Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-28

Richmond's growth in the past ten
years has been tremendous and is
hardly bclicvable. unless figures from
official reports arc cited In support.
set TO the average citizen II has not
been abnormal for he has witnessed
this expansion from day TO day UNI
mindful OF the great changes that were
taking place in the very heart of once
the capital OF the Confederacy. It's
manufactures have increased their out
put fully 40 per cent, and the jobbers
their sales equally as heavy, but where
In Richmond has really grown Is in
its banking business, for that single
iteDl in recent months has caused it to
be reckoned with as one OF the leading
cities OF the East
Ten years ago, on December 81, 1906,
Richmond banks announced that their
aggregate clearings for that year were
s322.442.fl3. On January /. This year.
these same institutions had cleared for
the previous twelve months a total of
a total nearly three times
as great as that of ten years ago. Co.
ing back a few years further, one finds
that in 1900 the clearinEs were only
81 65,901.o57. In addition. the cicar-
ances OF tho Fifth Federal Reserve
Bank in Richmond. aggregated .l,S2c,-
MADE RAPID REIMBURSEMENT
TO WAR CONDITIONS
While these figures show clearly the
steady growth the city has made dur
ing the past few years. Richmond has
the past two years. especially since the
reimbursement that followed some
months after the outbreak Of the Eu-
ropean war. For short time, II is
true. this city suffered like every other
section OF the country from the stag
nation OF business, but il as quickly
recovered. Since that reimbursement its
steps forward have been steady and
unfalterins. Its manufacturing plants
have been working night and day in
many instances. employing larger
force OF workmen than ever before in
their history. the retail business is un-
precedented and It's munitions business
alone has been vast.
And now with the declaration of
war with the Imperial German govern
mcnt there will be no cessation OF ac-
tivities. For one reason, the business
Of this country, and Richmond, must
continue; and another is that les in
duStrial plants in this city have offer ed
their factories. equipment and output
TO the United States government for
Viz P'''NNNioi VI hoi III the
struggle.
RETAIL AND Wholesale
SECTIONS ARE ACTIVE
Both the retail and Wholesale dis
tricts arc alive with such an activity
as has never been seen before in this
city. The annual sales of the jobbing
trade last year aggregated sSa,65S,-
900. Ten years ago the business total
ed s63,9lS,3S9. and in 1900 they were
only s3J,317.os5, showing a steady up
ward trend with never ceasing in
crease from year to year. There was
also substantial increase in the capt.
tai invested in the jobbinE business
In 1915 there was Sl4.105, 500 invested,
as compared with S11.915.233 in 1906.
In 1907 there was ,6l3 manufacture
ing plants in Richmond, which increas-
cd to 2,103 in 1916. Figures show that
last year there was total of $780,
$4,000 in capital invested in these
plants. which had grown from s32,-
Sl4.s99 ten years ago and s17.332,33o
in 1900. The sales from these plants
totaled s1o7,l97.250 last year, SS0,O71.-
742 in 1906 and only s4l.336,9o3 in
1900
Another item showing the growth OF
Richmond during these years is the
record OF receipts at the post-office in
this city. Last year these figures ag-
gregated S9+?.SSo. as compared with