The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-18
NEWPORT NEWS.
PHENOMENAL GROWTH OF THAT
BUSTING TOWN.
The Immense Dry-Dock Under Construc-
tion and the Big ship fard-founda-
lions Tor Many Industries-A Breezy

The Immense Dry-Dock Under Construc-
ton and the Big Ship
tions Tor Many Industries-A breezy
letter.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va, sept. lI.-lspe-
cial. Among the rising industries Of the
State Of Virginia should be mentioned our
immense dry-Gock. go feet In length by 93
feet in width. the largest in America, giving
employment daily TO hundreds Of men and
boys. Along with it is the gigantic plant OF
a ship-yard that, Mr.. Huntington says, will
rival any on this side of the Atlantic, where
the best skilled labor is employed. At the
present moment can be seen there two ships
in process of construction, and in three
months, we are told, four Others will be
commenced.
In addition thereto large cotton mill -
soon 10 be erected 10 give employment TO the
women and children of the hundreds OF
workmen engaged at the dry-dOck and ship
yard.
II is no fault Of ours if Nature has given
TO us plenty of depth as well as breadth OF
water, while 10 Norfolk aud Richmond she
has been sparing 10 the one in breadth and
10 the other in depth. or that while at both
of these ports the United states Govern
ment is annually spending hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars 10 keep the channel
open, Nature alone. and unaided. without
one dollars expense, does that very thing
for Newport News.
While the new dry-dOck constructed re-
Gently for the Government at Portsmouth
III f.trf lao
during storm, our own here Is as dry and
the bosom Of our capacious harbor is as
calm a. "a May morning.
our port has, in just ten years, attained
20 the position of being the seventh IN I'M
pOrtance as a shipping port IN the United
states. While il is true that comparisons
are odious." still, when we are persstenty
ignored by our older sisters, We think il
allowable that we call their attention 10
facts that speak more elOquently than fam
cics, and show u 30 be Of As much impur-
lance as the places which ignore Us. New
port News has steadily grown in population
and material development without the aid
Of sO-called b0Oms and land advcr-
Using schemes. we have had none Of them,
but her growth and prosperity have been as
steady and as sure as the gradual cncrOach.
mcnt Of old ocean upon It's tlmc-hOnoied
shores. Lots that a twelve month ago sold
for (1O0) seven hundred dollars on time are
today selling for twelve and fifteen hun
drcd cash: where two years ago was only
10 be seen vacant, unOccupicd fields, to-day
we have block after block Of substantial
business houses and dwellings; we have
mills, and factories. and foundries, where a
few years ago were fields Of waving wheat
and corn, and today we are surveying and
Ia, ing out into beautiful building lots fields
that were actually In cultivation the fore
part OF the present year.
&c. Hillycr's machinc-shOps and foun-
dry. with lis hundred wOrkmcn, will turn
out work that Will rival any produced i'm
tbs state. BraXtOn'- grisi-mill is supply Ing
this whole peninsula. Jones woodwork
Ing mill is shipping its work all over the
state. other industries are equally as pro-
! gressye; 80 you can see we are worth re-
pOrier's notice now and then. ~chmelI
Brothers, Of Hampton. are erecting upon
their lot one Of the most beautiful and sub
stantial brick structures 10 be seen in Nir-
GINA. They purpose using il as bank; and
close beside that stands the tall and fine
| looking brick building recently erected by
LAWYER Nelms.
short way on is i'm process OF constitute
ton another brick building belonging to NJ.
| II. Lash. 10 be used as furniture house,
these two latter being three stories each in
height Five or six OF the religious de-
nominations have their houses of worship.
some Of them brick, pretty, and substantial
ediicCs. You are well aware Of the fact
| that our immense grain elevator. sixteen
| hundred thousand bushels capacity, is
| equaled in size by only one other in this
| country.
Recently one Of your Richmond editors
| invested in between fifty and sixty lots in
/ our city, and be il a keen. shrewd business
man IN his own private affairs. The pipes
are now being laid 10 bring water from a
| lake ten miles up the Chesapeake and ohio
road. light and water company having
/ been recently organized, and in a few months
/ Mr.. James :. Darling Will have extended
TO Newport News the street railway which
they are now building between Hampton
and Old Point. The Bank Of Newport News
IS finding ready call for all the money they
can lend, and the sound Of the hammer and
saw can be heard all over the place, thus
! pr0claiming the great and rapid growth Of
! the city OF Newport News.