The times dispatch. [volume], January 01, 1904, Page 2, Image 2

About The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
?*e tit*? held their ?Wfl well. Owing to
tie low prices riling In loaf lobncco, col?
leellrtft? nave beeji a bit slow Iti sections |
where t?Wieeo le the chief money crop. ,
. In those where cottoti Is (ho stitpie ero?
(prosperity feigne end collections were |
n*ver(; better.' All tho merchants In the ,
?ottoh belt uro meeting their bit? as I
promptly as.evor before, while In the to?
bstw?o bolt, at staled, some ere a trifle I
behind. Merchants havo sold goods piti* |
rtently Atid cautiously, and have, there- |
fore, t?*?t no moro than usual In Inubtl
Hy to collect,
New Trade Fields.
All tho lines of trade hereabout have
had a ralrly good year, and In some
cases business has been greatly extended.
New trade field? have been opened up. aid
?he volume of business of Richmond job?
bers Is steadily Increasing, In some cabes
buying ha* been somewhat diminished,
but generally the demand appears to have
been normal. The holiday tittdu I? uuu
er.illy i-onorted as Above the average.
Whether the people arc more prosprotiH
or less prosperous than In former yenrs,
there appears to bo no marked dlmunltlon
.? In their holiday purchases, nor for that
matter in tnelr purchases all tho year.
As stated, however, the prosperity of
the various ?eetlons tributary to this.
City varies somewhat with thu value of
the money crops, upon wh'ch the mass of
the peuple depend. The shoe traile, tho
dry goods and notion trade?, tho' grocery
trade, the drug trade, the hardware tnirie
and- all the various linos of domestic
commerce have had a very good your.
?'though not in many cases tho best year
In their history.'
In manufacturing Richmond's old ?vtab
llshed niants have had an average yeir.
'Although, through Intttiences over which
the city nnd its people have'had no con
? trol, eevoral large plants have decreased
-their operations somewhat, the Btrletly
local manufacturing enterprises have been
operated without cessation during the
j year, nnd haVo afforded protiiable em?
ployment to thousands. Tho Rountroe
Trunk and Bag Company have during
the year extended their sphoro of opera?
tion's by enlarging their plant. Many
: other enterprises hnvc made extensions
and enlargements, and now ones arc in
contemplation.
Among the prospectivo new enterprises
Is one to bo known as the Fair Oaks
Distillery Company, with? a plant seven
miles from the city. In Honrlco county,
Besides distilling, this corporation will
engage In the manufacture of compressed
yenst, and proposes to do a largo business.
The Tobacco Business.
f ' Th? tobacco manufacturing enterprises
of the city, which have always been the
backbone of the city's Industrial life,
he.ee never done a better year's business.
The Independent manufacturers nil report
that thoy are doing a hotter business
and a larger one than In many yenrs. The
same Is true .of tho great tobacco cor?
porations, which own so much property
and contribute so materially to the in
~ dustrlal life of the community.
During the year the Butler and Bosher
..plant has been acquired by the Conti?
nental Tobacco Company, but Its output
ha* been Increased as a result of the
'.acquisition, and will be further Increased
during the coming year.
The great plant of the T. C. Williams
Company has been acquired by the Brlt
. . lsh-American .Tobacco Company, the gi?
gantic enterprise formed by, the com
, munity of Interosts of the Consolidateli
Tobacco Company of Ameri'cn and tho 1m?
perlai Tobacco Company of Great Brit?
ain and Ireland, and will be dovoted ex?
clusively to the great export business of
the International combination, formed In
theh truce of a year or two ago..
Tho Imperial Tobacco Company, which
has Its American headquarters In this
city, and conducts its American opera?
tions from this point; has Just promul
_./'gnled plnns for the erection of a commo?
dious orfico building, and will, In -addi?
tion thereto, greatly enlarge ? lift re
handling plant Here,
?Wh'V? the Internal revenue recolptn
show a slightly decreased revenue from
manufactured tobacco, this does not
mean that the output of Richmond fac?
tories has decreased. On the other hand,
the docrear.? In revenue is due to tho re?
duction of the tax on manufactured to?
bacco by nearly '87 per eont. July 1st.
KK?, thus giving that year six months
of stamp siles at the higher figure.
The revenue offi :e records show a amali
decrease In the export tobacco Interests,
attributable to the cessation of tlie Boer
war. for much of the export tobacco
goes to mll'tary -amps.
Immense New Factory.
The business of the American Tobacco
Company and of the American Cigar
Company during the yoar has been fully
maintained In volume. Tho cigar com?
pany begnn operations In full In their
Immense factory, the largest and best
equipped In the Siuth. and have oneraled
etendtly a H the year. Tho Consolidated
Tobacco Company.(embracing the Amer,
lean Tobacco^ "eompafty, the American
Cigar Company ifnd'the Continental Com?
pany) has !>:-gun Its "echome,of classifica?
tion, nnd In pursuant thereof has an?
nounced that Its P. ,H. Mayo branch will
be devoted to the business of tho Amer
loar Tahaceo'Company and tho manu?
facturo of cut plug tobacco. This will
mean a larger rather than docreaaed
buslhess \
Tt may bo stated In brief that the de?
mand for Richmond tobaccoo Is con
? stantlr extended rather than diminished.
Th? suncured plug and twist uro stead?
ily growing In popularity all over the
country.
In the leaf tobacco Interests the genernV
volume of business of the Richmond
trade la reported on the up grade. Total
sales of evsry kind during the year tire
estimated at twelve und a hnlf mlll'Ohs
It is estimated that the quantity of to
buceo at em mod and handled hero during
tho voar will app'Oxima'e twenty-five
million pourds, while probably fifty mil?
lion pounds nf all r',-i?*os nf tobicco, raw
and manufactured, have bpon so'd during
th* twelve-month, Hapecially do the
manufacturer* tvport largely increased
and oetlve huilne?s.
The Municipal Year.
Th? city ItPelf has never had a hottci
year Its advancement along every lini*
ha?? been steady, and Ih som* resnects
remarkable. The growth of tl?i> city in?
accurately measured In the Increase of
taxable vnluee and In the p.si'manenl
works of fntemal Improvement. Tho
realty of the city has Increased In valu
, ntlon neirly a million and ? half rtni.
t Ian. during the year, and Its nerKonaltv
^Wnore than six mlllOns, while Its revena-i
? ^rpm licenses has been augmented by
Warty fifty thousand dollars. The (??
? orefice In taxe? ussosp,<d amounts In
V nearly sixty thousand. The streets nf the
, city heve hoen Improved in pnvlng. eurb.
f lag. grading and guttering more than In
; any previous year all Factions of the
M,municipality sharing In the benefits ami
?i'.,:'t|a. "i'erp'p?-nt of '?nine* resultinl
1 Among the noteworthy niunPlpal en
? terwlsc? Inaugurated during the yeir
???VJust closed Is the construction of nn ,.W
Ks-Jfcrle plant and stiindpipo for Inerencing
;?. the water pressure of the city. This will
V QO?t ?1?J,'V03, and will he'money well In.
?" vested. The long projected nenllng banlfl
designed lo Injure elosr water for the
city Is now a fact heyond doiPH. Th ?
plant w'll cost some three hundred ud
fifty thousand dollars, but will Insure
Ourw*Coi4biOnoD?y, Cr?%t a x>aya
?S C0?**?' on every
Th? Virginia State Insurance Company
lias assets exceeding ?jui?i?i ?? eurplm
to poJlcyholder? of ^300,000. MONTAGUE
* CO., A*cnU.
" Thrift Is Itself ft good incorno."?
Cicero.
A suggestion for one of
your Mew Year resolutions
?buy where you get your
money's worth, buy where
the Firm buys back the goods
if they prove unsatisfactory,
by and by.
Make a date with yourself
to drop In here and see what
Winter Trousers cost now!
This te Just a hint?that
ycu will understand.
$9.00 TROUSERS AT $6.73.
$7.60 TROUSERS AT $3.78.
$6.00 TROUSERS AT $4.73.
All of our finest Trousers
are in this sale?English
Worsteds and Cassimeres;
fancy and quiet elfeots.
?BERRY?C03
MEN A BOYS' OUTFITTERS. '
wholoRome drinking water for all time
to como.
? new financial systom has been Inau?
gura,nd, whereby tho Interest on tlie
bonded dont will be met and the bonds
retired more rapidly than ever
Fire Department.
Tho Flro Department of the city ha?
been enlarged and.-ox'tended^ tho police
service has boon improved, and steps havo
been inaugurated to ?brine about In?
creased patrol service.
Tho schools of toh city are of higher
standard thnn over before, and new
buildings aro to be added, sites thorafew
having been purchased. Tho curriculum
of tho public schools has boon so varied
as to permit of manual training. In every
respect tho tendency is to muko them
more practical.
Sub-stations havo been established for
iho payment of water arid ?tas taxes. Tne
gas plant of tho city has proved a steadily
growing sourco of profil., nn Increase of
more than thirty thousand dollars In re
eclrts from consumption of gas being
no: ed.
The revenue Of teh city from all.sources
for the year 1901 In estimated at two
million dollars, The school properly of the
city Is valued at ? hilf million, and there
are 12,000 children enrolled.
No muro substantial evidence of Mhe
prosperity of the city is afforded than in
ihe showing made by building operations.
11 Is-conservatively estimated that mom
than two millions nf dollars huvn been
expended In toh construction of great b' s
iness houses, mnnitfuclurlng plants, public
buildings and residences, (ine olglit-stniy
building, tho Richmond Hotel, In near
completion. Another of tho iiiritu height Is
going up at Tenth and Main Streets nnd
a nino-story building Is to be reared at
Ninth and Main.
Among the notable buildings completed
and occupied during the year le Rich?
mond's apartment hous*. the Chesterfield,
which shelters many tamiles la its six
stories. Many of tho new largo buildings
now In course of construction are fl o
proof; Tr? (cathedral, new being hunt at
a ??/?G?? }2G?,000 Is ono of the notoworthy
.htflldings In course of construct'on. Plans
are being matured for the exr>ondl?urp by
the State In enlarging and rohthllltatlng
tho Capitol of tho sum of $250,000.
Fire Looses Not Great.
Tlii ynar has boon oro of immunity fri-m
?ro-t (ires, flnods nnd disasters; Un'll the
il?strurt.'on of the fammi? old CnlOgn
ml'l* a '?t day befo o the on 'of 0 8, the
l'Ire lopses had boon Insignificant, end
oven Including that, nro vastly smaller
thnn tho?e of 1901, and not/1 larger than
those of 1002. Tho destruction of the
Gnllego mllK It may be reninrVed, win
for ? time slightly decrease the output "f
mlll'ns products of the city, hut the struc?
ture will bo rebuilt with tho least practl
"'Mjte delay.
rnir'ng tho yeir tho consolidi refl sffoet
rMlwoy compa??a*, known as the Virginia
Passenger and Power Comnany. oneri t?
<n<r In ?hi?? city, Mnnebeiter and Peters
hurg and Interurban linos, have expended
hundreds of thousands of dollars In bet
torments and Improvements, nnd have
projected nnd betrun the execution of
nlnns looking to rHII lnrger ex^ond'tures.
I? Is ? te?t of. th? financial str-nns-th and
ability of the corporation owning the trol?
ley lines that the Inauguration of these
enormous expenditure In enhirgo-^nrts.
extensions and betterments followed
clo?ely upon the conclusion of a two?
months' Riispenx'on of profits due to a
strike of employes, In which tho com
?>nny suffered heavy losi of roven'oi.
The strike of the street railway employes
was one of the mo?! notable ovontu of
tho year. It extended over p??? than
two monthi. cost two or ?bree lives und
Immense sums of money, nnd required ilv
presence of almost the entire State mili?
tia to protect property and maintain law
and order.
Law and Order.
Thti repula I lop of the city for law nnd
order has been well maintained through?
out tho year, While, as In every olty of
tills size and population, there have bofn
sporadic cases of crime, there have been
no especially noteworthy crimes. Homi?
cides are few, considering the population,
und the racial divlelon of It.
The railway line* tributary to tne city
nil note Increased freight and paNsonger
trame, und are closing a prosperous ye'ir,
in which the city has shared. In faot,
this city has been a large contributor to
the prosperity of the common cat rient
filtering It* limits.
YEAR IN DETAIL.
President Cabell, of the Chamber
of Commerce, Sums It Up. -
To tho Editor of The T;mes-D s/ia'.oh.
city:
Dear Sir?While tho year Ju<?l clo?i-'g
muy um have bec? si'lsf:ictory to in u ,
Il lina given the world another evldenoo
of the gre.anean of our country, Dong
ind enduring are etch ostenti li of t ???
j-rf-itnosB. Thu wonderful development
when marked r>ur ? o i es- ut,e ih.,? ? t io
u,ehi of (he rinunciai issue ? involved In tuo
political campaign of 1W)6 und tho suc?
cessful termination of the Spanish war
? hud given pruof of our giea ness to do.
Periods of such ?ctlv ly must, hoover,
L? .followed by lull?, when tho pendulum
?-jvlrirrs ln.ek and when confidence is als?,
pluced by doubt and distrust. 'J his tic
?Urfod.ln IBM. The Iromoi.dous ox ftn.ilon
of business, tho over capitalisation of
?orne of the many lhduetrlti.li combinat
tlone. created a -distrust which imjHUrOd
? .Ihe popular mind the value of nnth.v
hitherto well thought of securities,' This
distrust, Increased by tho knowledge ?hat
our curiOiicy at certain seasons of tno
year was not sulllolont to meet all ? ho
demands upon It, grew grea'.or and
greater until In tho havoc or values wh on
?t caused, all Invoslments so mii?e.od that
the detjreelatloii, as estimated by our
Becrotary of the Treasury wns far
.greater that tho cost of tho civil war,
And vet there was no punici Cou tl u.iy
thlnft give bettor ov.dence Of our rront
nnss to ondurol We oharuo off o r lo-i e ,
andatili romain tit? flohest na Ion In hu
WortdM If any doubl our wealth, let him
reoall tlio vast resources represen cd ,b.?
our Railroads, insurance Lo np.i ics,
Binlts ami Trust Companies, our Mule \
and Manufactories! lei him ro.ne.ubt-r '
uur exports of over 11,150,000,000 tor tho
current vonr, yloldlng a'trade ?alarne of
?omu $4o0,000..iv0; lot hlrn think of or
soil looming with mineral wealth, and
yloldlng this yonr a whe.U oro? of it.? -
1)00,000 bushels, a corn crop of 2,203 C0j, 00
bushels, an oat crop of "SO.OOO.txw bushcli,
A cotton crop of 10,00j,O,O bales, to say
nothing of hay, barley, ryo, rice, tob-iaco
Hnd tho many other staple? which go o
make up our agricultural weal h. Su el ?
we Americans have a heritage fr.r which
to be grateful and a countrv of which
to he proud. Thore la no room for possi- i
mlstn. |
Richmond during the year hits but farod !
as th? balance of the country. Si.e ? ?
had her lossee, and It Is sad tu chroiilclo
that these loases have In some Instances
fallen with particular he.vlness up ? I
those who hive h*on ilio leader? In our ?
Industrial development, 'ine courage of our
people Is. however, not daunted, .no. is I
their fa.fh In Richmond dlmmod. Our ?
local enterprises are with few excepto ?
In a good condition, our financial Insti*
lutlons are sound, and our poodle aro all
employed. Wo soo around us too mai.y
ov'donces of proaperlty and too mucn
which Indicates growth not to know that
our city Is more than holding It.? own
The results of the ysir'e operations as
shown by actual ngtir.se havi? not as
yet beon made up. but I fee, co.itUm.
they will make a healthy shoivl g Wo
know that the receipts of our Pustu:!l<.e
will show an Increase of &7.0;K)? (or bV4
per cunt.)?over 1902, and the last slalo?
ment made by our banls3 In November
showed a growth of over $J,8 0, 0> In
their deposits during the twelve men tin ??
These are certainly pood Indications.
Our bank clearings will probably puow
a small decrease, but th.s can be, ?? a
larice extent, aocounted tor by the c)vn
blnatlons Into which homo of our prin?
cipal enterprises have entered, wh.? h.
while not a??ectlng the nu nber of paople
employed, necess-l'.ate tholr cleirl..*?
through Now York rather than our ioc.?l
During the your the Chamner of Com?
merce; of which 1 have the honor to be
President, has been earne.-tly. but ? >??
m.??e iiuietly tnun usual, at work
In the city's Interests, A great deai o
Its attontlon has been given to the New
Postonico, the Anderson U-'l In ? enarri to
the extension of city limits, the es?ab
llshment of a State Board of Trade,
merchants' excursions,, and matters of
; ? mo. in this connection, you will per?
mit mo to say that this organiza ton
Bhnuld re?oive the enthusiastic support
of our citizens. It Is a part and pa eel
of our oity. It waa organised to promute
Its commercial growth; ?nd th it is iu
day the object of Its being. Evervoi ?
who loves Richmond, or who has a .nt ? e
In Ha welfare snould bocomo Idftntitie.l
with It, and old in carrying on I s work,
in times of great prosperity nnd actl.ity,
such as those we have just paused
through, there may not be bucIi need if
combined ohort. but now that tho ltle is
not tunning so full In iur favor wo need
the united helo of_all our people to ???-??
? pull, a hard pull and a pull altOfiOihor
for Richmond. r,.
The annual meeting of our Cham nei
will talco pince on the afternoun of the
14th of January noxt, and you, Mr Ed tor,
tinti vom? readers, are Invited tj cune
mil t'ako a hand In tho causes It rop.e
sents. ?
Very truly yours, ?_ ^^
Prosldoiit.
METEOROLOGICAL.
Summary of Conditions During
the Month of December.
A summary of metcorologlctil conditions
during Decomber, ns prepared by tho local
woathor bureau Is us follows:
Char, of Temp. Proclp.
Date. Day. Mas, Min. Mean, ltutlo...
1-Pnrtly cloudy..?1 ?8 31 0
2?Partly cloudy..10 29 81 0
3-ClOUdy.H 29 35 0
4?Partly cloudy..48 30 39 0
S?Cloudy.62 39 ?1? 0
I'-Clcar.40 27 34 0
7-Cloar.60 22 3(5 0
8? Partly cloudy..52 34 42 0
D-Cloudy.33 35 37 .2C
??-Cloudy,..43 30 30 0
11?Clear.33 21 31 0
I2-Parlly cloudy..50 25 38 0
13-Partly cloudy..50 33 44 .33
14?Cloudy.42 31 8(3 0
IB-Clear.39 ' 2S 31 0
16?Cloudy.31 23 2S 0
17?Cloudy.30 23 30 0
18?Clear.38 22 30" 0
10-Cloudy.40 24 80 0
20-Partly cloudy..65 33 44 1.31
21?Pnrtly cloudy.,46 33 29 0
22-Clear.52 33 -13 0
211?Clear.61 27 39 '0
21?Cloudy.40 35 42 ,03
25-ClO dy.63 41 47 .4?
20-Otear.41 19 30 0
27-Cloar.42 10 29 0
28-Cloar.37 23 31 0
29-Clear.61 24 3S 0
30?Clear,. .. ',...30 25 30 0
31?Partly cloudy..?1d 21 33 0
Mom.41.1 2.77 30.1
Atmospheric pressure?Mean, 30.1 9;
highest, 30,59; date, 10th; lowest, 29.CO;
date, 20th.
Temperature?I-Ilghcflt, 6Q; date, 13th:
loweet. Ill; date, 27th; greatest dally
range, 2S; date, 7th; loast dally ninfee,
4: dito, Slh,
Mean for this month-lW. 42; 1898,41; 1G98,
40; I?J1, 40; 1901, 39; 1902. 40; 1003, SO,
Mean for this month for seven years, 3.97,
Averago dully deficiency of this month na
eompnrod with mean of seven years, 3.1.
Accumulated oxees? since January 1 t,
1.45. Avcrugo dally oxcess since January
1st, 0.40.
Wind?Prevailing direction, south; mnxl?
mum velocity (for five minutes) twenty
alx miles per hour, from southwest, tn
20th,
Preclnllatton?Total thla onth In 1897
2.63; 1808, 3.0S: 1699. 2.83: I90, 2.C0: 1901, 6.08;
1003, 4,12: 1003, 2.2S, Average for th a
month for aevon years, ?.,?. Deficiency . G
thla month compared with average uf
aevnn years. 1.12. Accumulated oxceas
since January let, 2,21,
Sunshine anil cloudiness?Number of
clear days, 13; partly cloudy, 9; cloudy, 9;
on which .01 Inch or more of rain foil, 5,
Richmonders in Ne?" York,
(fW'cl'il to The Tlmos-Dlapatch.)
NEW VOftK, Dec. 81,-Waldorf, li. (S
i.cwh, Jr., W, Q. Capitili, E. C. l.uirU
Ui'urid Un on, 13. J. Hollln?RWurih: Coni.
i'ental, J, li. Anderson, E. ?, Summer
BOU.
Dollurs are good thins?. Keep them
at home by Insuring with the Virginia
State. WILLIAMSON t'ALLKY & CO.,
Agoni*.
?SMOKE G?11? AVENUE CIGAR
CUAS. ?. SCHMIDT & CO., M'F'Ci
Combine sentiment with horro sens?
and gut your policy noni the Vlig nln
State, a homo Insth'utlon WILLIAM?
SON TALLEY & CO.. Agents.
Charity begins at homo, so also ought
tho patronage of local hist limions. This
Virginia State should not be forgotten |?
this conii?ctlon, p. ?, .?.^wat? &
SONS, Agent,
FINE YEAR
IN RICHMOND
Prosperity and Good Business
Methods in Municipal
Affairs.
TAXABLE VALUES INCREASE
Permanent Improvements in Va?
rious Departments?New Me?
thod Dealing With City Debt.
| Richmond city has orr/ioycd a prosper?
ous year in her municipal affairs, unti, th?
outlook for her future Is vory bright.
Her real estate has lncroasod In valu:
?1,4?7,230 over the precod.ng year, and liei
porsohal property $?,?17,210, according to
the books of Commissioner of the Rov
enuo Hawkins. Those books also show
an Increase of $18,838.37 In business li?
censes, and a total Increase of $?9,?3?.?.?
in taxes assessed for collection.
The following table allows the value of
personal property assessed, together with
licenses, and tho taxes avallarne for ho...
Value. Tax;
Real Estate .{??,??,?,,?&? W??,tAA?
Personal Property... ?i.OiiO.t?i ?,629,?1?,4?
}81,0?3,172 ;i,i!?,uu...U
Licenses . llu.UuO.tiO
$l,8U?,0u9.9?
Tho City Council appropriated in ih.
last annual budget ?i,aia,,uo.;,u. Of tn.t
amount |6t?,0ui.iij remains ui.expenden
with ono month of the liscal ye.ir yt
to run. Vast improvements, considering
the limited appropriations, havo bed.
made In nearly ail the departments', am.
enterprising and econo,nlcal basilica,
methods have prevailed. There have been
no dotalcailone, und the famous declara?
tion of Mr. Clovoland that "u puul.i
onice Is a public trust" has been ti,t
gu.ding principle of all tho cay's oaiciul...
M/lllCd OF PRUGRK3S.
In neuily every .department iho whit
hand of progress hag shown llsolf duri..?
the year, and permanent Improvement
have been mude or sot on foot. Tne pub?
lic school? huvu prospered us never belo. b.
new house* having been bu.li> and Im?
proved methods of teaching having boon
adopted. Kindergartens have boon estab?
lished, and the force of leucheis onlargou.
Iihpiovcihents have been mudo'In me
fire alarm service, and all electrical ap?
pliances placed under the management
Of a chief. Tho Fire'Department Itse?
has mudo a fine record. '
The city hua been exceedingly fortunute
In having had but few disastrous flier
during the year. Until thai which swept
the Gullcgo mills lust Sunday mornitip
the year was far behind previous ones in
big fires, and in all cases, the growing
utility and efficiency of tho ilepartmen?
wero demonstrated.
Now Wood has been Injected into lUt
Police Dopartment, and a better sysun
(or Its conduct hits been adopted,
The courts of the city have disposi?'
of their business with expedition ano
economy, and the efficiency' of tho judger
has so appealed to tue Council tha* till
thoir salarlbs'^iavo boon raised along will?
'.those o'f a,.larga number of otlior city ?(G.
Mals. '?he; CToufifClf lifter a long battle he
committed itself to, a plan for hund?'., ??
the debt of the city which will preisen???1
the sinking fund "for tho li?
quidation of iuUtunding bonds and no
otner.
M'CARTHY'S FINE WORK
It should be' said that muoh of the?
credit for tills Innovation Is duo to Cup
tain Carlton McCarthy, who Is perhaps,
nui? nf the finest accountants In th??
South, nnd who has made an Insistent
und persistent fight on tills line. The
city has made vast Improvements In h?v
streets, roadways. _ parks and pubi!
snunres, nnd under her now system of
Street cleaning, the streets wore nevei
In better condition.
Tho poor of the city have been cared
for diligently, and liberal appropriations
have boon made for coal and othor pro?
visions for their comfort,
Never ??a? there In one year hoen ?a
much new pavings and streot Improve?
ments generally. This has been made ne?
cessary by the vast number of now bnllil
Inffs ?hat havo been erectod, especially
In thn western portion of the city during
the year the now Jail has boon completed,
and tho old shell in the bottom torn down,
Tho Water Dopartment has made wi n>
derful Improvements In tho lino of new
and onlargod maina, contributlnic not only
to tho convenience of the citizens, but at
the sume time reducing tho flro hazard to
a largo degree. Not only thU, hut ?
splondld nnw standpipo, with connoo'lnnn
and a fine electric plant are In tho course
of construction, which will cost $123:0o,
and which will result In a hnavy In?rense
of water premuro In tho upper and central
portion of tho city.
It s proposed 1 tor on, to uso tho e'oetrlc
plant for lighting the parks as wotl as
for oncratng the stnndplpe, and the Work
Is now being rapidly carried on under
tho supervls'ou of Superintendent Charlo?.
E, Rolling, nf Hip Wntnr D?pnrtmont.
FOP CLEAR WATER
Another permanent Improvement now
in the course of construction In the
watct department is tli0 settling basin,
winch will cost $850.000. and which, when
completed, will Insure clear water to the
i.lthMns of Richmond for all timo
'l'ho Treasury Department lins *ept
abren?! of others in the line of imbue
Improvements. Treasurer Phillips, after
a long and Irird struggle, has succeeded
In'getting rour subsintlons established In
tt,o city for the collection of gos and
water rent. This not only facilitates tho
work of the main of fico, but Is a ?rent
convenience lo the citizens of the remote
scL-tlons of the city. Tho Commit tee on
James River Improvements hnve been
alert and have augmented these equip?
ments with ? now dredging plant, now
about to begin operations. No depart?
ment has shown greater prosperity dur?
ing the year than that having the man?
agement of the city's gas.
? or tho first eloven months of ioi)3
tho increase from this department waa
$"3.2t>:.\37 over the gross receipts for the
same period of the preceding year. Thfi
figures uro as follows?.
Receipts to Dec. I. 1903.$228,11(1.7?
Receipts to Dec. I, 11)02. ?Ol.eSUil
Inrreni?e .$ ?3,SS2.37
INCRKAKF.D CONSUMPTION.
The inrreneu for tie first eleven months
of l!?>3 ovei tho entire year of 100.' Is
fi:..SL'C18. nnd when tho Decomber figures
for ! ??a') ore In, t hie nmunt Is oxiioctod
to pi? (poro 11i<iit doubled.
The Inpreas? In the sale and consump?
tion of gas Is accounted for by the fact
th.it? so many new houses have been built
during the year, and. that gas stoves
The Virginia Staio la owned by homo
peopU, managed by home people, employs
homo people and spends Its mnrey In
Richmond, A. K. HEINRICH. Solicitor.
Tho Vlrglnln Stato Is owned by home
people, managed by home people, employs
home people und spends It? money In
?Ueluaoiid. A. U. PLEA^A^TO, Afe'ent,
aro inore widely used than ever before.
A new gas holder for ilio West End le
mio of tho Important Improvements lit
otintt'ttiplutlon. It l? expuiiled to cost
???,???, find wilt almost surely u? oree od
during the- coming year, Proposition?
ror.fO celli, gas urn pending Ih th? cotm- ?
ell. and It Islikoly. that tuo prleo of this
hci.iessiii'y commodity will bo reduced dur?
111? 1P0I.
a largo s?itlunary storago oil tank Is
In contemplation ut tho Upper uas
w orke. and will probably bo among the
l'jfll Iinpi'ovoinct-ils In this dopurlmunt.
? TUE ClTY'H UililiT.
The total debt of the city January 1.
1004. la i7.227.Bt.!,Co. This debt matures, at
intervals or eix monthsrcommcneliie J?tn>
uary 1, mol. and continuing till 1930.
' Thn first, ltdin in tho list tujUtSS ma?
turing January 1. 1901, win be paid off in
citeh. the city having secured tho money
for that tntrhose, pending the seulement
of the tiuosttuns undur discussion concern?
ing tito future policy of the government
Us to the management of the debt. Thu
ensh borrowed (or this emorguncy will be
returned out of the proceeds of the drat
refunding Issue.
The total of tho bondod debt Is large by
comparison with the debts ot other and
mots modern eitles, and without ' ui.:??
I.ghta?' would seem to be oxootsslvs. tut
tho exulatiatiun Is simple: At tue close
of Ih? war Richmond was In ruins, her
people bankrupt?, many homeless, and
every source of revenue destrovod. To
rnoet the pressing necessities of those
d.eadtul days, this debt was gradually
creatati, But thero Is still another roa
son' Richmond owns her own'great enter?
prises, Including the water works, gas
works, markets, school houses, etc., be?
ing modelled on English lines, and It Is to
these groat plants that we mtmt look fur
an explanation of the great size of ner
debt. Richmond suffers by comparison
with other cities of about .?e ?Ice and
strength," mainly because, !.n many in?
stances where these cities show smaller
proportionate Indebtedness, their water
supplies, gas plants, etc., are owned by
private corporations, and In some In?
stances cities of great size and wealth rent
offices for the city departments, not even
owning a City Halli
NO NEED TO SELL,
She could easily pay hor entire debt?
and havo a surplus?by the aule of the gas
and water plants, it Is not unreasonable
to say that possibly tho water works and
rights alone would bring th? amount .?i?
the debt.
But the city Is under no nce-u'ty of
:on ??mplatlng the sili ol an o 1er
ircat properties, having never defaults'
>n the payment of Intoriiei or pnnc pa) of
her debt, and being amp.y abie, not onl..
6 provide for the ln'.<ire:?t, oj? to p.o?
.?Iflo also for the etoady amortization of
?ho whole debt.
! The sinking fund now aggr-gi'o? ??
round numbers $300,000. and wli, w thin
the next year bo, practically, ono mllHj,.
L'he blan proposed for Ihr future 1 simple
ind will be effective; and may be? brief.y
itntod: Tho fund now In I.und will be i.old
nvested, and tho ? ? to rest the eo.i iri.n
.?ested until January, ?920. There will be
added to this amount annually $9000;,
which will be also Invostod and io.n
pounded until 1920.
REFUND ALI? BONDS.
All bonds maturing *rom now until 191*
'?hore are none maturing fri m lSl? to Uli?,
nclusivo) will bo refunded. By 1020 .ho
linking fund will have recov ro., irons
?he errocts of defective man.icemen*, t.i
,'he past, will boar that proportion to tho
lobt It was always infonde 1 1 sod
hear,.and will ho s' rung enough o ccom
pllsh the purpose for wh.eh I; was found
id?tho payment of the debt.
And so. commencing January 1. 103D. the
?. ommlsslonors will be able to pay in full
?ut of their redemption fund, each oond
is It matures,
rt Is comfortlnc to know nnd Ih'orestlny;
oo, that 1* there was onv noce alt.v lo
:t, the City could, out >f Ita current rev
iiuie, pay every dollar of Its cebt ay it
..natures. So that, largo ,is the debt set-in ?
thero aro three ways to pay. it, el her of
"which"-would be feasible end desirable ?n
? ho' following order:
First. By the ordinary, comminly.p'a -
tlced plan of a sinking fund, created by
fixed annual appropriations''Invested unJ
^omiounded. (Tlio plan proposed.)
Secondly. By direct payment from t' e
eguhir, current (and now handsome) tev.
enuos of the city.
Thirdly. By tlio salo Of ono or two of
:ho groat properties of tho city, such a*
?ire m muny ?treat cities owned and cou
rolled bv private corporat.onn.
But, lastlv. "^n than ton per c:m . ot
mo property or ner peoplo would puy tue
entire debt of tho city.
By way of proof that the cltv might, If
t choso to do so. pay t ff th?? dob by
'.he direct application of G.3 current revo
aue and as a matter of cur,o?s interest
onslder these facts:
The city now paya annually for inter?
im and redemption:
Oenernl bonded debt.$4 2.W .!>
Water bonde.:. 4 ,0/3 la
Total annual cost of bonded deb?, S'.?, 0 d 3j
The average annual maturities fro u
904 to 1930 Is over $277,976.
The estimated revenue of tho city ror
11)03 was >1.7d4,??.??. It will probably ox?
coed this amount, The revenue to. ?Jui
can bo safely es'lmated ?.? *2,?00,000.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Tho year ID03 represente pe. hape tho
most progressive and useful year's work
of tho pulillo schools of our city since
i.liR'.r beginning, m tho yeur 1S6U.
Tho organization and cqulpmont of tho
svstfim has been greatly Improved dur?
ing tho past year, and the work being
?ore by both teachers and pupils is o?
such a character as to Juetlty tho belief
that a livelier into.cat la being taken In
the cause of education by tho patrona of
tho schools and the community at largo
There has been a steady growth In the
numbor of pupils enrolled and the offlc?on?
cy of the work being done. Tho annual
renort shows a total enrolment of 12,120,
which, when the change In tho snhool ago
mane by the new Constltuton Is consid?
ered, will prove the largest enrolment of
tin? schools,
SCHOOL PROPERTY.
The school property of th'e city Is valued
ai about ?d?^,????, which consists of eigh?
teen school buildings nnd furniture,
owned by the city, and a lot at corno of
Thirty-third and Marshall Streets, which
ius been recuiily purchaicd by tho clly
and upon wh.ch It is hopod a now bu Id
it g will bb erected during the coming
year, This is an urgent demand for the
?i comodatlon of pupils who are now in
rented rooms In tho eaiitorn Part of the
city and which ye very poortly suited to
the purpose for which they are used,
Tho oxpondituro for tho schools for?
Ihe vear io;ia was about $176,000. of wh en ,
i. mount Slfo.lDO was for pay roll and gen?
eral expenses, and $10,250 for a lot and I
iither permanent Improvements. ?? I
IMPORTANT CHANGES.
During the preront session Boverni Im-1
portant ohnr.gos havo been mudo In the?
conduct of the schools. The regular semi- '
niinuttl examinations hnve beon dispensed I
wuh, with tho exception ot tho graduat?
ing classes in the district and High
schools, and rome other epoolni Instances |
the pupila win bo piompted upon the
?isls of their general standing during
the so's'on. Thus far Ihe plan haa prov
on satisfactory te th? schoul authorities.
The atra ? of the general oximinntlona
will be e! mil atod and It Is bol.eved bet?
tor resulta are being a??ainod,
ADDED INTEREST. ?
The muslo, which waa Introduced th'i'eo
.veirs ago. has added greatly io the inter?
rut of he achools. The childrun uro doing
Miry satisfactory work and art? learning
weil tie general principles of music.
Homo of the work, especially In tho ad?
vanced clatees, is very fine. The cho. uses
in ilio uigh achonls liuvo rucolved univer?
sal commendation.
At ? ho opening of the prof ont session
kindergartens were established In couneo.
ton with thru?? of our school buildings.
? he?o have- measured fully up to uxuuc
tHt.ons. Tho power of thu little oi?< tu ilo
Intolilgeui udii even complicated work hits
been clearly established. Many of thu
products, though crudo, uro very happy
It. espressine the thought In the oh'h.
nvnil. The patrons aro pleutipd ami uiithti
sm tic In si.pi.ort of tlic.-o schuols. ? la
hoped to add to the uiimbur of tlKb?
schools In the near futuro,
MANUAL TRAINING.
Einmenta y mnnuiil training, Includili?
drawing, his teen Introduced Into the
lower primary g rudes w.th very ?ntlefae
lorv rpfiiltH. It has come as it period or
loin-aliment nnd Inaplratlnn to pupils
-liicJ teai'hers, and, whllo giving practical
lliKlfiict nil. lightens Up tho guriyill
school work, it |B the hope of the Roan'] to
<.x..nd th.B l ranch Into the Illune * p ? il u*
and .tinully into Out recular miuiuuj uJl^?,
Confidently believing that the facilitici offered depos?
itors and borrowers by .this bank are unequalled . ,
OF RICHMOND, VA.,
with its ?apital and Surplus of
One Million Dollars and Total <
Assets of Six Mill?n Dollars, re?
spectfully solicits your business.
*f il'
V1RGINIUS NEWTON, President.
JOHN B. PURCELL, Vice-president.
JOHN M. MILLER, JR., Cashier.
CHAS. r?. BURNETT, Ass't Cashier.
J. C. JOPLIN, Ass't Cashier.
** ??
DIRECTORS,
S, DABNEY CRENSHAW,
A. H. CHRISTIAN, JR.,
CHAS. DAVENPORT,
D.O.DAVIS.
G. A. DAVENPORT,
J. B. MOSBY,
VIRQINIUS NEWTON,
JNO. B. PURCELL,
TliOS. M. RUTHERFOORD,
p. sitterd:nq,
I; STERN,
A. D. WILL?AMS.
mg school, of which our city stand? so
much In noed.
l'ho school board, to estabUshlnffin each
school a library consisting of hooka ol
inference and sudi oinurx ulonu educa?
tional lines as may provo useful and at?
tract, vo to teachers and pupils, thua have
arranged for five of the binld.nga.
It is believed that the efficiency uf the
teaching force Of the schools Is progress?
ing and being steadily Imp.oved. During
ihe year gr-.de mcotlnge havo been organ
zed for tho io.1 chers in the district schoo.n.
and a serios of lectures upon pcdigoglcul
.iu...icc!s for the entire teaching force has
ueen arranged and carried into oftoct.
Those must necessarily bear goud fruit
in developing und exciting a higher grado
of toucher's work.
NEWPORT NEWS.
Prospects of the City Brighter
Than for Years Past.
(Spoelul to Tho TimeB-Dleputcri.)
KBWPORT NTOWB. VA., Doc. Sl.-The
arrival of 100-1 vflll find tho prospect? for
ilio futuro of Newport Nowe brighter
ihn ? thoy have been for yeare. Tho
yea i' 1003 has not been a. particularly
iiiosporouH one, although the number of
usinosi) failures has been .comparatively
'?mull, The business men ?ay that they
I have been holding tholp own, .although
I until the past month, It hue been quiet
? t;i 'baslness circles. Thero has been prac?
tically no change in tho value of real
? 'stute, mid runts are about what thoy
? wr.ro ft year ago,
? Only one new Industry hue been estab?
ilaliot? during the year, The Eagle Shoo
Company brought its plant here from
li'ivderlchsburg, erected a large brick
building and has been doing ? big busi?
ness, in tho next two months the War?
wick Brewing and Ice Company ? plant
<vl|l ie completed and open for business
''ills plant Ih said to be the largest soutn
of l-.altlmorn, und tine cost over a half
rntltion dollars.
It is believed that the success ot the
Jnmtalown Exposition Company In val'.?
da'.ifig Ita charter and malting It certa!?
that the great exposition will be bela
will make a great change in tho situs
lion all over Tidewater Virginia ar.ii
1'i.i'ticiilarjy In thin und o they eitlen, and
that tho effect will be felt almost imme?
diately.
The lrr,|irr ?nd export trade of the
puri Ih h ) nr did not break any record?.
Thu last tow month?' business, however,
ptuventocl tho total? tor the year from
being very small,
Combino sentiment with horte se?en
and get your policy from the Virginia
State, u, home Institution, QAP.TOIj
SAVINGS BANK, Agent.
Practice what you preach, and kpep
your money at homo by insuring with the
Virginia Stato, A, Vf, OARBE?i, So
llcltor.
pallan are good thing?. Keep them
ut homo hy Insuring with the Virginia
, litats, A. I? PLEASANTS, Agoni. ?
CONSECRATION
OF ST. ANDREW'S
Interesting Exercises This Morn?
ing?Bishop Gibson to
Preside.
The consecration of St, Andrew's Epis
copal Churoh will toko placo this morn?
ing at li o'clock. Bishop Gibson, of
the Diocese of Virginia; will preside, and
the Rev, Robert Strangp, D. D., rector
of St. Paul's Churoh, will preach the
consecratlop sermon,
Just twenty-six years ago the first
St. Androw'? Churoh was consecrated
by Bishop WhlttVr Thorn wore present
Rev, Dr, Minnlgorodo, rootor of St,
Paul's; Rov. Pike Powers, th? assistant
mlnletor (afterwards rootor of Si. An?
drew's), and Rev, R, A. Gibson, ot Moore
Memorial Chapel (now bishop ot Vir?
ginia),
Tho consecratl'on took place on Thurs?
day afternoon, December 80th, 1877, at
?5 o'clock. A number of persons who at?
tended tlw first consecration will be
present at the ceremonies to-day. '
A cordial Invitation i'e extended to all
others who feel'Interested In the church,
and especially to the vestry and congre?
gation of st, Paul's.
CAPTAIN F. W. CUNNINGHAM
WORKS FOR PUBLIC TO-DAY
Captali) Frank W, Cunningham, city
cnlK'cror, will not observe January 1st
al?n? with U?? rest of the City Hall peo
Vie to-day, but will have his office open
for the receipt and collection of oily taxe?
from thou* who thus far huvo no\ found
It convenant.to pay up,
"To-morrow la no day In law," said th?
(.?opulur officer last night, "and i shall
come hero and give those who have not
paid up th?? opportunity to save the five
jw cent, penalty which will be due on
nil unpaid bills after to-day,"
t'tiptaln Cunningham is always thought?
ful of the public Interests, and has sev?
oral times before kept hie office open on
holidays. I
Practice what you preach, and keep
your money at home by Insuring with ?h?
Virginia State. A. P. HULCHER, ??t
Holier.
The Virginia State Insurance Company
has assets exceeding ?600,000, and surplus
to I'Ollcyholders of ?300.000. U. C,
WHERRY & BONS, Agent,