Year: 1877

not few stores were put up during the year.


City property maintains its value. Sales
are not numerous; for those wanting to
sell vet able to hold have such faith in the
future Of the city they will not dispose of
their property on weak market, assured
that it will not be long before
they will be able to realize full value.
While it is not doubted that there are
inequalities in the present assessment,
those we'll informed say that such has been
the increase in value Of property on
newly opened streets that reassessment
would hardly lessen the aggregate.


Our shipping has made rapid advance,
especially in the articles of petroleum, cot
ton, and coal. This is especially gratifying
as the benefits are distributed amongst
nearly all classes.


AS for business generally, wholesale and
retail dealers, manufacturers and tradesmen,
big and little, concur that but for the check
following the election the year would have
been one Of very marked improvement. AS
it was, November and December were
blanks in the calendar so far as profits were
concerned. Merchants who have been in
business here for twenty-five or thirty years
say in all their experience they never knew Of
time Of such complete prostration Of finan-
cial operations. Nearly all that was done
was done in ten months.


Our municipal affairs have been well and
economically conducted, and, In the main J.,
have been approved by the taxpayers and
other citizens. The new reservoir, which
was put INTO operation a year ago, has been
dispensing blessings TO househol lders gene
rally in the form OF clearer water, and has
been particularly serviceable to those re-
siding in elevated localities, who were be-
fore unprovided for. The efficiency of the
Fire Department has been increased by new
supplies OF hose. The public schools grow
stea dily in usefulness and popularity, and
additional buildings will soon be needed in
order to accommodate the children demand
ing admittance.


From startling crimes, serious breaches
OF the peace, great 1ires, and many other ills
that have befal'en other communities, we
have been happily exempt. The good repute
OF Richmond as to health is enhanced by the
decrease in the exhibit Of mortality. In the
list of dead, embracing those who were best
known to the public will be found the names
OF Henry A. Wise, General Richardson,
Thomas U. Dudley, James X. Dowell, James
II. Rinford. DR.. Dove, and others dear to our
hearts. The Board OF Health were prompt





In religious and benevolent matters the
city continues its prominence. Our statis-
tics prove that our church-going population
is unusually large, and that in active benev-
olence and the support Of charitable insti-
tutions we can Justly claim to be peer OF any
municipality of cur population and wealth.


Having withstood the rudest shocks Of
battle, borne our share Of disaster and trou-
BILE, and been pretty thoroughly trained in
the school Of alyersity, and through all
made steady progress and no halt, it is not
TOO much to expect that in the future


which now Seems full of promise) we will
achieve important distinction and place
l. amond high up on the list Of great cities.


And now we invite our readers to search
&" record we here present and say il we
nave oyerdrawn the picture or encouraged
without cause.