Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-12-23

the a~ristocratic lord smiled contempt
uously and never surrendered.
Late in the evening the train passed
down, following the backbone Of the
peninsula, and reached Newport
News Just as tho moon rose out Of
the e far away out on the broad At
lantio, that rolled its huge waves be-
tween Capes Charles and Henry, /
was now standing on the point where
John Smith and the last remnant Of
his followers, reduced by sickness and
starvation, fed, in frantic hope Of
hearing once again from home and
friends. From this point they saw at
last the white sails Of the ships max.
ing for the harbor Of Hampton Roads,
and here they rushed into the waters
and met Captain Newport with his
supplies, and were relieved from hun
ger. The place was called Newport
News 200 years ago. and still bears
the name. The place is romantic and
full of historical and traditional in
terest. The building Of the Chesa
peake & Ohio to this place has
wrought q miracle, aud the change is
not completed. II has the finest har-
Dor in the world, and is the terminus
Of one OF the grandest railroads on
the continent, possessing an enormous
capital and backed by the wealth and
resources of the great West and
Northwest, with the teeming fields Of
the South, and the mineral resources
of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and
Alabama as collateral feeders of this
gigantic enterprise. The future OF
Newport News a not now be esti-
mated as a seaport aud a commercial
center, and as a terminus for the ex
portation Of our multiplied resources.
The old desolation Of its gray, vast
cd fields has departed under the busy
tread Of thousands Of workmen and
employees. The city has been laid of
into lots, which are rapidly selling,
and the whole place is becoming re-
generated. There are now already
completed at this place two piers or
docks, first class as to durability and
extent; one for merchandise 200 feet
long by 132 wide, the other a coal
dock 825 by 152, at which six vessels
can be loaded at the same time, there
by enabling them to furnish the sea-
board cities with unfailing supplies
and at less cost than now paid. In
addition to these, two other coaldocks
are being constructed Of equal capaci
ty. 1t seems that there is lumber
enough already on the beach to build
twenty such docks as these.
Another merchandise dock, 200 feet
long by 100 wide, is under way; also a
pier on which a bonded warehouse is
to be erected 700 feet by 100 feet wide.
The material is already on the ground,
and the timber being fitted, for the
erection Of a grain elevator with a ca
pacity of 100000 bushels. Another
dock is being built for the handling of
lumber and timber, 200 by 100 feet,
making in all seven piers or docks
that would be a credit to Liverpool or
London. A large brick hotel is being
built which is to be supplied with all
modern Improvements; will have 300
rooms for guests, to accommodate par
ties desiring to visit the Atlantic coast
and tie classic grounds Of the Old
Dominion, either insummer or winter.
The depth of water in this magni6-
cent harbor at all the docks is from "a
to 50 feet, 10 which the largest vessels
afoat can anchor and load; while at
the distance OF 100 yards off the depth
is from 70 to 100 feet and as much
more as may be desired.
The new hotel, smaller than the one
already built, but capable Of accom-
modating several hundred guests, will
shortly be opened to the public. 1t is
already handsomely furnished.
The city is properly severed and the
drainage perfect, the main sewer run.
ming entirely through the place. New
buildings are being constructed on lots
purchased from the company, and the
future looks bright and sunny. A vast
population will gather at this place
1t is as healthy as Old Point Comfort.
which is seven miles off, and with
which it will soon be connected by a
frst-class railroad. A superb she'll
road has long existed between Hamp.
ton and Old Point. Next summer
there will be thousands Of visitors tC
avail themselves OF this new route tC
Old Point, which will be done by al
rail from Louisville to the Point with.
out change ofcars. Old Point Com.
fort, with the splendid hotel and de.
lieiously luxurious sea bathing, haI
long been the fashionable and auto
cratic beech for pleasure seekers 9th,
South, Virginia, Maryland and tn,
purely high toned families of thu
North. At this place the creme de i
creme Of society does not fear TO b
elbowed by the plebian herd, who ar,
wont to congregate at the convenient
cheap places near the great Atlanti
cities. The same pertains to III.
habitues Of White Sulphur Springs
which, with Newport and Narraganset
Pier, IS the most exclusive waterin
places in America.
In a few days | will turn my fac
%homeward, with the satisfaction O
knowing that the Courier, journal ha
had the energy and enterprise to b
the first newspaper to send its repre-
sentative over this long line Of road
through and through. from Louisvill
to Newport News, TO write up the re
sources of the country and to az
knowledge the genius and indomitabl
energy Of Mr.. Huntington, Genera
Echols and others 10 bringing to a sue
eessful completion this magnifcen
road nearly 700 miles, and overcomin
difficulties in engineering hal woul
have appalled, less energetic mind
Your paper deserves great credit fc
being the first on the ground, and SD
goes there TO stay as a Representative
Of Western sympathy, brotherly Low
and reciprocal energy.
ssIOst Heartily"