The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-04
IFor the Dispatch.I
rsouc nd Nauscom.

! calls the harbor ut Newports News TO be
'one OF the best, II not absolutely the best,
on the eastern coast OF the United States"
The second advises that the name OF New
ports News be changed to Corcoran.
! The only polite explanation OF the first
proposition Is that the author had never
considered the matter. though that under
the circumstances is censurabc. What
would be thought OF lawyers underta-
king TO argue an important case without
| having informed himself OF one single fact
connected with IL? But il that be blame
worthy. what shall we think or say Of a
man who, dealing with q matter OF large
public policy, under 4 signature intended
to suggest public spirit, shows clearly that
he has not ascertained single fact in re-
gard TO the site he commends that does not
apply equally as we'll to numerous other
places " on the eastern coast OF the United
States y.
Now ]. who say this, have studied the
! question. with no great capacity, perhaps,
to understand its bearings or go to the root
OF the matter; but | have at least given n
good deal OF attention to il, and have dill
gently sought information. Having thus
earned a right to express opinions, | deny
the statement OF the author OF Virginia
that Viewpoints News'is zone Of the best,
ii not absolutely the best. harbOr on the
eastern coast OF the United States" |
deny that "It is protected from the storms
that sometimes veX the waters Of Hampton
Roads aiad the bay" | deny "that city
i a ipii,U o5rAall extent and population must
spring into existence before the close OF
the present century at The place now known
as Newport's News; and | challenge the
author OF Virginia to prove these his ~
| firmations. To give him an appetite for
the argument / assert that there j. no mar
Dor ut all at Newport's News: that 80 far
from Offering "protection TO ships from
the storms that sometimes ycX the waters
OF Hampton Roads, the so-called port is
never safe from storms unless they come
from the northeast, and | affirm that Va
rious conditions forbid large city there.
Public spirit and patriotism furnish n
reason. hope, Tor inviting 4 discussion Of
this subject before the people. The idea
has gone ont that Mr.. Huntington has "ar-
ranged" this thing, and that it must sue
coed because his reSolute will, great ener-
9y, vast resources, and paramount congress
sional influence render him irresistible !:
and some few have persuaded themselves.
without due examination. that it il a good
thing in itself. 70 some these views would
appear TO be confirmed by the fact, lately
announced, that Mr.. Huntington has
strengthened himself by starting South
American steamship line with Mr.. John
Roach, the great ship-builder, OF Philadcl-
pha, AZ partner and president. But TO my
apprehension il only makes the combing-
ton against Virginia interests more formi-
dablc by adding another ring to those
which now eucircle our railroad Saturn.
Mr.. Roach is one OF what is known
in Washington, aS the navy ring, the
ally Of Mr.. Robson, OF New Jcr-
sew. late Secretary OF the Navy, and leader
Of the present Republican House OF Repre-
sentatiyes-eft out Of tie next Congress
on account of charges OF corruption. Mr..
Roach is still engaged III the same ring
with Chandler, the present Secretary OF the
Navy, who, with RObeSon's aid, has lately
rushed one OF his jobs through the lower
House. There is no doubt OF these facts.
The whole jObbery was exposed van inves-
tigation OF the House Committee on Naval
Affairs. Mr.. Whtthorne chairman. which
was published TO the world; and only al
the last session OF Congress Mr.. Robson
was charged three times to his face, Upon
the floor of the House, with the pcrpetra-
ton of these frauds.
1t is more than probable that this alliance
means subsidies and Jobs. For a. New
ports News is upon an exposed shore, i
needs for security the erection Of IN I'M
mense sea-wall, at the cost OF millions; and
as the steamship enterprise is new and
weak, it must have congressional apprO-
prlations.
Now all this is not only unnecessary. but
il is positively injurious to other estab-
lishcd interests in Nirginia-unnCcc ssaTy
because the contiguous barbor Of Norfolk
has all and more than the merits claimed
for Newport's News by the author Of pj-
qinid; and injurious because this project
is the direct antagonist OF Norfolk and
Portsmouth, with their 10000 population
and established. harbor outfit; and Of Rich
mond and Manchester, with their $4,000
population, and OF Petersburg. with heI
10000 population, all three calling for the
deepening OF the channel OF Jamc'
river. 1t in fact endangerS, or at
least delays indefinitely, the progress,
OF these cities by scheme which can
never build up a great city, nor is in
tended TO do il, but whose purpose Is tC
increase the oyergrOwn wealth OF few
specializing mOnopOists. These are the
reasons why | desire. by discussion, tC
arouse the people OF Virginia TO the dan.
gers that threaten them from this quarter
II is this speculation, hostile TO the chic
cities OF Virginia, that the author OF ljr
qinia proposes to accredit by changing thu
historic name Of Newport's News TO Corco
ran Far he it from me TO underyaluc tho
good deeds OF Mr.. Corcoran. whose chart
ties and varied muniliccncc, beginning
with the noblest OF them all. the Louis,
Home, have cndeared him to so many. Bu
that i all the greater reason why ilattcrN
should not make his name ridiculous by call
ing a skeleton town after him, because R0
muuS. Alexander the Great, Constantine
Peter the Great. and George Washington
had substantial metropolitan cities named
after them. And would not have been the
one TO suggest a comparison between thes'
founders OF empire and this benevolent
, banker, whose modesty and good sense,
am sure, would have forbidden such pa
rade OF his name.
And what name is it that is thus to be
erased from our map in compliment to Mr.
? Corcoran and in Difference TO the junior
town Of Newport, II. l.: Without recitinl
| what most Of us have recently read abou
[ the place, two things should render th'
, name sacred to the historian and the pa
triot. Ii was just about therc-betweei
| there and Mulberry Island. few mile
away-that when, in "the starving time,
jamestown was abandoned and the fam
ished people were making their way out o
the river. that, on the 18th day OF June, 1910
, Lord Delaware met them with the proyi
> sions that saved the life OF the colony
And it was at Newpor's News, on the ST
,, day of March. 1862, so close in shore tina
the officers in command were wounded b,
Yankee sharp-shooters from the fort