The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-14

4 hO Oofh0tah WnlCu lHtHC Uftft VIII
extend will run for half mile along The
James.river front. Between each pier will
lie distance OF 200 or $50 feet, thus form
ing a slip or basin 700 by 200 feet In which
vessels can be securely moored while un-
loading. The pier already constructed Is
braced by piles driven diagonally across
the upright ones, and the other piers will
be strengthened 10 the same way.
The plan OF the future city shows that al
ready eighty blocks have been laid of by
the surveyors. These blocks or squares
measure from 500 by 200 feet to 500 by 200
feet, and contain about sixty lots. All the
avenues except Hampton avenue run paral-
lei to the railroad-that is, little west OF
north. The names Of the avenues have been
selected with reference TO Virginia's his.
tory, and are as follows: Madison, Jeffer-
son, Warwick, Virginia, Lafayette, Hamp-
ton, and West. The streets are num-
bered and cross the avenues at right
angles. They have been laid from
Twenty-third to Thirty.seventh street.
The height OF the plateau on which
The city Is to be built Is twenty.six
feet above tIdewater and commanding a
splendid water view. 1t rises gradually as IL
follows the course of the JImes river, until
at four miles above Newport News it is forty
feet above tide-water. As it extends back
into the country it keeps on a level Of
twenty-siX feet elevation for about half q
mile, when 1t slopes gradually to another
plateau having an elevation OF fifteen feet.
This extends back a great distance. To the
southeast the first plateau falls gradually
until 1t reaches a little stream known as
Newport News creek. This stream may
probably be converted into a canal.
One OF the first buildings to be erected
will be the hotel, which is TO be in the heart
OF the city, as now planned. Fer this struc-
tnre one million bricks have already been
contracted for and Will soon be delivered.
Otber buildings certain to follow soon are
the shops and rcund-houses OF the company.
These, together with the Improvements IN
progress, will give employment to $500
men, at least, who will form the nucleus Of
the new city. The latter, so far as blocked
out, will accommodate a population Of ten
thousand. Large iron furnaces will also be
erected here TO reduce the ore taken from
the four mines how owned by the company
inducements will also be offered to emf
grants. Already there are some 200 or $50
emigrants located in the vicinity OF New
port News. They have number OF cheap
frame houses, and seem well contented.
1t is also contemplated to erect on the
point at the junction Of the James river and
Hampton Roads large hotel, and convert
this portion OF the property into seaside
resort.
The large quantity Of land not included in
the present site OF the city will be sold in
small farms to emigrants and others. The
price will range from So to SIS per acre. 1t
is the purpose OF the company to allow no
spectators to buy up the land, and thus
eXtortiOn will be prevented. IL Is said that
one OF this class OF men came to Mr.. Hunt
ington with a proposition to buy land.
"YOu can have all the land don't want"
Mr.. Huntington is reported as saying, sat
$1,000 per acre."
II the fond hopes OF the projectors OF this
new Atlantic terminus be realized, Rich
mond is destined to degenerate from port
at the head OF navigation into way.sta-
tion. II is intended that trains shall run
over the extension from Richmond to New
port News in about two hours, and that all
freight intended for ocean shipment shall
proceed direct to Newport News by this
means rather than by the long, dangerous,
and tedious navigation OF the James river.
At the same time, a prominent Richmond
gentleman remarked to the correspondent:
" Richmond welcomes the extension Of the
railroad down the Peninsula. While all our
citizens believe ia the great capacity, both
present and future, Of the James river, we
appreciate the value OF time to commerce.
At the same time we appreciate the fact
that whatever is handled by this great
trunk line is accessible TO the energy, en-
terprise, aud capital OF our merchants, and
every entrance to and exit from our city
is a welcome thing to us. Just in the
same way Richmond was pleased when
West Point was made subsidiary port, as
Newport News will, we hope, be. There
can be no extension in any direction OF
lines running to and from Richmond, but
will, we know, be beneficial to us just in
proportion as we have the energy, enter
prise, and capital to take advantage OF it.
II It did nothing else, 1t would open up
new country, and place Richmond in closer
connection with the second city Of the Com
monweath and the coast Of Maryland and
the Carolinas."