Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-04-05
A Visit to York River and West Point.
No. 3.


AVisit to York River and West Point.
NO.2.
No doubt my first letter describing the pre-
eminent and extraordinary advantages of York
River aud West Point, was, perhaps, read
with some misgiviugs as to the obisct of its au-
thor. Some, no doubt, formed an opinion that
the writer is peeuniariy interested 10 the mat
ter; in other words, he has ao "axe to grind.
Iu order to disabuse the public mind on this
point, will here state that have not dime
invested on York River or its surroundings.
| sincerely regret that | have no funds to To-
vest in so worthy 40 enterprise. The spirit IS
wiling but the pocket weak. Such is my COD
6isuce in the success OF West Point as com-
mercial city that would invest to the full ex
tent Of NY pile il had pile of green backs TO
invest Its natural commercial facilities otter
inducements for Investments tar more reliable
than banks; yes, equal, II not preferable, to U.
$ bonds and stocks. Nature has provided
along the shores OF this river all the elements
of commerce and prosperity, aud for Vest
Point iu particular, all the elements for large
and fourishing city. and ten dollars Invested
TO- day to deveope its advantages will be equlva-
lent to one hundred dollars FIVE years hence.
10 other words it would be equivalent TO SOW
ing dimes and reapiug dollars
So tar | have given my OVID views
why York River is far superior to all
of Its competitors. will now give few
extracts from the testimony OF others who
have recently visited that locality, and in print
ed form have published to the world the natul-
al advantages of York River and West Point
as commercial center. Says one report:
"West Point is one days sail nearer all the
ports Of the world than Baltimore, and while
all the harbors north Of Potomac were OBJ
struc,ed by ice last winter (lS74-'75) the York
River was entirely free.
Another article recently published in the
New York Nautical Gazette, says:
Among the trunk lines Offering superior
facilities for the transportation OF freight aud
passengers between the North and South, IS
we'll as between the Southwest aod the Sea.
board, is that iamiliary known as the york
River Route" The Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, and the Piedmont Air Line, via
Greensboro and Charlotte to Richmond, have
set 10 motion q constantly increasing volume OF
traffic from the Northwest, West aud South
west, which, centcriug at Richmond, seeks an
outlet at the nearest deep-tlde water At West
Point, at the head Of York River, where ves-
sells can load at all times Of the year, and at
point but forty miles from the broad and deep
waters of the Chesapeake, and seventy miles
from sea at Cape Henry.
''rhe permanent establishment of this route
s an important step toward the solution OF the
problem OF cheap transpoI tatioo between the
Mississippi Valley and the Seaboard. and de-
monstrates what can be accomplished BY lndl-
vidual and corporate enterprise, without gov
srnmeut aid.
West Point, and the peninsula, formed by
the Psmunkey and Msttaponi rivers, resem-
bles tho site of New York city, and terminates
in plateau which strikiogly recalls the Bat
terry" The company (R. 7. R. Il q. K. R.,)
has provided superior facilities for shelterlng
and handling freigh including wharf over
400 feet 10 length, warehouses aud tracks.
The town site is beautiful level plateau, sut-
6cieutly elevated to secure proper drainage
The views over the uniting streams, and far
down the York, whose blue waters were tossed
into white caps BY the delicious breeze, (which
prevails throughout the summer, creating a
temperature far more agreeable than that OF
many northern localities, present some OF the
most enchanting bits OF river scenery to be
found on the continent, and are wsltin tor the
artist to make them known to the world at
large.
As the extracts from the report made by
Lieut.. M. +. Maury, U. s. N, which | pro.
pose to copy, would make this article longer
than your space would admit, will reserve
them for my De1s. Before get through With
this subject, am confident that l can estab-
lish this fact, that of the many fue rivers
which embelsh Eastern Virginia, commercial
ly speaking. York River is the noblest OF them
all. COMMERCE.