in 1915
Headquarters OF Revolutionary gen
erals and OF Generals CORVALLIS and
Phillips
Dunn's Hin. from which General La
Fayette shelled General Phillips.
Monument 70 Captain MeRae or the
war Of 1912.
It Greater battlefield, scene 81 -s.4e 81
the hercest and most extraordinary
battles in the worlds history. which
is visited annually by thousands Of
tourists.
headquarters Of Generals Lee, fIill
and Beauregard.
Last meeting place 81 President
fAncoln and General Grant
Confederate and National cemeteries
Numerous Civil War forts which have
been and are being marked with suiia-
HE markers,
some New Buildings.
Among the newest and most up~fo-
date buildings that have been erected
in Petersburg is the Office building Of
the Benevolent Mechanics Association
at the corner OF Sycamore and West
Tabb Streets. This association is one
of two that is known to be in existence,
the other being at Boston. Mass, firc
Benevolent Mechanics Association of
Petersburg was organized to pay tri-
butte to Lafayette IN 1924. and was
permanent fnstitu-
ton on February 2. 1895. Its splendid
new building. which was erected In
1913, has a gross rental space ex-
elusive of four large stores on the
ground floor. OF 1878 feet rental
value of more than $4,000 per annun,
The second, third, fourth. iifth and
sixth floors are fitted - for huAiness
offices with all modern conveniences.
and the seventh floor is used for the
offices OF the Petersburg Chamber OF
Commerce. the associations reading
room and library, containing 10000 to
Is. 900 volumes OF reading matter. and
equipped with baths for the accommo-
dalton of the associations membership.
in the association is limit
ed to white persons skilled in me-
chancs, arts. or practical manufac-
turers. actively engaged In mcchapi-
cal or manufacturing pursuits at the
time OF application for membership.
Many Houses of Worship.
Petersburg has twenty white
churches. exclusive of the Believers
Hall and the Jewish Synasogues or
N