The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-01
A WAVE LAVED CITY.
NEWPORrNEWs AND WHYTHsPLAo
rs so WELL KNOWN.
xvh., ~. yi.I,or Sees and what He Has to
Say About It-Iss Destined
Growth.

NEWPORT Ngws. October 30.-1 saw recently
in a letter from this place the remark that
Newport News was the best advertised point
in the South. That is no doubt l. TACT; but
not altogether SO because tho eity has peeh
so much written about in newspapers. Nearly
every one who visits the place becomes an
advertising medium for it. Tho stranger
who runs INTO Newport News on his way 70
Old Point and only catches a GLIMPSE OK inc
city is astonished when told that IL ID ohiya
decade old. And if perchance he spends q Gay
here as hundreds do who are on excurshonsne
is Incredulous until he makes a study OF the
situation. The great %dry-dock. the ship
Yards and their immense capacity and mag
niicent machinery. not surpassed in the Gov
eminent yards. the elevator. the tremendous
piers Jutting out into the roads. the mixes OK
side track. the general hustle. activity and
stir Of the people are things that be cannot
reconcile at irst with Il statement that ION
years ago all about him was farming land.
AN OLD FOUNDATION.
lie sees electric cars. electric lights. hand.
some stores. beautiful private residences una
evidences Of sOiidity that would seem 10 IN
dictate an old foundation. yet he is not long
in approaching the situation when 1t IS ex-
planned 20 him.. He goes away 70 tell his
friends that here is one OF the grsndest bar
bors in the country; that It ID surrounded oy
a beautiful and fertile country; that the Gil
mate is delightful and healthy: that the city
has a rich back country 10 draw from Ia tho
way of market supplies. which aiGs IN sup
porting q large retail trade. He informs them
that 10 Is the terminus OF one OF the great
systems of railroads OF the country. which
cuts through two States and has forwarding
arrangements 10 the great Northwest, the
Gulf Of Mexico and the Pacific slope; tnat
this system pierces one OF the most extensive
coal regions on the continent. and that IL
is tie shortest highway between tho great
Western markets and deep water.
Another SYSTEM TO CONF.
He also tells his friends that it is inevitable
that another great trunk line must come TO
Newport News: that the city is already one OF
the greatest coaling stations on the Atlantic
coast. and that ITS present business III TINS d.
rection is only a beginning. He points out to
them that TIE barbor is never blocked With
ice. and that it affords safe mOorings IN
the most violent gales. He sees and they see
from this why shrewd, clear-headed capitalists
have invested their money hereeand have
an abiding faith in the future of Newport
News as q place Of business and in which TO
do business and in which TO live. They un-
derstand that the growth of population OF the
place is a certainty and that those who remain
here now are certain Of remuneratiye returns.
cRowD1NG THE RESIDENCES.
Already the business portion Of Newport
New Ia beg ming 70 crowd the residences.
and there could be no surer indication than
this of q steady increase in values here at 10
distant day. The business area OF Newport
News is not a bit too large for the demands
of the present population. and with the des-
tined multiplication caused by the in
crease of hands in industries now
in operation. and others that are
assured. the business section must inevitably
crowd out portions of the residential section
and thus in time take in new territory. Among
the plats that will be first 10 be taken in is
the beautiful one of the Newport News Com
pany. e which Air. Lewis II. Blair is rresi-
dent. with its elevated situation and inviting
building sites. This property is on the
direct road Of Newport News development
and progress. To assert that Newport News
will grow as every one does who visits the place.
is to assert that his compnny's holdings must
be built over. The company are now Offering
their lots at prices which, considering the
value Of property here. where values have
ruled steady all during the financial depres-
sion. are very low. When we consider these
prices with reference TO the future, either IN
the light Of holding the lots for advance or
building on them to rent, the opportunity for
securing very large returns appears u most
exceptionally promising one.