Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-31
R|CAMOND'S GR0WTH
: AsTON|sHEs EVERY ONE
Ten-fear Comparative Statistics
Show Solid Foundation on Which
Its Prosperity Is Built.
ADJUSTED TO WAR CONDITIONS
Factories offered to Government,
and Wage Earncrs Are Making
Higher Sums Than Ever Before.
All at Work That Want Work.

Richmond's growth In the past ten
years has been tremendous and Is
hardly b~elievable, unless figures from
onicial reports arc cited in support.
yet to tho average citizen 1t has not
been abnormal. for he has witnessed
this expansion from day to day un-
mindful OF the great changes that were
taking place in the very heart OF once
The capital of the Confederacy. Its
manufacturers have increased their out
put fully 40 per cent. and the jobbers
their sales equally as heavy, but
wherein has really grown is
IN It's banking business. for that single
item In recent months has caused II to
De reckoned with as Que Of tho lead
inS cities Of the East.
Ten years ago, on December 81, 1906,
Richmond banks announced that their
aggregate clearings for thai year were
aa22.4t2.4l3. On January /. this year,
those same institutions had cleared for
the previous twelve months a total Of
Ss3o,270,94s. a total of nearly three
times as great as that OF ten years ago.
Going back a few years further. one
nnds that in 1900 the clearings were
only 3l6s.ao1.057. In addition. the
clearances Of the Fifth Federal Re-
serve Bank. in Richmond. agsresatins
$l.322,252, 500, have not been included.
MADE RAPID REIMBURSEMENT
TO VAR CONDITIONS
While these figures show clearly the
steady growth the city has made dur
Ing the past few years. Richmond has
experienced a great expansion within
the past two years. especially since
the read5ustment that followed some
months after the outbreak Of the Eu-
ropean war. For j short time. IL is
true. this city suffered like every other
section Of the country from the stag
nation OF business. but II as quickly
recovered Since that readiustment It's
steps forward have boon stead and
unfaltering. Its manufacturing plants
have been working night and day in
many instances, employing a larger
force Of workmen than ever before in
their history; the retail, business is
unprecedented, and it's munition ousi-
ness alone has been vast.
And now with the declaration Of
war with the imperial German govern
mcnt there will be no cessation Of ac-
INVITES. For one reason. the business
OF this country. and Richmond, must
rontinue, and another Is that lo5 in
dustrial plants IN this city have offered
their factories. equipment and output
TO the United States government for
the production Of war materials in me
struggle.
RETAIL AND WHOLESALE
SECTIONS ARE ACTIVE
Both the retail and wholesale dis.
tricts are alive with such an activity
az has never been seen before in this
city. The annual sales of the jobbing
trade last year aggregated tS2.65S.-
$50. Ten years ago the business total
ed $63.9lS,3so, and in 1900 they were
only S3S,3II,ee5, showing 4 steady up
ward trend with Il Revcr-ceas!ng in
crease from year To year. There was
also \ substantial increase in the capt
tai invested in the Jobbine business.
In 1916 there Vy1g I'll lBt. -np ,nrag,al
as compared with SII.3!5.233 in 1905.
In 1907 there were 1879 manufacture
ing plants in Richmond. which in
creased TO s,lca in 1916 Figures show
that last year there was 4 total OF $40.
S7i,3o0 in apital invested in these
plants, which had grown from s32Sli,-
1913 ten years ago and slT.33e.32: in
1900. The sales from these plants to-
tailed sl07,lsT. $50 last year. sSo.oTl.74s
in 1906. and only 1 i,336,923 in 1900.
Another item showing the growth of
Richmond during these years is the
record OF receipts at the post-onice in
this city. Last year these hsures ag-
gregated s9ie.SSo. as compared with
sa+5.ols ten years ago., and s242.Sto
In 1900.
In 1900 the area Of Richmond was
hre and one-half square miles, in
creased to twenty-four and one-half
square miles in 1916. AT the beginning
OF the twentieth century this city had
a population of $1,000 souls. In 1905
the population was 1851. and In 1915
15s.70o. To-day Richmond has a metro
politan population. according 10 figures
compiled by the Chamber OF Commerce.
OF $4,000 people, Of which ap7roxi-
mately 10000 reside within the city
limits.
STREET CAR FIGURES
ARE INDEX OF GROWTH
In this connection the number Of
persons transported by the electric
lines of the city are especially inter,
estinG: Away back In 1900 the trac-
ton lines hauled a total of 1S.2Ta.sSo
persons In 1906 the Same system
transported. including transfers, as
ISL, 900. which increased last year to
45.600,79 During this time the miles
Of track used for such purposes in
FOR THROAT AND LUNGA